How to Become a Corporate Lawyer?

Counted amongst the most lucrative options for a career in law, corporate lawyers work in an assorted range of organisations on the legal aspects and facets of the financial world. From working through the nuances of financial transactions, and their standing in terms of domestic and international laws to supervising mammoth deals of takeovers, mergers and acquisitions, they act as vital wheels in running the industry. Further, the importance of corporate law is also being felt in emerging fields of cyber law and environmental law, amongst others. Parallelly, course offerings around the world have rapidly increased vying to cater to the demands of budding individuals. Read on to know how you can build a successful career as a corporate lawyer through this detailed blog.

Also Read: How to Become a Lawyer

Overview

Before diving into a discussion on careers, it is important to give an overview of corporate law as a discipline. In particular, it involves the development of hands-on knowledge and understanding of financial codes and regulations, preparation of legal documents and contracts, legal streamlining of operations, etc. Since it is a mix of finance and accounting with law, a solid grasp of both disciplines is an absolute must. Its various specialisations include stocks and securities, financial organisations, bankruptcy, zoning laws, intellectual property rights, tax and much more. Corporate lawyers now work not only in courts but also as legal counsels, legal advisors, attorneys, compliance experts and even company secretaries.

Also Read: How to Become a Company Secretary

What Does a Corporate Lawyer Do?

A corporate lawyer works in different types of legal issues related to the business practices. They will often handle the financial and legal aspects of the businesses as per the demand of the clients. Dependng on the skills and expertise of the corporate lawyers, they can also handle the corporate taxes as well as oversee the acquisitions and mergers. Apart from negotiating the business arrangements, the corporate lawyers will also verify the accounts on which business transactions are being conducted. Here are some of the most important responsibilities for a corporate lawyer:

• They can negotiate agreements and contracts
• They will assist with the legal framework while selling or restructuring the company
• They will sell assets and shares
• They can provide general legal council
• They will list companies on the stock market
• They can come up with strategic legal decisions

When you become a corporate lawyer, you also might need to interact with numerous corporate entities such as partnerships and alliances.

Pros of Becoming a Corporate Lawyer

If you are looking forward to becoming a corporate lawyer, then, check out some of the pros of this job profile- 

• Corporate lawyers are offered lucrative salary packages as compared to other law related job profiles. 
• Experienced corporate lawyers are also hired by organisations as a member of the policymaking committee 
• Such lawyers need not work from the court rooms. They can work conveniently from their offices.

How to Become a Corporate Lawyer: Courses

Core corporate law careers most often require an advanced degree in law such as a BBA LLB, LLB, LLM and a PhD in Law along with dual degrees which offer a mix of law with Public Policy, Engineering, Humanities or Public Health and a host of other spheres. 

• LLB: This is a preliminary degree in law typically undertaken after earning an undergraduate degree. It introduces an individual to the fundamentals of legal concepts and procedures. Major corporate law subjects include torts, business law, company law, mergers and acquisitions and so forth.
• LLM: Building further on the LLB degree, the Master of Laws program provides the much-needed edge and proficiency when it comes to corporate law. With options of specialisations in banking and finance law, bankruptcy codes, international corporate law, and intellectual property law, and budding corporate lawyers have innumerable avenues to explore.

Also Read: Immigration Lawyer

How to Become a Corporate Lawyer: Skills 

In addition to a concrete grasp over law-related fields and specialisations, a corporate lawyer must also possess skills of:

• Updated with the recent developments like law amendments in the field of law
• Quick Decision Making
• Excellent communication skills, especially oratory
• A Hands-on approach
• Research & Analysis
• Critical Thinking
• Exceptional Writing abilities
• Negotiation and Liaison skills

How to Become a Corporate Lawyer: Universities

Law has been an indispensable part of course offerings at law colleges across the globe. Moreover, with the constant expansion of fields and especially in corporate and commercial law, they not only offer industry-inclined courses but also scores of opportunities to explore. Prospective students must know that in order to gain entry into such degree programs, the application procedure requires submission of official GRE/GMAT/LSAT or IELTS/TOEFL scores along with copies of official transcripts, CV, Statement of Purpose (SOP) and Letters of Recommendation (LOR), amongst others. Take a look at the following degree programs offered by some of the highly ranked universities across the globe.

University Name	Location	THE World University 2023	Courses
University of Edinburgh	UK	30	LLM-Commercial Law
University of Melbourne	Australia	31	Master of Banking & Finance Law Master of Commercial Law
University of Manchester	UK	51	LLM International Business & Commercial Law
The University of Sydney	Australia	51	Bachelor of Commerce & Bachelor of Laws – Business Law
The University of Queensland	Australia	62	PhD – Business and Commercial Law MPhil-Business and Commercial Law Master of International Commercial Law
University of Bristol	UK	91	LLM Law -Banking & Finance Law
University of Glasgow	UK	92	LLM Intellectual Property & Digital Economy
University of Sheffield	UK	121	LLM Corporate & Commercial Law
Brunel University	UK	251-400	Master of Law in International Commercial Law

How Long Will It Take to Become a Sucessful Corporate Lawyer?

Apart from several years, you also need to work extremely hard to become a successful corporate lawyer. You need to complete the 5 year B.A.L.L.B degree as well as the three-year LL.B degree. After that, you need to pass the bar exam so that you can start practicing.

When you gain proper work experience and exposure to the industry, you can choose to study for one-year LL.M degree.

Top Recruiters 

Mentioned below are the top recruiting companies for corporate lawyers- 

• Anand and Anand
• Khaitan and Company 
• Shradul Amarchand Mangaldas and Company 
• Sagar Associates
• Trilegal India
• Vaish Associates
• Desai and Dewanji 
• Lakshmikumaran and Sridharan 
• S&R Associates

Average Salary of Corporate Lawyers 

The salary in the field of law is completely driven on the basis of industry experience. Freshers may start with an average salary but with each passing year adding to their experience, they can opt for jobs having better pay packages. The average salary one may earn during the start of their career is also dependent on the type of law firm they have chosen. The estimated salary of freshers in this industry is around 12-15 Lakh per annum. (wccannabis.co)

FAQs

Starting your career as a corporate lawyer requires an in-depth comprehension of the various concepts involved. Needless to say, a strong degree plays a vital role in this respect. Contact Leverage Edu or reach us to 1800 57 2000 and we will help you choose the best university based on your personalized skills and inclinations so that you make an informed decision towards a rewarding career.