Being able to work with the highest authority of the Indian Constitutional system i.e. the Judiciary is not only a matter of pride but also brings utmost respect and dignity. A judge is elected or appointed to preside over a court trial and hearing in order to come up with a decision. A judge is in charge of deciding whether the accused person is guilty or innocent on the basis of evidence that is presented before the court. In order to become a judge in India, candidates must have some amount of work experience as a practising lawyer preferably for more than 15 years. Apart from this candidates have to crack the Judicial Services Examination, which is considered one of the toughest examinations in the country in order to become a Judge.
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In order to become a Judge in India, the minimum required eligibility for students is, they must have a degree in LLB or LLM with enrollment as an advocate under the Advocates’ Act 1986 along with work experience. Some of the top Law Colleges offering these courses are NLU Delhi, Nalsar Hyderabad, NUJS Kolkata etc. Admissions to these colleges are solely done on the basis of various Law Entrance Exams such as CLAT, AILET, LSAT etc. Read More: How to Become a Lawyer
The average LLB course fee ranges from INR 30,000 - INR 5,00,000 per annum. The fee of the course varies from private colleges to government colleges. After the completion of LLB or LLM, the aspirant has to sit for the JSE and qualify for the examination to become a judge in India. Once qualified, the starting salary of the judge ranges from INR 50,000 – 5,00,000 annually. Read More: Salary of a Judge
4.1 Magistrate
4.2 District Judge
4.3 High Court Judge
5.1 How to Become a Judge After 12th
6.1 LLB
6.2 LLM
7.1 UK
7.2 US
7.3 Canada
7.4 Australia
10.1 Experience Wise
10.2 Hierarchy Wise
How to Become a Judge: Quick Facts
| Industry | Law & Judiciary |
| Eligibility | Candidate must have completed an undergraduate degree of either a 3-year or 5-year LL.B program Some of the state requirement enrolment as an advocate under the Advocates Act, 1961 |
| Related Industries | Supreme Court of India, High Court, District Court, Sessions Court, Civil Court, Tribunals |
| Required Skills | Unbiasedness, Emotional Intelligence, Analytical skills, Communication skills, Logical Sense, Reasoning Skills. |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 5.50 LPA |
| Highest Salary | INR 24 LPA |
What Does a Judge Do
Being the head of the Indian Judicial system there are a lot of responsibilities that come as duties and prerogatives of a Judge. Some of the crucial duties that are performed by a judge are listed below for your reference,
- While delivering justice, the first and foremost responsibility of a Judge is to be impartial and his decisions should never be biased towards his friends or acquaintances.
- A judge should be patient enough to hear a case. A judge should allow an Advocate or a party to present their case fully.
- A Judge should have a receptive mind. A judge should never reach the conclusion of a case without hearing both the defendant and the prosecutor.
- A judge should any sort of interruption within the counsel in their arguments as well as in the examination of the witness.
Steps to Become a Judge
The below-mentioned steps would help students to know what needs to be done to become a Judge,
- Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree – Candidates are required to earn a bachelor's degree in order to start their career as a Judge. The candidate must have an undergraduate degree in Law which can be either 5 years which they can start right after 12th or years LLB after graduation. This will help the candidate to get knowledge of the law and other functionalities of the law.
- Step 2: Get into an Internship – Candidates who start practising law under the leadership of experts of law such as Advocate or Judges or APOs. These will serve as an added advantage to the candidates to develop skills.
- Step 3: Enroll with the Bar Council – Candidates are required to enrol with the Bar council as some of the states require enrolment with the Bar Council in order to sit for the examination.
- Step 4: Prepare for State Public Service Commission examinations – Candidates are required to prepare for the public service commission examination in order to be a Judge. Candidates can take coachings or self study all the subjects which the candidates have learnt in their graduation
Types of Judges
A career as a judge offers great respect as well as responsibility simultaneously. Judges are categorized based on the hierarchy of the judicial system. Judges have to devote their careers to the various courts of the country.
