Top 10 skills corporate lawyers should have and how to learn
Corporate law has lately become one of the most sought-after career options for students. This is primarily owing to the respectable lifestyle, lucrative salary, and growth opportunities that the field provides. If you are the one looking for a career in corporate law, there are many online courses and certifications available from top universities that will teach you everything about the field and skills required for corporate lawyers. Corporate law deals with how companies interact externally through commercial transactions and internally through corporate governance. A corporate lawyer is a person who represents companies, corporations, partnerships, and other businesses.
Corporate law incorporates various areas within its fold; therefore, a corporate lawyer can specialize in any of those areas of his choice. These areas include Corporate Restructuring, Insolvency & Bankruptcy, Compliance, Corporate Litigation, Intellectual Property Rights, Banking & Finance, International Capital Market, Venture capital transactions, Private Equity, and Real estate. There is cut-throat competition in the corporate law field today. Thus, to excel in this field, you do not just need to be good but need to be the best. For that, you need to learn the various skills of corporate lawyers by taking online degree courses and corporate lawyer certification courses.
Also Read: Online Law Courses & Certifications
Top 10 Skills Required for Corporate Lawyers and How to Learn Them
Course | Duration | Course Fees | Platform |
Foundation Certificate in Commercial Awareness | 2 days | £192 | bcs.org |
Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills | 17 hours | Rs 2,116 | |
Introduction To Companies Act, 2013 | 1 month | Rs 3,000 | Lawsikho |
Improving Communication Skills | 10 hours | Free | Coursera |
Corporate Lawyers: Ethics, Regulation, and Purpose | 3 weeks | NA | |
CONTRACT LAW: Business Obligations | 1.5 hours | Rs 455 | |
Certificate Course in Competition Law, Practice And Enforcement | 3 months | Rs 30,000 | Lawsikho |
Introduction To Practical Contract Drafting | 1 month | Rs 3,000 | Lawsikho |
6 weeks | Free | ||
Get Things Done: How To Organize Your Life And Take Action | 3 hours | Rs 455 | Udemy |
Also read: Free Online Corporate law courses in India
1. Business Awareness
Commercial or Business Awareness is one of the most important skills of corporate lawyer. Business awareness means understanding the business and the business environment in which the organization operates. You should also know what makes a business successful, its products, buyers, sellers, the technology used, etc.
Course for this skill:
Foundation Certificate in Commercial Awareness
This is one of the best corporate lawyer online courses where you will learn about business finance, organizational behaviour, structure and operations. You will also gain the commercial and organizational knowledge required for effective business analysis. The course will cover techniques to evaluate a financial case, appreciation of costing and pricing, forecasting and budgeting, understanding of organizational models and structures, Interpreting financial accounts and explain specific business performance ratios, and analyzing the business domain and portfolio value.
Duration: 2 days
Fee: £192
Platform: bcs.org
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2. Negotiation skills
Negotiation is an amicable method of dispute resolution where conflicts are resolved through discussion. A good corporate lawyer should be a good negotiator too. He must have good negotiation skills as no company wants to indulge in expensive litigation and is always ready to resolve the dispute peacefully.
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Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills
Offered by the University of Michigan via Coursera, this is another one of the best corporate lawyer courses where you will learn conflict management and negotiation skills, Strategic Negotiations, and Communication. The course will also cover four key stages of negotiation, Planning Your Negotiation Strategy, Using tactics to negotiate, Negotiation to create a binding contract, Performing and evaluating the agreement, and Practicing Your Negotiation Skills.
Duration: 17 Hours
Fee: Rs 2,116
Platform: Coursera
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3. Knowledge of Company Law
If you want to become a successful corporate lawyer, then you must have a thorough knowledge of the company law operating in your country. Companies Act 2013 deals with the incorporation of companies, the appointment of company officials, winding up of company, prevention of fraud and mismanagement in companies. You must have a thorough understanding of the Companies Act to become a corporate lawyer.
