A lawyer, or advocate, is a prestigious profession worldwide. In Pakistan, it is also considered a highly-respected job. Among doctors and engineers, many intermediate students are also encouraged by their families to become a lawyer or judge.
The process of becoming a lawyer is quite lengthy. In general, it takes several years of study to become eligible to practice. However, it is often a rewarding career choice.
So, if you are interested in becoming a lawyer or judge in Pakistan, then check out this guide. Here we have broken down all the steps to becoming an advocate.
To become a lawyer, you can choose any subject group in matric. Whether you choose the science group, arts group, or commerce group, be sure to secure good marks on the final exams. A good result will make your application more attractive to universities.
Once again, you can choose any subject stream for your intermediate exams. If you choose to pursue the Faculty of Arts (FA) in intermediate, then you can opt for subjects such as history, civics, and economics. This may be useful information for a career in law. Alternately, if you are opting for A-Levels, then the law is available as a subject that you can choose.
No matter which subjects you choose, you should aim to score top marks on the final exams. A good result will help you secure admission in a reputed university. So, exam preparation is key for all subjects.
After clearing your intermediate exams, the next step to becoming a lawyer is appearing for the law admission test (LAT). This is a standardized test conducted by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The law admission test is a requirement for applying for an undergraduate degree in law.
The LAT consists of a personal statement, essay, and MCQs in the following areas: English, general knowledge, Pakistan Studies, Islamiat, Urdu, and Mathematics. Students can prepare for the test according to the intermediate syllabus. Thus, thorough exam preparation for the intermediate exams will be useful for appearing for the law admission test.
Upon clearing the law admission test, students can apply for an undergraduate degree in law. In Pakistan, this is known as a Bachelor of Laws, or LLB. This is a five-year study program. There are many universities offering a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree. Be sure that university is HEC-recognized before applying.
Once you gain admission into an LLB program in a reputed university, you will pursue the degree for five years. Generally, this will consist of 10 semesters. Here you will study a range of subjects, including political science, contracts, litigation advocacy, and jurisprudence.
After the completion of the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) undergraduate degree, law students must appear for the law graduate assessment test, also known as the Law GAT. The purpose of this examination is to evaluate the competency of law students to become a member of the bar council.
This test is more complex than the LAT, so thorough exam preparation for this is a must. Upon passing the Law GAT, students may be eligible to get their license from the Bar Council.
The final step to becoming a lawyer in Pakistan is obtaining a license from the Bar Council. In order to get the license, students must pass the Law GAT and a minimum of 6 months of internship experience working under a senior lawyer. Once these requirements are met, the student can obtain their license from their respective regional bar council.
Newly graduated lawyers must work for a minimum of 2 years at lower level courts before they can receive a license for working at the high court. Moreover, a minimum of 10 years of work experience is required before they are eligible to handle supreme court cases. After several years of work experience and excellence in the field of law, a lawyer may be promoted to judge.
Now you know the steps to becoming a lawyer! It is a long process, but if you are passionate and willing to put in the hard work, then it can be a very rewarding career for you.
Fatima khan says: 