Magistrate
| Job Profile | A Magistrate takes decisions on small matters. Magistrate make initial decisions in criminal matters like collecting evidence within their jurisdiction. A Magistrate is a regional judicial officer. A freshly appointed judge starts with being a Magistrate in many states. |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 4.56 L |
District Judge
| Job Profile | A District Judge is a Supreme authority in the district and has control over all civil courts in the district and within the local jurisdiction. They are responsible and ensure that the administration is running smoothly. A District Judge has original as well as appellate jurisdiction. |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 8.11 L |
High Court Judge
| Job Profile | A High Court Judge is a supreme authority in the state. They have the power to issue writs in case of enforcement of fundamental rights. They have original jurisdiction as well as Appellate Jurisdictions . |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 12.30 L |
Supreme Court Judge
| Job Profile | The Supreme Court has the highest authority in the country. Supreme Court judges have the power to review any decisions made by the High Court judges. They are responsible for settling disputes between two states, between the Centre and the State/States. They also act as an advisory body to the President. |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 24 L |
Read More: Types of Lawyers
How to Become a Judge in India
In order to become a Judge in India, there are several courses and steps that need to be followed for a hassle free journey. One must start prepping for the profession right from the school level. Mentioned below are the ways of becoming a Judge in India.
- School Level Preparation: There are no specific courses that should be taken up after successfully clearing board exams. Students from all streams, i.e. Science, Commerce and Humanities can take up Law Courses after clearing Class 12th boards.
How to Become a Judge After 12th
After succesfully clearing Class 12th, the steps that should be taken up in order to become judge after 12th are listed below for your reference,
- UG Level Preparation: Students aspiring to become a Judge after 12th can puruse various Undergraduate Law Courses such as BA LLB, BCom LLB, BSc LLB, BBA LLB. There are several entrance exams, that are conducted for enrolling students for the above mentioned Undergraduate Law Courses.
- PG Level Preparation: Studnets can also pursue postgraduate Law Courses such as LLM, from some of the top Law Colleges across the country. For Postgraduate Law courses, students have to sit for various Law Entrance Exams.
Law Courses
Candidates aspiring to become a judge in India can pursue the following courses in the field of Law:
LLB
LLB Course is an undergraduate law degree that is a prerequisite for anyone who wants to enter the field of judiciary and law.
| LLB Full-Form | Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws |
| LLB Duration | 5 years |
| LLB Examination Type | Semester Based |
| LLB Eligibility | Minimum 45% in Class XII from a recognized board |
| LLB Admission Process | Entrance Exams and Merit-Based |
| LLB Course Fee | INR 1,50,000-7,00,000 |
| LLB Average Salary | INR 3,00,000 - 6,00,000 LPA |
| LLB Top Law Firms | Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co., Trilegal India, DSK Legal, Anand & Anand, Luthra and Luthra, Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan, Platinum Partners, etc. |
| LLB Job Opportunities | Advocate, Paralegal, Private Practice, Junior Lawyer, Law Officer, Law Associate, State Prosecutor etc. |
Admission Process: Admission into the LLB course is based on the candidates’ performance in the CLAT UG examination.
Eligibility Criteria: Candidates appearing for the CLAT UG 2023, must have completed their 10+2 from a recognized board.
Entrance Exam: CLAT UG examination is conducted every year for the candidates who want to get into the LLB course. Given below are the important dates of the CLAT examination
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| CLAT 2023 Application Form opens | August 8, 2022 |
| CLAT 2023 Application Form Last Date | October 8, 2022 |
| CLAT 2023 Admit Card Release date | December 6, 2022 |
| CLAT 2023 Exam Date | December 18, 2022 |
| CLAT 2023 Result Announcement | Last week of December, 2022 |
| CLAT 2023 Counselling | January 2023 |
LLM
LLM is a postgraduate degree in Law. pursued by those either holding an undergraduate academic law degree, a professional law degree, or an undergraduate degree in a related subject.