Course for this skill:
Introduction To Companies Act, 2013
In this amongst the sought-after corporate lawyer certification courses, you will learn about the functioning of a company and understand the decision-making process in a company, the strategic choice, commercial intent, and the basics of the Companies Act,2013. The course will further discuss incorporating companies and finding their information: the rationale behind incorporating companies, types of companies, drafting MOA and AOA, etc. In addition, it will cover investment transactions and capital changes: types of securities, private placement, shareholders agreement, etc.; Directors, Board Decisions, and Related Party Transactions: Appointment of directors and their removal, types of directors, etc.; and more.
Duration: 1 month
Fee: Rs 3,000
Platform: Lawsikho
Also read: Career as International Arbitrator
4. Communication
A corporate lawyer must have good oral and written communication skills. He should be able to confidently argue a case in court, negotiate settlements, and explain complex information to clients. He should also have the requisite drafting skills.
Course for this skill:
Improving Communication Skills
This is one of the highest-rated corporate lawyer certification courses offered by the University of Pennsylvania. In the course, you will learn to develop good communication skills and how to use them to your advantage. You will be able to understand what others want and frame convincing and clear answers. The course curriculum covers topics such as Cooperation, Competition, and Comparisons, Gaining and building trust to develop cooperation, Deception, and how to detect it?, and Effective communication.
Duration: 10 Hours
Fee: Free
Platform: Coursera
Also read: BLI-225: Communication Skills by Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi via Swayam
5. Legal and Business Ethics
Ethics is an important part of every profession. Legal ethics serve as a guiding light for lawyers and ensure that they work within the bounds of the law. Similarly, business ethics are the principles that guide a business and help in maintaining good relations with the stakeholders, competitors, etc. A good corporate lawyer must know about legal and corporate ethics, how they regulate their work and must adhere to them.
Course for this skill:
Corporate Lawyers: Ethics, Regulation, and Purpose
This one of the corporate lawyer certification courses offered by the University of Birmingham via FutureLearn will explain to you the role of corporate lawyers and the ethical challenges faced by them. You will be taught the importance of ethics in the legal profession. It will also teach you the purpose of lawyers in society, reconciling public good with client satisfaction, the importance of legal ethics in the life of a corporate lawyer, and how lawyers respond to ethical challenges and pressure faced by them.
Duration: 3 weeks
Fee: NA
Platform: FutureLearn
Also read:
6. Contract Law
Businesses operate on contracts. While entering into contracts, various legal considerations have to be taken into account, and compliance with the Indian Contract Act,1872, and other related laws have to be ensured. Thus, a corporate lawyer must be familiar with the various aspects of contract law.
Course for this skill:
CONTRACT LAW: Business Obligations
In this amongst the highest-rated corporate lawyer online courses, you will learn about contracts, and how to form legally binding contracts, analyze and interpret terms of a contract, and the termination of a contract. You will also get to know about what is a contract, the Formation of a contract, various contractual terms, vitiating factors in the contract, third-party position in contracts, termination of contracts, and remedies for breach of contract.
Duration: 1.5 hours
Fee: Rs 455
Platform: Udemy
Also read: Certified Contract Law Analyst by Vskills
7. Knowledge of Competition Law
This is one of the essential skills required for corporate lawyers. Competition is a necessary aspect of facilitating economic growth. However, to ensure free and fair competition, the Government of India has enacted the Competition Act, 2002 to regulate and restrain companies that indulge in anti-competitive practices. Thus, a corporate lawyer, especially a competition lawyer, should have thorough knowledge and understanding of the competition law.
Course for this skill:
Certificate Course in Competition Law, Practice And Enforcement
This course is meant for those lawyers who work in or want to work in competition teams of corporate law firms or as in-house counsel in corporate groups facing competition scrutiny. This is one of the best corporate lawyer courses that will explain to you the applicability of the various provisions of the Competition Act, introduction to competition law, anti-competitive agreements, and abuse of dominance. It will also teach you about inquiry and investigation in enforcement cases, competition law and IP, M&A and Competition Law and international and comparative competition law.
