Whether you have ever pondered on the question of how to become a criminal lawyer, then you are entering one of the most demanding and yet rewarding professions in the field of law in India. The criminal law is concerned with crimes committed against the state and the society and regulated by a landmark such as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The adversarial legal system of India is such that criminal lawyers are either defendants or prosecutors who defend the accused or defend justice respectively.
The profession requires expertise in intricate laws, intuition in the courtroom, unstoppable research and close drafting skills. The trip is a challenge, but the monetary compensation of the most skilled practitioners is outstanding, and the career satisfaction of protecting the basic rights is unrivaled.
Who Is a Criminal Lawyer?
A criminal lawyer is a professional in the field of law that deals in the investigating, prosecution, and defense of individuals or entities found in criminal behavior. Their main focus is to protect the legal rights of their client – since the time of arrests up to bail, trial, and appeals.
They explain complicated laws, examine evidence, and provide compelling arguments in a court. An excellent criminal lawyer has to be knowledgeable of the Indian legal system, analytical, and has a strong sense of justice and the rule of law.
How to Become a Criminal Lawyer After 12th
The roadmap of how to become a criminal lawyer after your 12th standard involves a five-step roadmap. The following is the look of that course:
Step 1 – Choose the Right Stream After 12th
Any student of any stream be it Arts, Commerce or even Science can study law. However, taking the Arts stream with such subjects as Political Science, Sociology, and History will provide you with a solid background knowledge of the social and legal framework of India, which will transfer to law school easier and more educated.
Step 2 – Take Law Entrance Exams
In order to get admission in a good law school you have to pass national/state entrance level exams. Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is the most noticeable among National Law Universities (NLUs). Other major examinations are AILET to NLU Delhi and CETs of different states in India to other reputable law colleges.
Step 3 – Pursue a 5-Year Integrated Law Degree
Parents After the 12th, enroll in a five year integrated B.A. LL.B. or B.B.A. LL.B. course. This degree is an addition to a typical undergraduate degree that offers you a thorough academic background and at the same time introduces you to the foundational areas of law, such as criminal law, evidence, and procedure.
Step 4 – Internships in Criminal Law Firms
Experience can not be negotiated. While doing your degree, you should be active in pursuing internships with a criminal law firm, or with independent criminal advocates, or with a trial court. These placements put you into real life court room dynamics, art of preparing bail application, and the practical aspect of enforcing criminal law such as the BNS and CrPC.
Step 5 – Enroll with State Bar Council
On graduation, you need to be registered as an advocate with a State Bar Council by the Advocates Act, 1961. Then you will have to take the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) to obtain a permanent Certificate of Practice your official permission to go to Indian courts.
How to Become a Criminal Lawyer After 10th
A lot of students ask themselves how to become a criminal lawyer immediately after 10th standard. The main points of the answer are as follows:
- You cannot enroll in any professional law program directly after the 10th standard.
- You must have completed your 12 th standard (10 +2) in a recognized board and this is a must.
- Prepare with Class 11 and 12 to take CLAT/ AILET entrance exams.
- Concentrate on building up good reading, writing and analytical skills at this age.
- You can also have an early advantage of joining the debate clubs or mock trial activities in your school.
Complete 12th First (Mandatory)
The Bar Council of India (BCI) in India requires its future lawyers to first graduate their higher secondary education (10+2) before proceeding to professional law training. This is a critical time – it generates the academic maturity, the communication ability, the general knowledge required in the world of law.
The two critical years are spent by most students on board examination and also preparing to take competitive entrance exams in law schools. It is also impossible to be enrolled in any program of five years of integrated law without having a valid 10+2 pass certificate of a known board. There are no shortcuts here.
Choose Your Law Entrance Route
- CLAT: National Law Universities (NLUs) all over India.
- AILET: Only the National Law University, Delhi.
- State CETs: In case of state-specific law colleges (e.g. Maharashtra, Karnataka).
- University Vests (Private): Exams such as SLAT (Symbiosis), ILICAT.