| LLM Full-Form | Masters of Legislative Laws |
| LLM Duration | 1-2 years (Full Time) |
| LLM Eligibility | LLB degree of 3 years or BA LLB/BSc LLB/BCA LLB degree of 5 years with a minimum of 50-60% aggregate scores |
| LLM Admission Process | Through Entrance Exams, followed by counseling or Personal Interview Round |
| LLM Entrance Exams | CLAT, AILET, LSAT, ILICAT, IPU CET, BHU PET, TS PGCLET, etc. |
| LLM Colleges | National Law Institute University, National Law School of India University (NLSIU), NALSAR University of Law, Delhi University, Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), National Law University, etc. |
| LLM Distance Colleges | Annamalai University, Kurukshetra University, Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, Kuvempu University, Karnataka State Open University, etc. |
| LLM Specializations | LLM International law, LLM Human Rights, LLM Maritime Law, LLM Intellectual Property Rights, LLM Environmental law, LLM Taxation Law, LLM Corporate Law, LLM Criminal Law, etc. |
| LLM Fees | INR 1,80,000 - 5,60,000 |
| LLM Salary | INR 8,00,000-15,00,000 |
| Top LLM Jobs & Career | Advocate, Lawyer, Legal Counsel, Paralegal, Legal Associate, Legal Corporate Consultant, Magistrate, Judge, Assistant Professor, etc. |
Entrance Exam: CLAT PG examination is conducted every year for the candidates who want to get into the LLB course. Given below are the important dates of the CLAT examination.
| Events | Dates |
|---|---|
| Application Process Commences | August 8, 2022 |
| Last Date to fill the application form | November 13, 2022 |
| Admit Card | 4th week of November, 2022 |
| Exam Date | December 18, 2022 |
Eligibility Criteria: Candidates appearing for the CLAT UG 2023, must have completed their LLB or any relevant degree from a recognized board.
How to become a Judge Abroad
To be a judge abroad the candidate has to have the citizenship of that particular country in which he/she wishes to practice. The candidate has to then pursue LLB. If the candidate does not belong to the country, he/she wishes to practice then the aspirant has to pursue a law conversion course followed by the Bar Professional Training Course or the Legal Practice Course. After clearing the examination, the aspirant must acquire legal experience to become a judge abroad.
UK
Admission process: Educational Requirements: Must have a five year LLB or a GDL degree followed by a minimum of five or seven years' post-qualification experience, Other Requirements: It is compulsory for the candidate to be a citizen of the United Kingdom.
Top Colleges
| College Name | Average Annual Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| Birmingham City University | 11.39 L |
| Bournemouth University | 12.81 L |
| University of Brighton | 12.24 L |
| University of Central Lancashire | 11.83 L |
| Cardiff University | 17.27 L |
| De Montfort University | 12.10 L |
| Liverpool John Moores University | 12.58 L |
US
Admission Process: Educational Requirements: Must have a UG and a Juris Doctorate degree with a few years of practice as a Lawyer. Other Requirements: It is compulsory for the candidate to be a citizen of the United States.
Top Colleges
| College Name | Average Annual Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| Harvard Law School | 49.40 L |
| Yale Law School | 50.33 L |
| Stanford Law School | 45.05 L |
| UC Berkeley School of Law | 49.89 L |
| Columbia Law School | 52.46 L |
| University of Chicago | 43.35 L |
| NYU School of Law | 49.52 L |
Canada
Admission Process: Educational Requirements: Must have completed a pre-law college or university program and a bachelor's degree from a law school. The candidate needs extensive experience as a lawyer or law professor and continuous bar association membership. Other Requirements: It is compulsory for the candidate to be a citizen of Canada.
Top Colleges
| College Name | Average Annual Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| University of Toronto | 25.41 L |
| McGill University | 14.70 L |
| University of British Columbia | 53.04 L |
| York University | 25.07 L |
Australia
Admission Process: Educational Requirements: Must have completed a pre-law college or university program and a bachelor's degree from a law school. The candidate needs extensive experience as a practising lawyer or a law professor. Other Requirements: It is compulsory for the candidate to be a citizen of Australia.