Duration: 3 months
Fee: Rs 30,000
Platform: Lawsikho
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8. Contract Drafting
Every day, new contracts are introduced by companies for taking up new deals, renewing old deals, and building relationships. A corporate lawyer must know how to draft contracts. He is the one who ensures that the contract entered into is legal and fulfils all requirements of the law.
Course for this skill:
Introduction To Practical Contract Drafting
This is another one of the best corporate law online courses that will teach you everything about contract drafting. You will be given transaction-specific training for important business contracts. The course will discuss the Anatomy of a contract, Execution of a contract, and Operative Clauses in a Contract. In addition, you will be taught about Boilerplate’ clauses, Dispute Resolution, Contract Presentation and Review and Contract Negotiation. Key Business Agreements: Non-Disclosure Agreements, MOUs, Employment Agreements, Consultancy, and Services.
Duration: 1 month
Fee: Rs 3,000
Platform: Lawsikho
Also read: Contract Law From Trust to Promise to Contract by Harvard University, Cambridge via Edx
9. Intellectual Property Law
A corporate lawyer should understand the basics of intellectual property law. Nowadays, companies have a large number of intellectual property assets, especially in the innovation-driven sectors. Thus, they look for a lawyer who can handle their IP-related contracts.
Course for this skill:
Intellectual Property Law and Policy: Part 1
Offered by the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia via edX, these amongst the best corporate lawyer online courses will help you gain the general idea and theoretical concepts of intellectual property law. The course covers everything about intellectual property, from an overview of the subject to patents and the characteristics of valid patents. It will also discuss some of the policy implications of intellectual property.
Duration: 6 weeks
Fee: Free
Platform: edX
Also read: Law Colleges in India 2022
10. Organization
The job of a corporate lawyer includes various acts. Sometimes he is attending court, managing case files, meeting clients or other times he is drafting contracts, etc. Thus, organizational skills are very important. A good corporate lawyer is one who can do his work in an organized manner, prioritize his work, and meet deadlines rather than working haphazardly. So, organization is one of the must-have skills required for corporate lawyers.
Course for this skill:
Get Things Done: How To Organize Your Life And Take Action
In this one of the top-rated corporate lawyer certification courses, you will learn to create, plan, and complete your projects on time and various techniques and strategies to organize your work and life to increase your productivity. The course covers the Action Map system, Actions and Planning, Triggers, Domains, Reviews, and more.
Duration: 3 hours
Free: Rs 455
Platform: Udemy
Also read:
Conclusion
Becoming a successful corporate lawyer is no easy thing. But if you are willing to work hard and be determined, you will be able to achieve this goal. Knowing the technical aspects of the law is not enough. You need to have practical knowledge and skills, including commercial awareness, teamwork, communication skills, information analysis and research, confidence, and creative problem-solving skills. You can enrol in corporate lawyer courses to master these skills and embark on your journey to become a successful corporate lawyer. You can choose the best courses by making an online course comparison and excel in your career.
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Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) - Top 10 skills corporate lawyers should have and how to learn
Question: Which law program should I enrol in to become a corporate lawyer?
Answer:
You should opt for BBA LLB if you want to become a corporate lawyer. However, you can also opt for a master's in corporate law.
Question: What is the average salary of a corporate lawyer?
Answer:
The average salary of a corporate lawyer in India is Rs 702,137.
Question: What are the job opportunities available after corporate lawyer courses?
Answer:
Many job opportunities are available after completion of the corporate lawyer courses. You can work as a corporate lawyer or join a law firm or work as an in-house counsel to specialize in any area of corporate law and work as an IP Lawyer, Competition lawyer, etc.
Question: Are there any company law classes available online?
Answer:
Yes, you can join the company law classes by enrolling in the various diplomas and certificate courses offered by Lawsikho.
Question: Can I find any corporate law online courses for free?
Answer:
Yes, you can find many free corporate law online courses on platforms like Coursera, Alison, and FutureLearn.
Question: What are the available corporate law degree programs?
