Lawyer to Judge Full Process: If you are a law student or practicing law, then you must have dreamed of becoming a judge. Becoming a judge (How to Become a Judge in Hindi) is a big responsibility. It is the job of the judge to deliver judgments in the court. It is a respected position. But to become a judge from a lawyer, just fighting a case in the court is not enough, for this you have to fulfill a special qualification, pass the necessary exams, and go through a process. In this article, learn how to become a judge from a lawyer who has passed...

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What are the qualifications to become a Judge?

1. It is necessary to be an Indian citizen.

2. LLB degree should be from a recognized university.

3. Be registered as a lawyer in the Bar Council of India.

4. For higher judiciary, usually 7 years or more of experience in advocacy is required.

5. Age limit may vary from state to state. 21–35 years for junior level, higher age is valid for High Court and Supreme Court.

How many ways are there to become a judge from a lawyer - How many ways are there to become a judge from a lawyer

1. Lower Judiciary Exam (Civil Judge or Judicial Magistrate)

For this, one can apply directly after LLB. One has to pass the Judicial Services Examination of the state. This is called the PCS-J exam. This exam is for lower judiciary services, in which recruitment is done for the post of civil judge (junior division).

It consists of a written exam and an interview. For this, generally, experience in advocacy along with an LLB degree is not necessary. In 2025, the Supreme Court made a minimum of 3 years of practice mandatory for the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division). If someone has worked as a law clerk with a judge, then that experience will also be counted in the 3 years of practice.

2. Higher or Upper Judiciary Exam (District Judge Entry)

In this route, the lawyer must have at least 7 years of experience. The exam is called the Higher Judicial Service Exam (HJS). The selection includes a written examination, an interview, and experience.

Which exam is required to become a judge

There is a Judicial Service Exam to become a judge. In most states, this exam is conducted by the State Public Service Commission or the High Court. The exam consists of three phases. Prelims (objective questions) include general knowledge, the constitution, and the basics of law. Mains (written paper), which contains subjective questions, sections of law, and a case study. Finally, there is an interview in which personality, understanding of law, and reasoning ability are checked.

What is the process of becoming a judge from a lawyer?

Complete LLB and get registered with the Bar Council.

Start practicing in court and gain 3 years of experience.

Apply for the Judicial Service Exam.

After passing the exam, there is training.

As soon as the training is completed, you get a joining letter and you take charge of the post of judge.

How does promotion and career growth happen?

By getting promoted from a civil judge or a judicial magistrate, one can become a senior judge, then a district judge. By getting further promotion from the district, one can become a High Court judge and then a Supreme Court judge.

In some cases, a lawyer is also directly appointed as a High Court judge, but for this, there should be experience and a legal contribution.

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