Tej Kohli US and Career in Law for Indians

Tej Kohli brings some more insightful information Legal Career.

If you’re looking for a career that is equally interesting as rewarding, Law is your forte. In my last post I discussed a number of specialization options in Corporate Law. As a lawyer, you can offer advisory services on various issues. Law as a career offers tremendous growth both monetarily and in terms of job satisfaction.

To start with you can take on the job of a solicitor

What does a solicitor do??
Generally, Solicitors offers consultation on legal matters. They are in fact the first point of contact for people or bodies looking for professional legal advice. Scope in solicitation ranges from private practice to working in central and local government, or 'in-house' in a commercial or industrial organization.

Barrister is another important species of lawyers,
Barrister’s scope of work includes:
This tribe of lawyers always remains at the forefront. Specifically, they represent clients in the court other than just giving advice. Solicitors and Barristers work in an ascending hierarchy. Barristers’ work starts where solicitors’ work ends. Solicitor provides information and instructions to barrister. While not representing clients at court, they spend their time preparing arguments for their cases.

There are three main categories of employers for whom one can practice international law; the
government, private firm practice, and the legal department of a corporation.

Tej Kohli Career in Law Blog brings the complete information.

GOVERNMENT

There are opportunities, primarily in Washington, D.C., in several federal departments: Justice, State, Commerce, Labor, Office of U.S. Trade Representation, Federal Trade Commission and Federal Communications Commission.
One can practice international law within several different divisions in the Justice Department:
Criminal - immigration and extradition
Tax - international business transactions
Environmental - antidumping issues
Antitrust - policy formation and prosecution

The Commerce Dept. offers additional opportunities since it administers the government's
antidumping trade policies.

The Judge Advocate General Corps provides legal counsel to the U.S. Navy, Army and Air Force
divisions of the military. These positions are extremely competitive and require service with the military (varies according to military branch), yet allow for ample opportunities to travel and live abroad.


PRIVATE LAW FIRMS

Many large firms practice in all aspects of international business transactions, including regulatory compliance and tax issues, and have branch offices overseas.
When practicing at a larger firm, a lawyer practices domestic law - securities, tax, real estate - or regulatory law - customs, ant iboycott, food & drug - for foreign clients.
There has been growth in small boutique firms specializing in customs and international trade
practices. These firms represent businesses, importers/exporters, retailers/wholesalers, and U.S.subsidiaries of foreign businesses. These firms tend to be concentrated geographically in N.Y.C.,Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami, or cities where the decision makers (federal regulatory agencies) are located.

CORPORATE LAW DEPARTMENTS

The international law practice in a corporate law department is similar to that in private firm practice. The advantage of working in a corporate law department is that the client is the company and the company's employees; so an attorney does not have to worry about bringing in business.

The advent of IT ushered a new form of crime called cyber crime, which has become an important aspect of law enforcement in most countries.

Cyber laws have been structured in such a manner that they have universal jurisdiction. Consequently an Indian business entity or a netizen may be subject to the laws of several foreign countries.

In an era of Information Technology revolution and e-governance, the common man unwittingly becomes a part of a transaction that involves a computer. And most people do not realise that if they, in any manner, create any problem or tamper with information stored in the computer, they would be committing an offence under Section 66 of the Information Technology Act. This Act came into existence on October 17, 2000.

As Information Technology has penetrated the lives of the common people resulting in widespread use of computers in business, governance and communication, it has also brought with it the menace called cyber crime. With the advent of Information Technology, “cyber crimes” have become a very important aspect of law enforcement in most countries.

Thus, the scope in cyber law is immense. Cyber Law is a mutli-discipline subject, a study of which requires an appreciation of both technology and law. And for the same reason, teaching of Cyber Law is a multi-disciplinary task.

The curriculum would invariably include study of basic concepts of technology and law, law of digital contracts, intellectual property issues in cyber space, rights of netizens and e-governance, Information Technology Act, international scenario in cyber laws, cyber law issues for management and related subjects.