Legal services lure youngsters

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It seems the government (at least one wing) realised that youngsters prefer to opt for jobs in the private sector more than the public. The Law & Justice Ministry after observing that fresh law graduates are more keen to join private law firms than work for the government or take up private court practice, is contemplating to announce a scheme that would allow law graduates to enter the government under the Indian Legal Services after clearing a UPSC type examination.
Many young law students think that it’s a good move to revive government legal jobs. Ravi Shankar, a 25-year-old advocate working with a private law firm, who studied law from the Indraprastha University, took a private job a year ago because the opportunities in the public sector were few.
“Currently, you can get a good, satisfying job in the public sector only if you have two-three years experience. Less than that, the job and the money would not be satisfactory even if you are meritorious. Also the exposure that I’m currently getting in a private firm would not have been similar if I’d have taken up a government job,” says Ravi, who thinks that the ILS exams would give students a chance to work with a much better profile in the public sector.
Arpita, a second year law student of Delhi University, says that most of her classmates run away from a government job as getting a good position there is only possible if one has slogged it out at different places (either internship or a private job).
Even Aman Panwar, a student of the Indian Law society, who would be graduating next year thinks the same. He says that most of his classmates want to work with corporate firms. “Very few want to take up litigation as the money is not so good,” he says, adding that an exam like ILS would give plenty of opportunities to young law students like him, who want to work in the public sector, but with a good profile.
Arpita never wanted to go in for a private job. “It’s a hell lot of work. I have always preferred taking up a government job. But considering that the package is not very good, it put me off. The ILS exams sound good because besides a good package, it would also come with a good official position in Grade A. Working in the same rank as IAS officers will lure many youngsters,” she says, adding that students, however, should be ready to put in the desired efforts as well.
However, the ministry is not yet clear about the time of its implementation. But they agree that exams will be difficult to crack. One of the officials from the ministry says that the procedures and the type of questions are yet to be formulated.
“It’s in its initial stages. We need to plan out many things for conducting it. It will take some time but once it starts, it will open avenues for the young, hard working and keen law graduates,” he says on the condition of anonymity.