Is CLAT Only for Law? Surprising Career Paths You Didnât Know
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CL Team April 19 2025
3 min read
Introduction
When most students learn of the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), they immediately think of one word: a career as a lawyer. Although it is a fact that CLAT is the major entry test for top law schools in India, like the National Law Universities (NLUs), the career opportunities that arise after clearing CLAT extend far beyond merely courtrooms and legal chambers.
At Career Launcher Malviya Nagar, we find ourselves frequently conversing with students who are amazed to know the many paths opened up with a law degree. In this blog, we share some of the lesser-known but truly fulfilling careers for CLAT aspirants — some of which may redefine your mindset towards law as a career.
1. Legal Journalism: The Power of Words and Law
If you have a writing talent and an interest in current affairs, combining your legal knowledge with journalism can be an exciting career switch. Legal journalists cover court rulings, explain legal trends, and even investigate legal loopholes. Media outlets and publications highly value reporters with a legal background for their capacity to break down complex legal news.
2. Policy-Making and Public Administration
Law graduates are also placed in important jobs in policy research and formulation. Think tanks, government think tanks, and NGOs always search for those with a law background who can help in policy making. Organizations such as NITI Aayog, Vidhi Legal Policy, and government ministries hire law graduates regularly as research associates and policy analysts.
3. Legal Tech and Startups
With the rise of AI and digitization, the legal tech sector is flourishing. Techno-savvy law graduates are transforming platforms for legal research, case management, and contract management. Be it in a startup or becoming an entrepreneur, legal tech is a new-age field where CLAT toppers and law students are leaving their mark.
4. Corporate Strategy and Compliance
Except for traditional in-house legal roles, the majority of firms offer jobs that merge business strategy and legal expertise. Law graduates are used in roles including risk management, compliance, corporate governance, and ethics. Law grads are frequently recruited by firms in sectors like fintech, real estate, insurance, and pharma to work in such hybrid roles.
5. Academia and Research
Law is a profession that thrives on research. Most law graduates pursue LLMs and PhDs and pursue careers in academia, teaching in law schools or conducting independent legal research. The more sought-after the legal education is, teaching law becomes not only a career but also a successful career option.
6. Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
While litigation is an ancient method, it too is offering diversity — criminal law, civil law, constitutional law, tax law, etc. Then there is ADR, which is a rapidly growing business internationally. Arbitration, mediation, and conciliation are becoming the new means of resolving disputes by corporations and governments. Law graduates are making their career as professional mediators and arbitrators.
7. Civil Services and Judicial Services
Law graduates have a clear edge while appearing for the UPSC Civil Services or Judicial Services exams. Their analytical thinking, command over the Constitution, and deep understanding of governance give them an edge. A few NLU graduates have cleared these exams and are serving as IAS, IPS, or judges in different regions of India.
8. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) & Entertainment Law
The digital content and media explosion has driven demand for intellectual property, copyright, and entertainment lawyers through the roof. From music and film contracts to protecting digital content on the web, this is the ideal spot for aspiring creative lawyers who don't mind being in the thick of pop culture and the media.
9. International Organizations and Human Rights Bodies
Top NLUs also have law graduates who are employed by international organizations such as the United Nations, Amnesty International, or Human Rights Watch. These jobs entail an international outlook of law and entail working on issues such as refugees, gender justice, international conflict, and climate change.
10. Entrepreneurship
Law schools hone critical thinking, negotiation, and problem-solving skills — all of which come in handy for entrepreneurs. Most law graduates ultimately go on to start startups, legal consultancies, or even non-law ventures. Their schooling equips them to tackle contracts, IP regimes, and regulatory frameworks with aplomb.
Last Thoughts: CLAT Is Just the Beginning
CLAT is not a gateway to becoming an advocate alone. It's the gateway to a journey that can set you on the path to journalism, policy-making, technology, corporate management, academia, and entrepreneurship as well. The key is to be open-minded and look at all the doors a law degree can lead you to.
At Malviya Nagar Career Launcher, we don't only make you CLAT-ready — we make you future-ready. Through expert guidance, mentorship, and career counseling, we try to get each student familiar with the entire gamut of opportunities post-cracking CLAT.
Ready to explore your law career options?
Visit us at Career Launcher Malviya Nagar, New Delhi, or call us at 9650901754 to get started on your CLAT journey.
