Introduction
- Graduating in the legal field gives one a host of different choices to begin the journey of their career.
- Apart from Judicial Services or Litigation one can also opt for Specialist Officer Examinations in Legal Domain if one desires a government job. Specialist Officers include:
- Legal Officer in Banks.
- Legal Officers in PSU.
- Public Prosecutors in Specialized Departments.
- Working as a Specialist Officer can be a great career choice for those who desire to work in banks or public sector undertakings (PSU) or other specialized agencies without leaving their connection with law.
Why Choose ‘Specialist Officer’ as a Career?
The job as a Specialist Officer not only offers a good monthly remuneration but job security and decent chances of promotion as well. Specialist Officers are responsible for the following job profiles:
Specialist Officer - Bank – Key responsibilities include doing basics of Banking and Regulations in following matters:
Compliance and Legal Aspects, Law and Orders, SARFAESI Laws and Actions on Banking, Foreign Exchanges, Money Laundering, Limitation Acts, Consumer Protection Act, DRT Act, Banker’s Book.
Specialist Officer - PSU – They primarily handle legal issues which varies from giving legal opinions to legal draft agreement, tender, contract, reply, written statement, plaint, petition, caveat, RTI reply etc., preparation of reports, payment of advocate’s bill. You may also be required to visit local District Courts, High Court, Arbitration Proceedings, Supreme Court, Tribunals, Labour Commissioner and other forums where matters are sub judice.
Public Prosecutor – This is a highly specialized job profile as under this role one needs to work in a specialized agency like CBI, NIA and would be responsible for contesting cases on behalf of the government.
About the Examination Process
As the job is for various departments and is conducted by different agencies the examination pattern is different for all. The profiles and agencies are discussed hereunder:
Specialist Officer in Banks – The Examination is conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS). Examination is conducted in online mode and consists of following stages:
- Preliminary
- Mains
- Interview
Specialist Officer – PSU – The recruitment is majorly done via CLAT PG Examination. The CLAT Score is the basic criteria after which the PSUs release an invite list and candidates are called for interview.
Public Prosecutor – The examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and is a 2-stage process consisting of :
- Preliminary Examination
- Interview
Eligibility
IBPS
Candidate should be a citizen of India. (Notification must be read carefully to check for eligibility regarding citizenship of other countries.)
Candidate must possess a degree in law and must be enrolled as an advocate with Bar Council of India.
Age : The age limit ranges from a minimum of 20 years to maximum 30 years as on date specified in the notification.
PSU
Candidate should be a citizen of India. (Notification must be read carefully to check for eligibility regarding citizenship of other countries.)
Candidate must possess a degree in law.
Candidates must clear the CLAT PG examination; candidates who have passed the CLAT PG examination in prior years may not be considered for selection.
Age : The age criteria vary from PSU to PSU majorly being 20years to 30 years. Age relaxation is provided for various categories (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD etc.) which varies from PSU to PSU.
Public Prosecutor in Specialized Departments
Candidate should be a citizen of India. (Notification must be read carefully to check for eligibility regarding citizenship of other countries).
Candidate must possess a degree in law and must have been continuously practicing as an advocate for not less than seven years as on the last date mentioned in the respective notification
Age : Candidates must not have attained the age of 35 years in most cases, but the age criteria may vary from department to department. The age relaxation is provided for various categories (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD etc.).
Plan of Examination
The syllabus for the Specialist Officer Examination varies. It is dependent upon the Job Profile one applies for. The stage wise bifurcation is as follows:
FIRST STAGE
This stage consists of multiple-choice questions based Preliminary Examination.
Strategy
Key to crack preliminary examination involves exhaustive study on following:
- Reasoning Ability
- English
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Bare Act Provisions and the respective amendments if any. (PP)
- Brief Idea about Landmark/Recent Case Laws. (PP)
- Analysis of Key Concepts (PP)
- Where General Knowledge forms part of the syllabus one must pay attention to the topics included in the examination notification. (PP)
- One must practice previous year question papers.
SECOND STAGE
This stage called the Mains examination is conducted only in the IBPS Examination. It contains objective type questions on The Topic of Professional Knowledge. The mains examination here focuses on Professional Knowledge based on following subjects:
- Banking Regulations
- Compliance and Legal Aspects
- Relevant Law and Orders related to negotiable instruments, securities, foreign exchange
- Prevention of Money-laundering, Limitation Act
- Consumer Protection Act
- Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act (SARFAESI)
- Banking Ombudsman
- Laws and Actions with a direct link to Banking Sector
- Bankers Book Evidence Act
- Debt Recovery Tribunals Act (DRT ACT)
Strategy
- Analysis of Key Concepts (PP)
- Bare Act Provisions and the respective amendments if any. (PP)
- Brief Idea about Landmark/Recent Case Laws. (PP)
- One must practice previous year question papers.
THIRD STAGE
The final stage of the recruitment process is the Interview also known as the Viva-Voce. It aims to assess the general suitability of the candidate for the post.
Strategy
Interview is one such part where it is difficult to frame a go to strategy. One must focus on the subject knowledge as well as other aspects of his/her personality in order to be suitable for the post they have applied for.