Judge / Judicial Services
Judges preside over courts, interpret laws, evaluate evidence and deliver binding judgments. In India the common routes are a 5-year integrated LLB after class XII or a 3-year LLB after graduation, followed by qualifying state judicial/service exams and litigation experience. The role requires deep legal knowledge, impartiality and strong written and oral reasoning.
Actions for your grade
- Strengthen English and regional language writing and comprehension
- Read introductory books/articles on law, rights and governance
- Participate in school legal clubs, debates and essay competitions
Your complete path from Grade 10 to Judge / Judicial Services
Every step you need — from now to your first job.
Highly competitive national law entrance (CLAT) — top NLUs lead to stronger placements and litigation exposure.
- NowArts Stream
- ExamsCLAT
- DegreeBA LLB / BBA LLB / BCom LLB (5 years)
- CollegesNLSIU Bangalore · NALSAR Hyderabad · NLU Delhi
- CareerJudge / Judicial Services
Many universities have their own entrance tests or merit-based admissions; internships with advocates are crucial.
- NowAny Stream Stream
- ExamsCUET UG
- DegreeLLB (3 years) after any undergraduate degree
- CollegesFaculty of Law DU · Symbiosis Law School Pune · BHU Varanasi
- CareerJudge / Judicial Services
After LLB, candidates typically practise as advocates and prepare for state judicial/service exams (state-specific) to become civil judges or magistrates.
- NowAny Stream Stream
- ExamsCLAT
- DegreeLLB (3/5 years); optional LLM for specialization
- CollegesNludelhi · NLSIU Bangalore · NALSAR Hyderabad
- CareerJudge / Judicial Services
Entrance exams
| Exam | Eligibility | Difficulty | Window |
|---|---|---|---|
CUET UG NTA | Class 12 (any stream) | Medium | May-Jun |
CLAT Consortium of NLUs | Class 12, 45%+ | Hard | Dec |
Where to Study
Institutes known to offer this career pathway in India.