Career & Jobs for Lawyers
in Pakistan
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Career
Opportunities for Lawyers in Pakistan
Career as a lawyer in Pakistan
A
legal system exists in every civilized society to safeguard people’s
rights, interest, and their life and property. To run the system
successfully there needs people who can understand the laws, interpret
and explain them to the common people. There come the jobs for
lawyers. Career as a lawyer has always been a respectful
option in the civilized societies in the world. An
advocate is one who speaks on behalf of another person, especially in a
legal context. He is licensed to practice law, learned in the law; as an
attorney, counsel or solicitor; Lawyer profession involves the practical
application and knowledge of acts, rules, statutes and laws of the land
to solve people’s problems, or to advance the interests of those who
hire lawyers to perform legal services. The role of the lawyer varies
significantly across legal jurisdictions.
In today’s rapidly changing world progress and development have been
made almost in every profession. It results creation of large
number of opportunities for individuals. Legal profession has no
exception. Law jobs in Pakistan can be seen in national
dailies regularly. In the legal profession, lawyers have many options over the
course of their careers. Besides private practice, they can always
aspire to becoming a district attorney on division level, assistant
district attorney on district level. Jobs for lawyers are offered as Advocate
General in the High courts and as attorney General in the Supreme Court.
Many other career opportunities for lawyers are also available in legal profession like public
prosecutor, government counsel, corporate in-house counsel,
administrative law judge, judge, arbitrator, law professor, or
politician. There are also many non-legal jobs which legal training is
good preparation for, such as corporate executive, government
administrator, investment banker, entrepreneur, or journalist. A large
organization offers jobs as legal advisor and lucrative remuneration is
offered for the job. In developing countries like India and Pakistan, a
large majority of law students never actually practice, but simply use
their law degree as a foundation for careers in other fields. Lawyers
generally structure their legal education around their chosen specialty;
the boundaries between different types of lawyers are carefully defined
and hard to cross. After one earns a law degree, career mobility may be
severely constrained. The legal profession is not rigorously bifurcated
and everyone within it can easily change roles and arenas.
Specialization
in Law
In
many countries, lawyers are general practitioners who will take almost
any kind of case that walks in the door. In others, there has been a
tendency since the start of the 20th century for lawyers to specialize
early in their careers. In countries where specialization is prevalent,
many lawyers specialize in representing one side in one particular area
of the law; thus, it is common in the United States to hear of
plaintiffs' personal injury attorneys.
Lawyer’s fee or earning
Lawyers are paid for their
work in a variety of ways. In private practice, they may work for an
hourly fee according to a billable hour structure, a contingency fee
(usually in cases involving personal injury), or a lump sum payment if
the matter is straightforward. Normally, most lawyers negotiate a
written fee agreement up front and may require a non-refundable retainer
in advance. In many countries there are fee-shifting arrangements by
which the loser must pay the winner's fees and costs. Lawyers working
directly on the payroll of governments, nonprofits, and corporations
usually earn a regular annual salary. In many countries, lawyers can
also volunteer their labor in the service of worthy causes through an
arrangement called pro bono (for the common good). Traditionally such
work was performed on behalf of the poor, but in some countries it has
now expanded to many other causes like the natural environment.
Before adopting the legal
profession, one thing must be kept in mind that earning don’t start from
day one. But continuous and regular hardworking can make a lawyer a
successful person. There are legal aid lawyers who specialize in
providing legal services to the indigent; legal aid specialists are
practically nonexistent.
How to enroll as a lawyer in a Bar Council. How to become a lawyer
Legal practitioners and Bar councils acts 1973 and Pakistan Legal
Practitioners and Bar councils act 1976 are there for the
registration/enrolment of lawyers and their qualification. Enrolment in
the concerned Provincial Bar Council is imperative to practice as lawyer
in the lower courts. After passing the examination of
LL.B
in Pakistan
a person can
get himself enrolled in the Bar Council. The enrolment as an advocate is
subject to getting through the subjective type/ Multiple Choices of
written Examination within a period of 2½ years in four attempts,
completion Of six months
apprenticeship
and passing the Viva Voce
Examination. The candidate will be supplied, at the time of submission
of Intimation, a book-let Containing questionnaire, against deposit of
Rs. 300/- as Examination fee. However, the Examination fee for every
subsequent attempt shall be Rs. 200/-
The Questionnaire shall
consist of the questions pertaining to the following subjects:-
-
Civil Procedure Code
-
Criminal Procedure Code
-
Limitation Act
-
Constitution of the Islamic
Republic of Pakistan
-
Legal Practitioners and Bar
Councils Act 1973
-
Canons of Professional
Conduct and Etiquette of Advocate as framed by the Pakistan Bar Council.
-
Court Fees Act, and suits
Valuation Act; and
-
Qanoon-e-Shahadat
Admission to the Bar Council
A bar council is a
professional body that regulates the profession of lawyers. In Pakistan,
one becomes a member of the bar after fulfilling certain requirements.
They must have a valid law degree from a recognized university, and they
offer certain undertakings and pay the Bar Association fees. If a person
does not hold an
LL.M Degree
in Pakistan then they must first complete six months
pupilage with a practicing Advocate, whom they must have assisted on at
least ten cases during their six-month pupilage period. A pupilage is
the final stage of training to be a lawyer and usually lasts six months.
At the end of the six months a pupil must get their senior advocate to
sign a certificate confirming satisfactory completion and send it to the
Bar Council. The pupil will then receive a Certificate after which he
will be entitled practice as a lawyer and can write word advocate with
his name.
