What ? It's kinda worng ? A normal bump is 15% and minimum 5% . And inflation is 2.75% . Next if we could use example of 8 lakh per year and use exponential formula then a(1+x)^n ( a= 8 salary , x = 10 % percent growth per year and n = for how long means 1st year 2nd year ... so on till 10th year . ) this formula gives value of approx 19 lakhs on 10th year his /her earning . So 19 lakhs + 8 lakhs × 10 /2 ( this uses to compute total earning form 1 st to 10th year ) that's is 1.3cr . Next if we take into account inflation that is 2.75% then 1.3 cr will be 1 cr . If the dude is smart as hell invest 2 lakhs per year of earning in stock and grew by 7.25% then he would have grown wealth of 30 lakhs at end of decade ?. Can't be said for litigation its gamble for first generation. There too many variable at plays if he jump to another firm that can boost his/her salary 30% per year and many more . Analysis used as a Example and should not be generalize with personal opninon and experince .

Get into a good college, apply yourself to the syllabus, imbibe the value placed on hard work by this profession, and do good litigation internships. After graduating, try to get into a good chamber. Litigation is hard for 1st generation lawyers and the first few years (especially the first year) will be tough financially. The nature of the profession is such that hard work, perseverance, and patience are largely non-negotiable for progress at the Bar. Litigators who have family in the Bar will have it easier in the initial years as compared to strangers to the profession. However, if you do all that I have mentioned, then I would say that you have a very good shot at making it big (in the sense of having a sizeable income) a few years down the line. Remember that small victories matter a lot once you join the Bar (for example, consistently earning enough to break even each month) and you should not measure your progress using a scale detached from the realities of the profession.

Regarding the extent to which 1st generation lawyers can leave their mark on the Bar, I know many such lawyers who have established a lucrative practice (though perhaps not as lucrative as could be), some years after joining the Bar. A good reputation cannot be gained overnight and takes a few years to develop. Of course, there will always be exceptions. Thomas Erskine famously went from an impoverished lawyer known by nobody to the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain. His skill was such that he immediately made a name for himself at the Bar. Is this likely to happen to you, presumably then a bright and hardworking greenhorn, a few years down the line? Such a meteoric rise cannot be ruled out in India, as is shown by Palkhivala, but the chances of this happening are slim to none unless you have extraordinary talent or get tremendously lucky. You can expect to become a well-known name with a lot of hard work, time, and some luck. However, reaching the greatest heights of the profession is difficult in India for a 1st generational lawyer due to structural reasons (this chapter should be enlightening: https://luminosoa.org/chapters/m/10.1525/luminos.110.f).

I would say take the gamble. You are more likely to win than lose if you are truly committed to the Bar. It will definitely not be easy but most good things in life are not easy to get.

Pre law CLAT aspirant here. Been looking into career prospects after law, so decided to ask people who're already in the ecosystem.

It's no surprise that 2nd and 3rd lawyers have it easier in litigation because of the connections and clientele built over generations, along with the prestige of past generations. But what about 1st gen lawyers? Do they really not make it big in litigation?

Guide me a little here, because from what I see, corporate is arguably a safer option for someone looking for job security and decent pay, something not guaranteed to you as a 1st gen lawyer in litigation...You come across tons and tons of posts and instances with people barely surviving on 10-15k a month in tier 1 cities. But is that all one can hope for? Personally, looking at the working conditions of corporate life has never been lucrative to me. Is entering litigation as a first gen not worth it?

What I'm really asking is, what makes a difference? What can make a 1st generation lawyer stand out in litigation, and is it even possible to get to the level of other advocates and their prestige? If so, how?