Hi all, need honest experiences, and idea about this.

I’m 27 and currently working as a Law Officer in a central government (posted in a PSU). I plan to leave this job soon and move to enter litigation and later prepare for the higher judiciary exams. I understand there are practice-period requirements for judicial elevation and that I’ll likely need several years of practice (around 7 years of meaningful litigation experience to be competitive for higher judiciary).

Questions I’d like real-life answers to:

1. Will resigning a central government post (to take up litigation) be viewed negatively when I later apply for the higher judiciary? Will it be held against me by selection committees or peers?

2. Are there examples of civil judges or High Court judges who started their careers as government servants (central/state/PSU) and later moved into litigation and were eventually elevated? If yes, please share names/timelines/links if possible.

3. Practical issues: did you face problems with seniority, credibility, client acquisition, or perceptions in court after switching from a government legal post to private practice? Any tips to smooth the transition?

4. Any advice on building a litigation profile while in a PSU role so the eventual transition and judiciary application won’t look weak?

I want actual people, at least those who closely observed it or know about such switch. Please mention state/High Court (if comfortable).

Thanks, I’ll read every genuine reply. If you want to roast my plan, be constructive about it.

Hi, I was a lateral hire in a PSU and left the organisation within 2years. I moved back to a Tier I firm. Personally, the return wasn't difficult at all as the Partners knew me. The only concern that they had was whether I'm still a resource or liability - PSUs have a very bad (but true) image in the industry. If you're planning to move to judiciary, I'm sure they'll consider your exit from a govt dept as a negative point. However, your independent practice/litigation shouldn't be affected. Since you have a good understanding of how the govt dept works, firms might want to hire you for your experience in understanding their complicated processes/structures. My firm keeps me involved in all govt related bids/tender processes.

Think twice before leaving a government job especially in today's times.

In Litigation there's no guarantee of becoming a top tier senior and earning crores especially if you're a 1st gen lawyer or wait for decades to be financially successful. In a government job atleast you regularly get a salary and healthy working hours in comparison to 24/7 availability requirement in litigation and law firms.

You can be successful in litigation if luck and your hard work are combined together but be prepared for initial brutal struggle.

I second this! I do sometimes feel that my govt job was much better. If you can live without brains for 9h of your office shift, you'll have a better life at home. Unlike law firms, where there's no life beyond work. One does not need to earn more to lead a successful life. You can still be successful if you're home before your kid sleeps and are able to spend weekends with family with no work anxiety.

I think Justice Poonam Bamba had worked in public sector banks before joining the district judiciary.

I don't think there is any credibility issues if you have left a PSU job or any job and then joined litigation. There are many who have left their jobs, litigated and got selected as ADJ. Your merit, i.e., getting very good marks in the written exam and performing well in the interview will matter the most.