Pros of Choosing LLB After B.Pharm
We all know that LLB means Bachelor of Law. But what does LLB stand for? If you are thinking of pursuing an LLB, you must know this: LLB stands for Legum Baccalaureus (in Latin). We will now discuss the most lucrative benefits that can make choosing an LLB after B.Pharm a good choice for your career.
Wider Choice
You have two certifications at your disposal, and that too major ones. This gives you plenty of job options to choose from, from the field of law as well as pharmacy. You can either be a pharmacist or a lawyer and can work both in private of public settings.
Multiple Expertise
Doing both degrees will offer you multiple expertise, which only a few people will have. Therefore, your demand will be higher in specialised roles, for eg Legal Counsellor to a Pharmaceutical Company.
Chances of Higher Salary
Given your expertise in two roles, you can also be eligible for higher salaries in specialised roles, as there will be very few lawyers who come from a pharmaceutical background.
Cons of Choosing LLB After B.Pharm
Let us now discuss some drawbacks of choosing to pursue LLB after B.Pharm.
Lack of Specialisation
People generally choose a Bachelor of Arts to go with an LLB. This is because a B.A. entails the study of political science and public administration along with vital topics such as the constitution and the state, which are important for LLB students to learn. However, if you pursue a B.Pharm first (which is a totally opposite field of study) and then pursue an LLB, you may lack the specialisation required to be the best at your job.
Double Effort
An important point to note here is that B.Pharm in itself is a time and effort-consuming degree, which can offer you great opportunities. If you choose to do LLB after completing B.Pharm, you'll have to pursue a whole new arena of studies, and thus, your overall effort will be increased. However, you'll still be at a graduate level. Instead, if you spend the next two years pursuing M.Pharm, you can become a post-graduate.
Lack of Job Opportunities
As mentioned above, you'll still be at a graduate level. It is evident that people with postgraduate degrees have more job opportunities than those with graduate degrees. Therefore, if you choose M.Pharm instead of LLB, you'll get more opportunities and vice versa.
Benefits of a Career as a Pharmacist
Let us now talk about the various benefits you can relish if you choose to become a pharmacist after completing your B.Pharm degree (and how it has an edge over LLB.)
Job Prospects
The increased population in India leads to the requirement of more healthcare professionals, including pharmacists. Therefore, pharmacists have several job opportunities in the government and the private sector. You can even open your own pharmacy, and no matter what location you are in, the need for pharmacists will always be there.
Worldwide Recognition
A Bachelor of Pharmacy degree done in India or any other country is almost similar. The degree is recognised worldwide if you have pursued it from a recognised institute. Your pharmacy degree will be valid everywhere, and you can even set up practice in other countries by fulfilling their eligibility criteria. However, in the case of LLB, it is not the same. The laws of every country are different, and so is the study of the law. You cannot become a lawyer in any other country after completing LLB in India, and the degree does not have worldwide recognition.
Serving in the Healthcare Sector
The biggest perk of becoming a pharmacist is that you get to serve the country's people by offering them healthcare services. You play a decisive role in the health and lives of people and help them maintain good health. Whether you work privately or with a government institution, you get to serve the people in one way or the other.
Chances of Upskilling
Once you dive into the pharmaceutical industry, there is no limit to what you can learn. You can pursue several degrees such as M.Pharm, Pharm.D, Ph.D. etc, after your B.Pharm, and upskill yourself to an endless level. If you have the talent, several countries will invite you to participate in their research and upskill yourself while innovating and discovering new medicines for the healthcare industry.
Perks of a Career as a Lawyer
In this section, we will elaborate on the benefits of becoming a lawyer and how it can serve your purpose.
Job Prospects
Becoming a lawyer comes with endless possibilities, but all of those within your home country. You can become a legal advisor to people and firms or a legal counsellor to huge businesses. You can set up private practice, hold a government office or be a part of an esteemed legal firm. The roles are diverse, and so are the salaries/income.
Political Landscape
Most people get into the legal field with the final goal of squeezing into politics. Once you get a hold of the laws of the land and the way the political system, it is difficult to keep yourself away from your political interests. Most political leaders in India come from a legal background, and lawyers constitute the largest number of lawmakers in the country! So if you have an interest in politics, becoming a lawyer can be your first step.
Serving the Public and the Law
Some people consider becoming a lawyer as a part of their initiative to serve the people of the country. If you have a zeal in mind that you wish to change the world and do some good to the general people, becoming a lawyer is a good way of doing so.
How to Become a Lawyer After B.Pharm?
You can become a lawyer after any bachelor's degree, including B.Pharm. All you need to do is get admission into a good law college/institute. Most law colleges, especially the best ones, demand aspirants to clear an entrance test. CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is the exam that allows admission into 25 National Law Universities in India.
However, if you are unable to clear that, you can get admission to a private law college, too. Post that, you just have to complete your 3-year LLB, after which you can get registered as a lawyer in your state/country.
After that, you can start legal practice instantly, or you can choose to pursue LLM, which is the Master of Law degree. You can also find a job in a private firm or take exams to get a legal office.
Factors to Consider
You have carefully read the benefits of pursuing an LLB after B.Pharm, and what will you get if you choose B.Pharm as your calling. But when it is time to make the final decision, what should you think about? Let us find out!
Your Interests
The most decisive factor that pushes us to make a career decision is our interest. Therefore, the first and foremost thing that you must think about is where your interests lie. Are you inclined towards the legal and political landscape of the country, or do you want to dive into the world of medicine and healthcare? While both career choices will help you serve people one way or the other, you have to choose which of these will fulfil you the most.
Location You Wish to Live In
Next, it is important to note that becoming a lawyer will confine you to working and living in India (or whatever your home country is) while becoming a pharmacist can allow you to settle in any country of the world. So, if you are content with living in one country, you can go for LLB. However, if the idea of exploring multiple horizons of the world excites you, pharmacy must be your calling.
Industry You Want to be a Part of
Now, this is a basic question- what industry do you want to be a part of- Legal or Pharmaceutical? Do you prefer helping aggrieved citizens, fighting for people is rights and indulging in legal battles? Or do you prefer working with medicines in the atmosphere of scientific research and helping the world in the healthcare domain? Think about it, and then make a decision!
Public VS Private
Another important factor is whether you wish to work in the public or private sector. If the public sector and government jobs attract you, you better become a lawyer and rise up to the best executive positions. However, if you want to enjoy high salaries and other benefits of the private sector, you need to become a pharmacist.
Aptitude
Last but not least, your decision should be driven by your aptitude and potential. Aspiring to become something is one thing, but having the skills and aptitude to do so is another. If your expertise lies in medicine, pharmacy must be your calling. However, if you have a knack for the legal landscape and can understand the complexities of law, you must become a lawyer.
Parting Thoughts
Making the decision is not so difficult- you just have to give in to your calling by trusting your instincts. However, analysing the pros and cons of both career options is very important to make a rational decision. If you are thrilled to become a lawyer, it is not difficult to become one. However, if you wish to continue your career as a pharmacist, Academically is here will several global opportunities for you.
Contact our experts to know more about an exciting pharmacy career today!
