More than 800 people aged between 35-80 have enrolled in law colleges in the city this academic year alone
More than 800 people aged between 35-80 have enrolled in law colleges in the city this academic year alone
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Many middle-aged Bangaloreans appear to have got a legal excuse to relive the nostalgic moments of student life again.
Bitten by a legal bug, they are rushing to colleges to get enrolled for different law programmes, much to the amusement of judges and senior lawyers.
More than 800 people aged between 35-80 have enrolled in law colleges in the city this year. For the next academic year, the institutes are expecting to enroll almost 1,000 students from the same age group.
While many take up the three-year LLB course as a post-retirement strategy, others desire to be acquainted with the law of the land - to be better informed in all situations.
A whole set of these middle-aged law students opined that it was the right moment for them to invest time and effort in a professional course that had been their families' first option for their careers. Others made the decision simply because they wanted something intellectually challenging to do post retirement.
At 72, Shivkumar Rao believes that the LLB course he passed last year is a smart decision to overcome the post-retirement blues and to remain fighting-fit.
"I took up the course as I always was keen to read the entire constitution while I was younger, but could never find the time to actually take it up.
I took it up after a friend suggested got my degree at the age of 71. Now I work as a legal advisor for a small firm and live with pride," Rao said.
Celebrity voice and life coach, Prakash Paul took the course to impress his father, who always wanted him to study law.
"The age barrier set for students wanting to enroll and study law was the biggest problem. Now that the barrier has been lifted, I thought the course would be the perfect post-retirement option," said Paul.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) on the other hand has placed a strong argument in the Supreme Court in favour of having an age cap on people who want to take up this professional course.
As per the BCI, a student aiming at doing a 5-year LLB course needs to be aged below 21 years, while 28 years is the maximum age to enroll for a 3-year LLB course.
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For the SC/ST category, 30 years is the maximum age. "The BCI has argued in favour of having an age cap, but we often say that ignorance of law is not excusable and when people show interest in studying law - we stop them.
Right now, many colleges have got a stay order from the respective High Courts as the matter is pending before the Supreme Court. Basic legal knowledge is a must even for a layman," said Dr S Jaiprakashreddy Patil, vice chancellor, Karnataka State Law University.
A world of options
For any law graduate, there is no dearth of employment opportunities. "Legal advisors are in huge demand in corporates, as well as small bunisess firms and remuneration is also good.
Moreover, people can do such jobs sitting in the cosy comfort of home, even after retirement. This is the reason why there is a huge demand for this course amongst middle-aged folk," said Basve Gowda, admissions head, Bangalore Institute of Legal Studies.
"One can be a legal advisor, Legal Process Outsourcing executive, part of the vigilance team or take up paralegal practice. Further, for the tech savvy LLB degree holders, the corporate and real estate sector has much to offer, and online work is a lucrative option.
Many firms assist the US and UK lawyers in conducting case researches and transcribing cases online pay for which varies between Rs 8,500 and Rs 10,000,"
said Patil.
Rs 42K
The fee for the three-year law course in state government colleges
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