- Start the preparations during Class 11 itself to achieve maximum results.
Clarify: Direct Admission After 10th Is Not Possible
The belief that a person can enter into a professional career in law immediately after the 10th grade is a common misconception. In the existing Indian laws, the 5 year integrated LLB minimum qualification has been set at 12 th grade and 3 year LLB at graduation degree.
The only courses at the 10 th-grade level that are related to law are either introductory or vocational. They do not make one fit to be an advocate in Indian courts. There is no legal exemption to skip the 12 the standard if one wants to skip the standard according to the Bar Council of India.
How to Become a Criminal Lawyer After Graduation
In case you already have a bachelor degree, the following is how you can become a criminal lawyer using the graduate path:
- Seek admission into a 3 year LLB course in an established university.
- Spotting entrance exams like DU LLB, MAH-CET Law or State specific tests.
- Make your elective concentration in Criminal Law, Evidence Law and Trial Advocacy.
- Consider criminal courts and criminal law firms in particular as your internships.
- Upon graduation take the degree and enroll with your State Bar Council and pass the AIBE.
- Consider becoming a member of a chamber of Senior Advocates in order to have some mentoring in criminal litigation.
Which Degree Is Best for a Criminal Lawyer?
The perfect level will all depend on your level of studies. Students who begin after 12th standard have the 5-year integrated B.A. LL.B. which is strongly suggested -it gives them an extra period to have internships and it is loaded with social sciences. In the case of the graduates, the 3 year LLB is the conventional and effective route.
At this point, no matter the degree title, specialize in the mandatory subjects such as the Law of Crimes (BNS), Law of Evidence, and the Criminal Procedure Code. Another factor that will make you have a high competitive advantage in the field is the choice of a university whose moot court culture and trial advocacy programs are good.
How to Become a Criminal Lawyer in the Supreme Court
To the ambitious who want to pursue the profession of a criminal lawyer in the Supreme Court, reading how to become a criminal lawyer in the Supreme Court would take years of systematic readiness. Here are the key milestones:
Minimum Years of Practice Required
You must have practised as an advocate in minimum four years plus a one-year training period with a senior advocate of standing under 10 years before you could appear in the Supreme Court as an Advocate-on-Record (AOR).
Work Under a Senior Advocate
Those seeking the career path of Supreme Court practitioners should strive to be employed by Senior Advocates who are practicing in the area of criminal and constitutional law. You have to complete a year of compulsory AOR training under registered Senior AOR, which will help you to learn the specifics of appellate practice at the national level.
Build Strong High Court Experience
Prior to joining the Supreme Court, attain excellent skills in criminal appeals and constitutional issues in the High Court. High Court orders are frequently appealed to the Supreme Court, and so this experience will be a core and indispensable stage in your career path of Supreme Court advocacy.
Become an Advocate-on-Record (AOR)
AOR is the only person who can file the cases and represent a party in the Supreme Court. In order to devout this title, you have to pass the AOR Examination of the Supreme Court of India which assesses your understanding in Practice and Procedure, Drafting, Advocacy and Leading Cases.
How Many Years Does It Take to Become a Criminal Lawyer?
The overall schedule of how to become a criminal lawyer is determined by your course of action. When you do the 5 year integrated course upon completing the 12th, it takes a 5 year period of study combined with 6-12 months of bar enrolment and passing the AIBE.
In case you choose the 3-year LLB on finishing your studies, want to add that to your 3-year initial degree. In both scenarios, it will take you 5 to 6 years after high school to be licensed as an advocate. Nevertheless, it is usually an extra 3-5 years of active practice with a senior advocate before becoming a fully established and respected criminal lawyer, and the necessary trial experience and reputation as a professional is reached.
