This is a burning question for every student who wants to pursue a career in the legal field. The question is, “How to Become a Lawyer or Judge in Pakistan”? All those candidates who wish to join the legal field will ultimately become a lawyer or Judges in the future. No doubt there are some other fields of law available but most of them should choose one of these.
Sometimes it becomes hard to understand the real procedure that how you can become a lawyer or judge in Pakistan. So, in this article, you will learn how you become a lawyer or judge in Pakistan.
You will also learn about how much time is required, what subjects you should study, and how you will get the Bar Council licence, and ultimately how you will become a Lawyer or a Judge.
Before going deep into this you must understand the minimum education required for this:
Required Education for Becoming Lawyer or Judge
As far as the minimum education is concerned, you should be a law graduate. Only Law graduates can become a lawyer or join the judiciary and become a judge. I will explain the education from Matriculation to Graduation so that you will understand it better.
The process of becoming a lawyer is simple but a little bit tough and lengthy. Since 2020 the 3-years LL.B Scheme has been abolished. Now an LL.B is a five-year regular degree program. But before LL.B there is a new test that you have to pass to be eligible for admission to the university. This test is called Law Admission Test (LAT). It is a mandatory test organized by Higher Education Commission (HEC) and conducted 3 times in a calendar year. You will learn about LAT in the coming lines.
So, now if you’re a student of secondary school or intermediate, and interested in becoming a lawyer or judge, then you must follow the given steps:
Steps to Take for becoming a Lawyer or Judge in Pakistan
As of 2021 for becoming a lawyer or judge this is the minimum education eligibility:
- You should pass Matriculation with Arts subjects or Science
- Intermediate with Arts or Science subjects with minimum 50% marks, after that
- You should Pass the LAT test which is conducted by HEC and get maximum marks
- Apply for entry into a university or law college which is recognized by HEC
- Complete your LL.B in five years and then
- Submit an intimation form after taking the final examination of LL.B
- pass the GAT test conducted by HEC and do six months internship with any senior lawyer
- After a minimum of two years of practice – Now you are eligible for a Judge
- Other options you have
Okay let’s discuss these points in detail now:
1. Matriculation with Arts or Science Subjects
For becoming a lawyer or judge there is no requirement of subjects at matriculation level. You can choose any subject of your choice but you should get good marks so that it will be counted in the final merit of University.
2. Intermediate with Arts or Science subjects
Similar to matriculation, there are also no special subjects at the Intermediate level for becoming a lawyer or Judge in Pakistan. The Intermediate marks are counted when you pass the LAT examination. So it is good if you could get good marks in intermediate.
3. LAW Admission Test (LAT)
After clearing your intermediate examination, the next step is to appear for the law admission test (LAT). This is a compulsory test conducted by the HEC. The law admission test is a requirement for applying for an LL.B degree.
The LAT consists of a personal statement, essay, and MCQs related to English, general knowledge, Pakistan Studies, Islamiat, Urdu, and Mathematics. Students can prepare for the test according to the intermediate syllabus. If you prepare well for your intermediate examination then, it will be useful for appearing for the law admission test as well. You have to score at least 50 out of 100 marks to pass the law admission test (LAT).
4. Applying for Admission to University
Upon clearing the law admission test with at least 50% marks, students can apply for an LL.B degree. This is a five-year study program. There are many universities offering a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree. Be sure that the university is HEC recognized before applying. Here your merit will be calculated and only students with higher marks in Matriculation, Intermediate, and LAW will get admission. So it is mandatory to get good marks in Matriculation and Intermediate as well as in LAT.
5. Completion of LL.B Degree
Once you gain admission into an LLB program in a reputed university or law college, you will pursue the degree for five years. Generally, this will consist of 10 semesters. You can view the LL.B Study Scheme. Here you will study a range of subjects, including English, Urdu, Political Science, Psychology, and from introduction to law, constitutional, contracts, corporate, litigation advocacy, criminal, civil, family laws, and jurisprudence.
6. Submitting Intimation for Obtaining Licence
When you gave your final semester’s papers, and before the final result, you have to submit an intimation form at your respective Bar council.
7. LAW Graduate Assessment Test (LAW GAT)
After this intimation and completing the degree, law students must appear for the law graduate assessment test, also known as the Law GAT. The purpose of this examination is to evaluate the competency of law students to become a member of the bar council. It is also a compulsory test by Pakistan Bar Council.
This test is more complex than the LAT, so you have to repeat your LL.B book before taking his GAT. In this test, students have to get at least 50% marks to pass it. Upon passing the Law GAT, the candidates are eligible to get their license from the Bar Council.
The final step to becoming a lawyer in Pakistan is obtaining a license from the Bar Council. In order to get the license, students must pass the Law GAT and along with a minimum of 6 months of internship/experience working under a senior lawyer. Once these two requirements are met, the candidate can obtain his license from his respective Bar council.
How to Become a Judge in Pakistan
Now it’s time to introduce you to the minimum eligibility to become a Judge in Pakistan.
8. Eligibility to Become a Judge in Pakistan
Newly becoming lawyers must work for a minimum of 2 years at lower level courts before they can receive a license for working at the high court. Two years of practice at the lower court is the minimum requirement of becoming a Judge in Pakistan. You should have an LL.B degree along with two years of legal practice and your age must be less than 35. This is the minimum eligibility to become a Judge in Pakistan.
You can view the Study Scheme and Syllabus for Additional Sessions Judge, and Civil Judge here.
9. Other Options you have
If you don’t want to become a judge early on then you have two other options:
- either you complete a ten-years of practice at the high court level and get a Supreme Court licence or;
- with these 10 years of legal practice, you can become an Additional Sessions Judge directly.
In either way, you will become successful.
In end, I must say that it is a noble profession to become a Lawyer or Judge in Pakistan. You should act professionally with your clients. I have explained here all the information that is required you to understand the method of becoming a lawyer or judge in Pakistan. Now if you have any questions or feedback, then you can leave it in the comment section below. Your feedback or question is highly appreciated.
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