Law graduates from NLUs get an edge in UPSC exam

Breaking the perception that Engineers have taken centre stage in the Union Public Service Commission Civil Services Examination (UPSC CSE) and medicine students following the trend. The Law students are increasingly making a mark in the UPSC exams. In the recently released results of UPSC 2023, as many as 23 LLB students from National Law Universities (NLUs) have cleared the exam. Legal experts attribute the success to aspirants’ exposure to the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) for which most students start preparing soon after class XII. This is followed by their resilience to cope with the vast law syllabus that lays the building block for the UPSC exam. 

“Many bright students at NLUs, who are not interested in corporate jobs appear for UPSC exam, therefore, the number this year was significant,” says Faizan Mustafa, former vice-chancellor, NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad and vice-chancellor, Chanakya National Law University, Patna.

Dismissing it to be a new trend, Mustafa adds, “There have been several law students qualifying for the UPSC even in the past. Moreover, legal education does help aspirants in the preparation for the exam, as in general studies there is a portion on Polity, based on the Indian Constitution. You may have noticed that most of the current issues do involve a legal perspective. Furthermore, in the essay paper, legal background again comes in handy as some topics of the essay are closely related to subjects that a law student studies during the five-year integrated law course. Even in the interview, there are questions related to law and parliament bills, which is relatively simpler for a law student. In fact, after selection, a major portion of training in civil services is about the implementation of the law, as without understanding the laws one cannot function as an administrator.” 

Students from NLUs are indeed motivated to undertake public service, therefore, the perception that NLUs are producing just corporate lawyers is no longer valid. With corporate jobs declining in the industries, UPSC has emerged as an alternative career option for the brightest students, adds Mustafa. 

Rise in numbers
In the last three to four years, there has been a surge in the numbers as 180-190 students have qualified for UPSC mains with Law as an optional subject in the last few years. Vageshwari Deswal, professor, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi (DU) says, “Law students get an edge because of the rigorous study routine they had to follow during the five-year integrated law course (BA+LLB), especially offered by NLUs. The degree prepares students to score well in UPSC Prelims and Main examinations. Students are well-versed in complex topics such as the Constitution, Public Administration, gender justice, international relations, and related areas.”

Just like IITians or medical students from a prestigious university, NLU grads undergo a solid academic rigour, which helps them qualify for the exam. “This is because, qualifying for any highly competitive, national-level exams such as CLAT, Law School Admission Test – India (LSAT) and All India Law Entrance Test (AILET), gives students a sense of confidence and ability to work hard,” adds Deswal. 

Understanding the legal language
Highlighting the importance of getting versed with the legal or court language, Ravi Kapoor, former IRS officer and UPSC mentor, says, “While completing their law degree, students learn the legal language and the vocabulary, which helps to understand the socio-economic issues and the court verdicts. In NLUs, students are exposed to moot courts that enhance their exposure to the legal vocabulary and its usage. This is an added advantage for law students as they do not spend days learning and practising the same and use their time to enhance other required skills and knowledge.”   

Over the years, there have been various candidates with legal education as their background and law as their optional subject. In 2010, S Divyadharshini scored first rank, in 2013, Sakshi Sawhney received 6th rank and in 2017, Saumya Sharma with 9th rank, Neha Jain with 14th rank, Tapasya Parihar with 23rd rank, Preetesh Raman Singh with 205th rank and Joyantika Singh with 286 rank.