Advocate High Court
Advocate High Court is the
second level, and is eligible to practice in the High Courts of Pakistan
and below. A license is obtained after successful completion of two
year's practice in the lower courts by application which is reviewed by
a body of High Court Judges headed by the respective provincial Chief
Justices and the relevant provincial Bar Council. Most applications
after successful completion of the requirement are accepted.
Advocate Supreme Court
Advocate Supreme Court is
the third level. After successful completion of ten years practice at
the High Courts by application to the Pakistan Bar Council and reviewed
by a panel of Supreme Court Judges headed by the Chief Justice of
Pakistan. Over fifty percent of the number of applications after
successful completion of the requirement are accepted. An unsuccessful
application in one year does not bar the candidate from re-applying in
the next judicial year.
Senior Advocate Supreme
Court
The highest level is the
Senior Advocate Supreme Court. It is Pakistan's title equivalent to
Queen's Counsel in the United Kingdom. After at least fifteen years of
practice in the Supreme Court, Application for becoming a senior
advocate Supreme Court may be submitted to a panel of Supreme Court
Judges headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan. Very few applications
are accepted and even fewer invitations are made. Attorney Generals are
invited by the Supreme Court on appointment to the office.
Courts in Pakistan
-
Supreme Court of
Pakistan
-
Sindh High Court
-
Lahore High Court
-
Lahore High Court
Bar
-
Peshawar High Court
-
District Court
Karachi (East)
-
Malir Court Karachi
-
Hyderabad Courts
Sindh
-
HIGH COURT BAR
ASSOCIATION, MULTAN, PAKISTAN
-
High Court bar
Association Bahawalpur Pakistan
-
Punjab Bar Council
After partition courts were
classified into criminal courts and civil courts. Civil courts further
divide into three categories namely Court of the District Judge, Court
of the Additional District Judge and Court of the Civil Judge. While the
Criminal Courts were classified as follow:
-
Session
Court
-
Court of the
Magistrate Class I
-
Court of the
Magistrate Class II
-
Court of the
Magistrate Class III
-
Court of the
Magistrate Section 30
Furthermore magisterial
powers were delegated to the Administrative Officers on District
Magistrate and Sub-Divisional level to hear criminal cases. Special
courts were also established from time to time to hear special cases.
Labour courts were set up to hear industrial worker cases. Federal
Shariat court was established in 1998.
Prerequisite for a
successful legal profession
To get success in the legal
profession all the god gifted abilities must be put into practice. A
lawyer should have command over law, knowledge about court rules and
procedure. Hardworking on the right lines may get him to the
destination. Competition is increasing in this field like other
professions therefore no short cut available for success in the legal
profession. Consistency, enthusiasm, fervor and regular research and
up to the date information about the prevailing laws and statutes are
the key to success in this field. You will face test and trail at every
step. This is the profession of endurance and restraint. This is the
profession to move on in trying circumstances with courage and patience
and intelligence. A lawyer should have the ability to understand the
situation because he has to prepare a stratagem to face the possible
state of affairs. New comer in this field should have kept the prestige
of this profession right from the beginning. A little mistake may cause
him a life long bad name. This is the responsibility of the lawyer to
prove himself up to the mark and do not harm the confidence of the
client.
Universities / colleges offered LL.B
Programme in Pakistan
Following universities /
colleges offered three years
LL.B degree programme.
Islamabad Federal
Capital Territory
NWFP
-
Peshawar Law
College, Peshawar
-
Gomal Law
College, Dera Ismail Khan
-
Hazara School of
Law, Mansehra
-
Islamia Law
College Peshawar
-
Frontier law
College, Peshawar
Punjab
-
National
Institute of Legal Studies, Attock
-
Muhammad Ali
Jinnah Law College, Gujranwala
-
Gujrat Law
College, Gujrat
-
Jinnah Law
College, Jhelum
-
Punjab Law
College, Lahore
-
Quaid-e-Azam Law
College, Lahore
-
Hamayat Islam Law
College, Lahore
-
Lahore Law
College, Lahore
-
National Law
College, Lahore
-
City Law College,
Lahore
-
Pakistan College
of Law, Lahore
-
The Institute of
Legal Studies, Lahore
-
Superior College
of Law, Lahore
-
Hamayat-e-Islam
Degree College for Women, Lahore
-
Quaid-e-Azam Law
College, Okara
-
Ghousia Law
College, Okara
-
Al-Mizan Law
College, Rawalpindi
-
Rawalpindi Law
College, Rawalpindi
-
Muslim Law
College, Rawalpindi
-
Punjab Law
College, Rawalpindi
-
Quaid-e-Azam Law
College, Sargodha
-
Allama Iqbal Law
College, Sialkot
-
Muhammadan Law
College, Sheikhupura
-
Lyallpur Law
College, Faisalabad
Sindh
-
S. M. Law
College, Karachi
-
Islamia Law
College, Karachi
-
Quaid-e-Azam Law
College, Nawabshah
-
Mirpurkhas Law
College, Mirpurkhas
Universities in
Pakistan which have Law College Department
-
University Law
College, University of Punjab, Lahore
-
LUMS, Lahore
-
Gilani Law
College, BZ University, Multan
Further
Details:
further details about this
profession can be had from the following Bar councils
-
Pakistan Bar Council,
Rawalpindi
-
Punjab Bar Council, Fen
Road, Lahore
-
Sindh Bar Council, High
Court Building Karachi