Answer:
Corporate law degree programs available are BBA LLB (Hons) in Corporate Laws, LLM in Corporate Law and Post Graduate Diploma in Corporate Law, etc.
Question: Are there any certificate courses in corporate law available online?
Answer:
Yes, many corporate lawyer certification courses are available online, including Certificate Course in National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Litigation( Lawsikho), Certificate Course in Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code(Lawsikho), and Corporate & Commercial Law I: Contracts & Employment Law(Coursera).
Question: Can I do an MBA in corporate law?
Answer:
Yes, many management colleges offer an MBA in the corporate law program.
Question: Which is the best company law online course?
Answer:
Diploma in Companies Act, Corporate Governance, and SEBI Regulations (12 months) offered by Lawsikho is the best company law online course available.
Question: What are the best universities for pursuing a master's in corporate law?
Answer:
National Law University(NLU), Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), and Chandigarh University are some of the top universities for pursuing a master’s in corporate law.
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Questions related to Corporate Law
I got 5972 rank in CLAT PG 2022. Will I be able to get admission in NLU or GGSIPU (with respect to specialization in Corporate Law)? Im from general category.
Hello
Through CLAT PG 2022 exam student has to secure 95-100 rank for admission in top national universities. For National law University admission student has to secure at least 85 to 90 ranks inCLAT PG exam. In your rank in clerk PG 5972 there is little hope of chance getting top National University and Government colleges for law. You can admission in the private Law University under the supervision of National Law University or College.GGSIPU Guru Govind Singh Indraprastha University is the First Government Law University established in the year of 1998. to take admission in Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University which is a government university also is not possible to take admission in your rank.
which 5 government/public college is best for PG diploma in corporate law?
Dear Student ,
For PG Diploma course , there are total 5 well known colleges in India that offers this course :
- Lajpat Rai Law College, Sambalpur
- University College of Law, Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur
- Gurugram University, Gurugram
- ILI Delhi - Indian Law Institute
- NLU Sonipat - Dr BR Ambedkar National Law University
To know more about the colleges as well as the eligibility criteria to get admission in these colleges , refer this :
Hope this helps !
how to make career in corporate law while studying in Delhi university ? What initiatives can one take ?
Hi,
Hope you are doing well!
After getting a Bachelor’s of law Degree the candidate can go for specialized qualification in Corporate Law or enroll themselves in L.L.M Corporate Law.
Some exams for LLM are:
Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), All India Law Entrance Test ,MH CET Law ,TS PGLCET ,AP PCLCET ,ILICAT LSAT India.
The career of a Corporate Lawyer involves the application of legal knowledge related to the preparation of corporate agreements, corporate taxes, import and export, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures etc.
You can pursue LLM Corporate Law. You can also register as an advocate in any of the State Bar Council guided by the Advocates Act,1961. Then you can get permission to practice in any court in any part of the country.
Some job profiles are:
Corporate Lawyer, Assistant Manager ,Corporate Events Associate ,Professor, Associate Advocate, Legal Counsel/Officer etc.
The average salary ranges from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000 per month, but it can increase with experience.
You can also visit this link for more information:
https://www.careers360.com/courses/corporate-law-course
Hope it helps.
All the best for your future.
is NMIMS law really worth it ? can we study corporate law here ?
Dear candidate, yes, getting an opportunity to pursue your Law studies from NMIMS is really worthy. This is because this Institute offers two law courses
1. BA LLB
2. BBA LLB
Now this college possess sophisticated infrastructure, well maintained class rooms, great Academic environment. Not only that, they follow updated curriculum to keep yourself upgraded with the syllabus, placements are also optimum after completion of your study.
https://www.careers360.com/university/narsee-monjee-institute-of-management-studies-mumbai
Good luck!!
Does Allahabad University has LL.M in corporate Law ?
Hello Deepika,
Well yes Allhabad University does offer LLM programme for a duration of 2 years and accepts candidates on the basis of their CLAT PG score.
For downloading samples papers of CLAT LG or for other related information do visit- https://law.careers360.com/exams/clat-pg
Hope this helps.
Goodluck!