Coaching classes tie up with law universities for judicial jobs exams. But has recruitment ramped up? Premium

Coaching institutes prepare law students for competitive judiciary exams, despite obstacles and delays in recruitment processes.

While the hype for judiciary services especially through competitive examinations like the PCS-J is growing, concerns and obstacles abound these students’ path.

Over the past few years, coaching institutes, big and small have made their way into competitive examinations in the field of law, from the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) to the Provincial Civil Service-Judicial Exam (PCS-J), mostly focusing on the Lower Judicial Service Examination which recruits Civil Judges (Junior Division) at the state level. 

This year, Delhi-based Pahuja Law Academy tied up with two private universities to begin offering coaching classes on campus for law students who want to prepare for the lower judiciary services. While they offer a foundational course for these exams, state-specific crash courses are also offered as and when various states put out advertisements for vacancies. The papers and syllabus vary from state to state. 

Deepanshu Pahuja from PLA explained, “The universities have stellar legal faculty but we specialise in cracking the exam pattern. For example, the GK and general studies component is high in states like UP and Bihar whereas several other states tend to ask more of current affairs. In Rajasthan there is a 30% component of language skills. The number of minor and local laws is also different.”

“Our judge-to-population is very low and it has to go up. The vacancies for positions of judge are high and the case pendency in India reflects that. During the pandemic there was some slowing down in recruitment. But the future for students in judiciary services is bright,” added Mr. Pahuja, sharing the optimism of many coaching centres in this field.

Irregularities and delays in recruitment

Rajat was still completing his LLB when Jharkhand had announced civil judge (junior division) recruitment back in 2018. “The next notification came only last year in 2023,” he said referring to Jharkhand’s announcement of 138 vacant positions for these posts. “By now not only have I completed my LLB and LLM but also gotten experience as a practicing advocate for a few years. I am currently working in the field of legal research while still preparing for these exams.”