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This is my first time posting here so please forgive any irregularities in the framing of my post.
I am looking to know the following:
1. The progression ladder in these careers (like promotions are what years and what will be the salary)
2. What does the daily workday look like? Like how many hours, what tasks you will be doing specifically etc.
3. Your personal opinion on which of these one should go for and why
Note: Feel free to answer as much of these as you are knowledgable about.
For example, if you know only about the progression ladder in Judiciary then don't hesitate to post it.
Much appreciated α΅ α΅ α΅
Anywho, As far as you query goes, go for JAG only if you have any interest in the army, also remember it's a SSC, short service commission, so if you don't become permanent you will have to leave after 10+4 years. However, I have friends who left and joined law firms or became SC/HC advocates. But the basic criteria is you have to enjoy the military lifestyle.
Judiciary is a social status without a social life. You will get all the privilege, wealth, power and connections, but you will be under scrutiny with how you operate in the society. It's a post, an office that gives a lot but demands a lot. Same with civil services. You are bound by the rules.
Law firms are like any other corporate job. Work, work and work. You get great pay, probably the best, immediately after graduation. But it comes with a cost of health and time. Sure post 5 years of work you will be more comfortable. But it's a tough 5 years.
Now coming to your questions:
1. Progression in JAG is the same as others, start of as a GC, Lt, Capt, Major and if lucky will retire as a Lt. Col. It's a grade A govt service, the only other being civil services. The progression is time scale. And if your records are good, you'll get permanent commission and depending on age may retire as a Brig/General. Judiciary is heavily dependant on age, the younger you join, the higher you go. If you're above 35, then try for HJS instead. For law firms, it depends which kind, and what type, and which job. what differentiates this from the other two is it's not time dependant and more skill dependent, i.e. if you're ready good at what you do you will definitely climb quicker.
2. Hours is totally dependant on where you work and at what role. If I had to compare the most hours in-office and outside related to work would be Judge (judgment writing sucks)>law firm (maximum time in office)>JAG (army social life)
3. Which you should go for is upto you. If you want a work-life balance, JAG is the best, but adapting to a military lifestyle is very tough for many, it's a world in it's own sense. If you want power and prestige, then judiciary is the best, however social life is nil. If you want money, just simply money, then law firms and a freedom to not be restricted by rules like army or judiciary has. In the end, see what you want ? Money, status, power, passion etc.
Money - law firms. Power - Judiciary. Passion - JAG
Not the OP here; I wanted to know if anyone has any idea as to the CLAT PG rank that'd be requisite for a shot at JAG, is it in the same ballpark as PSUs where you need a sub-50 All-India rank?
I was a defense aspirant (wanted to be an infantry officer) but have weak eyesight and bad in maths so gave up on NDA and went for NEET hoping to join the Army Medical Corps. I dropped for NEET this year (2024) but it was simply not for me. I was getting a shitty off campus college in DU through CUET and almost went there (hoping to give CDS on graduation) but the college was simply trash. A friend whose dad is a judge suggested CLAT (and I have always been kinda interested in law) so I initially wanted to go for either JAG or judiciary but the sheer amount of money that you make in law firms is tempting me.
Personally, it has always been my dream to serve as a commissioned army officer, preferably in the combat arms, more preferably the infantry, but I understand that is not possible for me anymore.
I have 5 years to decide on my future path but for now I think I will either go for a law firm head on or try for JAG and live out my dream, albeit on a limited scale.
Either way, I wholeheartedly thank you again for your kind and informative answer, I shall keep coming back to it for future reference :)