Career in Corporate Law – How to Become a Corporate Lawyer?

Both legal education and profession have experienced a notable transformation in the last few years. In today’s times, a law professional does not have to remain determined to the court but can be an integral part of administrative services, consultancy, advisory firms, corporate offices and more. For that reason, you can build a promising career in corporate law since it offers innumerable job opportunities in diverse industries. Corporate law is a broad legal profession that tends to work in both the business and legal sectors, encompassing governance, agreements, business trades, and the legalities of a firm’s everyday functions. Working as a corporate lawyer can be a rewarding career path, but becoming a corporate lawyer demands extensive learning. If you plan to make a career in corporate law, read everything you need to know below.

What Does a Corporate Lawyer Do?

A corporate lawyer works on legal issues linked to corporate business procedures. As a corporate lawyer, you’re responsible for managing various business, financial and legal functions of clients. While working as a corporate lawyer, you will have to wear several hats. Sometimes you may prepare corporate agreements and corporate taxes or oversee imports and exports. While many times you will work on mergers and acquisitions, laws related to daily operations, partnerships and verify business transactions. Some of the primary responsibilities of a corporate lawyer are:

• Offer general legal council
• Trade assets and shares
• Support legal framework for selling or restructuring of companies
• List companies on the stock market
• Negotiate agreements or contracts
• Cooperate with the team to take strategic legal decisions
• Manage employment law concerns

As a corporate lawyer, you deal with a wide range of corporate entities, such as alliances and joint ventures. You can work for a large firm representing many clients or a single corporation.

How Can You Become a Corporate Lawyer?

Here’s a general trajectory on how to become a corporate lawyer:

• The first and foremost requirement you need to fulfil to become a corporate lawyer is complete your 10+2 from a recognized board.
• Appear for a Common Entrance Law Test (CLAT) after achieving your 10+2 if you wish to pursue an integrated law course. You can also give CLAT exam after earning your LLB degree and when you decide to study Master of Law (LLM)
• You can complete integrated degree courses like BA LLB or BCom LLB after 10+2 or take up LLB after achieving a bachelor’s degree in any field.
• After you have completed your 5-year or 3-year law degree, you need to pass the All-India Bar Council Exam to receive your certificate of practice.
• Take up a legal internship or job with a local legal firm to enhance your practical exposure.
• With some insights and practical work experience, you can choose to study a 1-year LLM degree with a specialization in corporate law.

Skills You Need in Your Career in Corporate Law:

Staying updated with the latest legal development and business market is simply inevitable when you’re a corporate lawyer. Check out some skills that will make an effective corporate lawyer:

• Ability to solve problems
• Sharp eye on details
• Strong oral and written communication
• Critical thinking
• Numerical ability
• Can maintain confidentiality
• Analytical skills
• Ability to research, write and read extensively
• A strong knowledge base of law
• Good networking skills
• Persuasive and negotiating ability

Scope of Corporate Law:

To cut costs, many large corporations are expanding their in-house legal departments. The high hiring cost of outside counsel lawyers makes it more cost-effective for many organizations to redirect work to their in-house legal department. This shift will increase the demand for corporate law careers in several settings, including finance, insurance, healthcare and consultancies. The job market has improved largely because of two aspects. For starters, law schools have recently seen smaller graduating classes. Second, employment in large law industries and firms has been steadily increasing. As a result, the combination of more jobs and less competition has resulted in better job prospects for corporate law careers.

Employment Opportunities for Corporate Lawyers:

A career in corporate law is sought-after by many law aspirants. You can find jobs in multiple sectors as a corporate lawyer. Some of the sectors where you can find employment are:

• Corporate house
• Law firms
• Courts
• Consultancies
• Law institutes
• Law enforcement agencies

A corporate law career pays you handsomely, especially when you achieve your law degree from NAAC A+ certified institutes like Marwadi University (MU). We at Marwadi University offer you law education through BA LLB, BCom LLB and LLM courses. Study from the best law school in India, MU is accepting admissions for 2022-23 – enrol today!