Lawyers and the Legal Market

How India has over a million lawyers, why earnings are highly unequal between top corporate lawyers and struggling juniors, and the growth of law firms.

India has over a million lawyers.

Unequal earnings

Top senior advocates charge lakhs per hearing.
Many junior lawyers earn very little in early years.

Law firms

Corporate firms like Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and AZB hire graduates from National Law Universities.

NLUs

National Law Universities, starting with NLSIU Bengaluru in 1987, raised legal education quality.

Foreign firms

The Bar Council allowed foreign law firms limited entry in 2023.

Regulation

Lawyers can’t advertise under Bar Council rules.

The junior's stipend

A junior lawyer in a district court earns a small stipend while learning from a senior.

Thinking all lawyers are rich

Earnings are very unequal.

Key takeaways

India has over a million lawyers.
Earnings are highly unequal.
NLUs feed corporate firms.
Foreign firms got limited entry in 2023.