Planning Your Career Path in International Law

International law is one of the numerous branches of law. It covers everybody of laws, legal issues, and legal practices across the border of a country. International law is a highly competitive legal field in India, and graduates who want to specialize in this discipline usually find it challenging to land job opportunities. This legal field is divided into two key areas: public and private international law. 

According to this legal authority, India is a party to over 160 conventions and treaties, which encompass air legislation, space legislation, and maritime legislation. India's international law comes from three sources: custom, general legal principles, and treaties. International law is broader than people give it credit for. It encompasses international conflict resolution, foreign trade and commerce, human rights, and environmental management. 

As an Indian youth seeking a career in international law, there are certain things you should know. 

What to Know About International Law?

International lawyers in India fresh out of school ought to know that practising public international law mostly has to do with the representation of sovereign nations. The best way to begin a career in this field of law is through governmental outfits such as the Department of Commerce and Industry or the Department of External Affairs. As an Indian international lawyer, you may have to travel to numerous cities across the world, such as Geneva, The Hague, etc. 

Most of the time, achieving prominence or success in international law doesn't come from directly practising in this area of specialty. Firstly, having a first degree in international law is barely enough; you must complete at least one postgraduate program in the same field. Secondly, you may need to intern, work in various supporting roles, or even practice in private companies in India. For the latter part of the second requirement, international lawyers can get jobs at companies with a strong global presence and serve as an advocate or counsel to clients for the resolution of international disputes. 

You have to decide whether to practice private or public international law for the sake of having a niche. The former has to do with determining the country's law (procedural or substantive) that should be regarded in a cross-national dispute. It also entails which court should try or mediate the issue. Public international law, on the other hand, entails regulating the activities of numerous international bodies, such as UNICEF, WHO, etc., and representing countries. 

Benefits and Drawbacks of Practising International Law

Practising international law in India comes with certain benefits as well as drawbacks. 

Benefits 

• Firstly, international law practice exposes you to various activities, such as trying criminal cases against humanity or negotiating trade deals between India and other countries. 
• Secondly, international lawyers in India can participate in discourses regarding international legal issues, including the operations of refugee camps, maritime disputes, etc. 
• Thirdly, international lawyers can influence policy. 
• Carrying out meaningful work, which includes addressing sensitive issues such as human rights violations, sex trafficking, etc. 
• Good remuneration; the average annual pay of an international lawyer in India is 26 lakhs. 

Drawbacks

• International law practice comes with immense pressure.
• There are a few job opportunities in the international law sector, most of which go to experienced legal minds in international law or another field. They rarely go to fresh international law graduates in India because it's believed they're greenhorns. 

Career Progression

• Public international lawyers in India are representatives of the national government. This makes them employees in the public sector by default. They will be exposed to opportunities involving international bodies/agencies with a broad scope that may require negotiations, prosecutions, or legal advice. Career growth is gradual but guaranteed. 
• On the other hand, private international lawyers' career progression depends on the firm they work for. Their scope of operations usually includes negotiations, legal advice, taxation law, and even some corporate law. For high-performing lawyers, it's only a matter of time before they get to the upper section of the hierarchy. 

Employers of International Lawyers in India

Some of the prominent companies and government bodies hiring international lawyers in India include:

• United Nations Industrial Development Organisation
• Amnesty International
• World Bank
• Indian Institute of Patent and Trademark
• Lawyered
• Volvo Group
• FARFETCH

Job Titles in International Law 

• International legal consultant
• Ambassador 
• United Nations officer
• Human rights advocate
• Diplomat

Requirements for International Law in India

The following are required for a thriving career in international law:

• Relevant academic qualifications
• Willingness to enrol for and attain a Master's degree in International Law (LLM)
• Willingness to learn a foreign language
• Readiness to travel to distant locations frequently