Human rights & public policy law
NGOs, think tanks
- Remote
- Varies
- Qualification
- Typically BA LLB (Integrated), entered through All India Bar Examination.
- Read
- 1 min
What the work involves
Day to day
Legal work directed at policy and rights rather than commerce - public interest litigation, legislative and policy analysis, research and advocacy with non-profits, think tanks and international organisations.
Who this suits
Fit
Lawyers motivated by the substance of the issue rather than the fee. India's policy research sector has grown considerably, and legally trained analysts are valued because most policy people cannot read a statute properly.
The honest reality
Read this one
Pay is a fraction of corporate law for comparable ability, and much of the funding is grant-dependent, so roles are frequently contract-based. Progress on the issues themselves is slow and often reversed. Rights work in some areas attracts hostility and, occasionally, personal risk. It is deeply meaningful work with a real financial cost, and both halves of that are true.
How you get there
Step by step
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2 years Step 1Finish school
Class 12 in any stream
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3 or 5 years Step 2Qualify
Complete 5-yr Law — BA LLB (CLAT, AILET).
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Step 3Enter the field
Typical first position: Human rights & public policy law.
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Step 4Build and specialise Optional
Build a body of work, teach, or move into a specialist or research role.
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You are hereHuman rights & public policy law
Everything above leads here. The steps marked optional can be skipped or taken later — they change how fast you arrive, not whether you can.
Courses that lead here
How to qualify
Exams on the way
Admission and qualifying
Roles within this career
What the job is called