Top Colleges
| College Name | Average Annual Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| University of Melbourne | 25.65 L |
| University of Sydney | 34.50 L |
| UNSW Sydney | 23 L |
| Australian National University | 22.04 L |
| The University of Queensland | 22.17 L |
| Monash University | 25 L |
| University of Tasmania | 18 L |
Benefits of Becoming of Judge
Being a judge is a very reputed and noble job and has various advantages doing this job. If the candidate has a love and passion for law and the judiciary, then this is the perfect job for the aspirants. Here are some positive points of being a judge.
- High Salary: Being a judge is a highly reputed job, but on the other hand, most of the aspirants are also attracted to the salary that the profession brings. The salaries of the judge are very attractive all across. The salary of a judge is higher than others in the legal profession.
- Job Security: The profession of a judge is secured as compared to other legal professions as long as the license of the judge is not cancelled. Here, the aspirant does not have to switch jobs. Once a judge always remains a judge.
- Continual Learning: This profession gives the opportunity to learn every day. Every new case becomes a new learning arena. New laws pass which the judge has to keep a track of. The judge must be up to date on the new law.
Skills Required to Become a Judge
In order to become a Judge in India, one must possess or inculcate certain skill sets that would not only help understand the profession better but also will simultaneously help them excel in their profession.
Tabulated below are some of the top skills that needs to be mastered by students who aspire to become judge someday,
| Logic Sence | Reasoning Skills | Determination of the guilt or innocence of the defendants |
| Emotional Intelligence | Legal Knowledge | Unbaised Judgement |
Salary of a Judge in India
The salary of a judge ranges from INR 45,000 – INR 5,00,000. The salary increases as the post, rank, and experience of the judge increases. The salary of the judge is the highest than any other rank of this profession.
Experience Wise
| Work Experience | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Entry Level | 7 – 9 L |
| Mid-Level | 10 – 15 L |
| Senior Level | 25 – 30 L |
Hierarchy Based Salary
| Hierarchy | Average Monthly Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Supreme Court | 3 – 3.5 L |
| High Court | 1.5 – 2 L |
| District Court | 50,000 – 83,000 |
How to Become a Judge: FAQs
Ques. Are the candidate with a diploma course eligible to become a judge?
Ans. The candidate with diploma courses is not eligible to become a judge. The candidates with certificate courses are also ineligible to become a judge.
Ques. Which states conduct Judicial Services Examination?
Ans. The states which conduct Judicial Services Examinations are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal
Ques. What type of questions are asked in CLAT?
Ans. The mainly objective type of questions is asked in CLAT. The subjects from which questions are asked are Numerical Ability, English (with Comprehension), Logical Reasoning, General Awareness, Legal Awareness, and Legal Aptitude.
Ques. How are district judges appointed?
Ans. The district judges are appointed by the governor in consultation with the High Court after the candidate has qualified for the Judiciary Services Examination conducted by the State Public Service Commission.
Ques. How many times do the candidate need to fill the form for JSE?
Ans. Firstly the candidate needs to fill the form for the preliminary examination. If selected, the candidate has to fill in the form separately for the Mains level of the examination.
Ques. What is the minimum qualifying marks for Prelims?
Ans. The minimum qualifying marks for the prelims is 60%. And, for the candidates of the reserved categories, it is 55%.
Ques. What type of questions are asked at the Mains level?
Ans. The questions asked at the level of Mains are subjective types. The examinations include three to four papers.
Ques. Are the marks of Prelims and Mains considered at the final level?
Ans. The marks of Prelims are not considered at the final stage of selection. The candidates need to qualify prelims just for approval to the second round. Whereas the marks of the Mains are considered even for the final round.
Ques. Is the JSE syllabus the same for all the states?
Ans. No, the syllabus is not the same for all the states. It may vary from one state to another.
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