Law Grads Lap Up Juicy Offers as Firms Chase Campus Talent

Law firms are offering 20-40% higher compensation to freshers in 2025 amid strong competition and rising demand for domain-specific roles in M&A, technology, tax, and AI.

- Priyanka Gawande

As placement season starts winding up across law schools this year, graduates have been offered compensation of ₹19-25 lakh to fill the growing need for mergers & acquisitions (M&A), technology, tax, and artificial intelligence governance roles.

According to law firms, the compensation offered last year was ₹16-18 lakh. Placement season for law schools typically runs from May to August.

"With deal-making surging in India and worldwide, demand is rising for talent in M&A, technology, healthcare, and social sector roles," said Nishith Desai, founder of Nishith Desai Associates, an international law firm. "We are also seeing strong interest in new business models, cross-border law, AI governance, and tax advisory."

About 100,000 law students graduate annually, and some 69,000 clear the All-India Bar Exam, allowing them to practice law in any court. Law firms meet about 60% of their hiring needs through recruitment from other companies and the remaining 40% by campus hiring, according to Vahura, a search and consulting firm for the legal, tax, compliance, and policy sectors.