Criminal Lawyer Salary in India (2026)
Financial trajectory is one of the most essential aspects that one should look at in the process of learning how to become a criminal lawyer. Here’s a quick overview:
| Career Level | Experience | Estimated Annual Salary (INR) |
| Freshers | 0–3 Years | ₹3 Lakh – ₹5 Lakh |
| Mid-Level | 5–10 Years | ₹7 Lakh – ₹15 Lakh |
| Top Criminal Lawyers | 10+ Years | ₹20 Lakh – ₹40 Lakh+ |
Who Is the No. 1 Criminal Lawyer in India?
Although the title of No. 1 is subjective by nature, Harish Salve is among the most renowned and best-paid legal intellectuals in India today, who has made a name as a constitutional and criminal law expert and as the attorney of India before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Traditionally, the legendary and unquestionable giant of criminal law was Ram Jethmalani. Other leading personalities in 2026 are Sidharth Luthra who is famed as the defender of white-collar crimes, and Rebecca John who is credited with her fearless representation in high-profile criminal cases going to the highest courts in India.
Skills Required to Become a Successful Criminal Lawyer
Learning how to become a criminal lawyer in school is one thing, but the other one is to acquire the appropriate product of professional skills:
- Analytical Thinking: The skill to break down evidence with a lot of complexity, spot contradictions and locate loopholes in the law.
- Public Speaking: Effective oratory to convince the judges and bring strong points in the open court.
- Legal Research: Ability to use legal databases such as SCC Online and Manupatra to locate the pertinent precedents within a short period of time.
- Drafting Skills: Accuracy in writing of bail applications, petitions and charge sheets and legal notices.
- Patience & Resilience: Criminal trials may be time-consuming, emotionally challenging and unpredictable – one needs mental strength.
- Carefulness: The omission of a detail or a detail that was not considered can alter the entire result of a case.
- Client Management: The power to speak intelligently and sensitively with clients who are under extreme pressure.
Career Growth & Specialization Options
After you have learned how to become a criminal lawyer, and have established a good practice, some interesting specialization opportunities present themselves:
- White-Collar Crime: Dealing with corporate fraud, money laundering, and violations by the SEBI.
- Cybercrime Law: Experts in data breaches, internet fraud and IT Act cases.
- Public Prosecutor: Prosecutes criminal cases as working with the government on behalf of the state.
- Court Services: Judging by passing the Judicial Services Examination.
- Legal Consultant: Counseling companies in criminal compliance, regulatory risk and internal investigation.
- Human Rights Advocacy: The organization represents marginalized clients in criminal matters that have a civil liberties aspect.
- International criminal law: Intervention in transnational offenses and international tribunals.
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Conclusion
It is a long and rewarding marathon before one can get to the realization of how to become a criminal lawyer in India. It requires a good educational background either the five-year combined LLB or the three-year post-graduate programme then a serious mentorship period with senior advocates.
Initial years may be small in terms of finances, however, perseverance is rewarded. The need in the competent criminal law practitioners is ever increasing as the Indian justice system becomes increasingly transformative with new laws such as Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and as the number of internet-related and white collar crimes explodes. Criminal law is one of the most well-known, effective, and satisfying professions in India because of the grit, passion and intellect it requires of the person who can live in a highly pressured career.
FAQs
Is it possible to become a criminal lawyer after 10th?
No. To apply for any professional law degree in India, you have to first complete your 12 th standard (10 +2) through a recognized board.
How much does a fresher criminal lawyer earn?
Starting criminal lawyers receive salaries ranging between ₹3LPA to ₹5LPA, but starting salaries when employed under senior advocates can be lower.
Does CLAT have to be done in order to become a criminal lawyer?
To get to National Law Universities (NLUs), you need CLAT, but you can also enter other institutions of recognized law colleges by state-level entrance examination or by exams of private universities.
Who is entitled to make cases in the Supreme Court of India?
The Supreme Court also permits only a special Advocate-on-Record (AOR) to enter a pleading on behalf of a party, and to actually represent a party in the Supreme Court.
What is a more desirable 3-year or 5-year LLB?
Both are equally valid paths. The 5-year integrated degree is the one that is best when you are beginning after completion of 12th unlike the 3-year LLB which is the best when you already have a graduation degree.
