How to Start Judiciary Prep in Final Year of Law
- himanshilawprep
- Jul 21
- 5 min read
If you’re in your final year of law school and thinking about preparing for judiciary exams, you’ve already taken your first step in the right direction. This is the perfect time to start. You’ve studied law for nearly four years, attended lectures, done internships, participated in moots-and now, with just one year left, it's time to channel all of that into your dream of becoming a judge.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step, student-friendly plan to start your judiciary preparation while still attending college. It’s not about overloading yourself; it’s about being consistent, using your time wisely, and following a smart strategy.
1. Understand the Exam Structure and Choose Your Target States
Judiciary exams are conducted by individual states, and while the structure may vary slightly, the core pattern remains similar across the board.
Generally, there are three stages:
Preliminary Exam: Objective (MCQ) based, mostly on law subjects, GK, and current affairs
Mains Exam: Descriptive and written, including law, essay, and language papers
Interview: Personality test, legal understanding, and general awareness
Core law subjects include:
Indian Penal Code (IPC)
Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC)
Code of Civil Procedure (CPC)
Indian Evidence Act
Constitution of India
Contract Act
Transfer of Property Act
Family Law (in some states)
Also, language and current affairs play a key role.
Download and read the syllabus of 1–2 states you are likely to apply for, such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, or Bihar. Each state has slightly different subject priorities and paper patterns, so having clarity early on helps you stay focused and not get confused later.
2. Join a Trusted Judiciary Coaching Institute
If you're starting from your final year and want proper direction, joining a coaching institute can save a lot of time and confusion. A good coaching setup provides structured lectures, notes, doubt-solving, regular tests, and model answers-all of which are essential in judiciary prep.
Among trusted names, Law Prep Tutorial stands out as one of the best Judiciary Coaching in India. It offers detailed video lectures, updated notes, subject-wise classes, and writing practice. They also help you understand what topics to prioritize for different state exams.
For final-year students, online coaching is often more practical. You can attend classes on evenings or weekends without missing college.
Coaching doesn’t replace your self-study-but it gives you clarity, regularity, and expert feedback, which are extremely valuable in competitive exams.
3. Build a Timetable That Fits with Your College Routine
Let’s be realistic-your final year of college will keep you busy. You’ll have lectures, assignments, seminars, internships, and possibly placement activities. Instead of trying to follow the routine of a full-time aspirant, create a timetable that works around your college life.
Here’s a sample approach:
Morning (Before College): 1 hour - Read Bare Acts or revise class notes
Evening (After College): 1-1.5 hours - Watch recorded lectures or practice questions
Weekends: 5-6 hours for focused study, mock tests, or answer writing
This adds up to nearly 20–25 hours per week, which is a very solid start. Even on your busiest days, try to dedicate at least 30 minutes, just to stay consistent.
Judiciary prep isn’t a sprint; it’s a slow but steady marathon. If you’re regular, you’ll build a strong base before graduation.
4. Start with Core Law Subjects Using Bare Acts
Bare Acts are the most important part of your preparation. Judiciary questions-both objective and descriptive-are heavily based on the language, sections, exceptions, and illustrations in Bare Acts.
Start with the most commonly asked subjects:
IPC
CrPC
CPC
Evidence Act
Constitution
Contract Act
Transfer of Property Act
Here’s how to study them smartly:
Read 2–3 sections daily (don’t rush)
Highlight important definitions, explanations, and exceptions
Write brief summaries or keywords in the margins
Keep a small notebook for confusing or important points
Revise each subject every 15–20 days
Avoid reading too many subjects at once. Begin with just one law subject, finish the basic reading and understanding, and then move to the next.
5. Add General Knowledge and Current Affairs to Your Study Plan
General Knowledge and current affairs are part of the Prelims and Mains in many judiciary exams. It’s also helpful for interviews and essay writing.
Here’s how to handle it smartly:
Spend 20–25 minutes three times a week on current affairs
Use monthly magazines, weekly current affairs, or reliable online sources (like Exam Charcha or Drishti Monthly)
Focus more on:
Supreme Court judgments
New Bills and Acts
Legal events (National and International)
Constitutional amendments
National appointments and important personalities
Make short notes and revise them monthly. Don’t get into the habit of reading full newspapers daily unless you really enjoy it. Prioritise legal and national news.
6. Begin Mains Answer Writing from the Early Stages
Most aspirants delay answer writing, thinking they’ll start once the syllabus is complete. But that’s a mistake. Judiciary Mains exams are not just about what you know-it’s about how well you express it in a structured and legal format under time pressure.
Start with baby steps:
Pick a previous year Mains question every 3-4 days
Write a 10-marker or 20-marker answer
Stick to the structure: Introduction, Legal Provisions, Case Laws, Conclusion
Use Bare Act references wherever possible
Writing regularly helps you:
Improve speed
Learn answer presentation
Reduce fear of long paper formats
No one writes perfect answers on Day 1. But starting now means you’ll be confident and well-practiced by the time the exam approaches.
7. Prepare for Language Papers - English and Regional Language
Almost every state judiciary exam has a language paper in Mains-usually English, and a regional language (like Hindi in UP, MP, Bihar, etc.).
The language paper includes:
Essay writing
Precis writing
Grammar-based questions
Translation (English to regional language and vice versa)
Start practicing these gradually:
Write one essay every 2 weeks on current legal or social topics
Revise basic grammar rules (sentence correction, idioms, etc.)
Practice translating short paragraphs
Use reliable books like Arihant's Essay & Language Practice Guide
Students often ignore this paper, thinking it’s easy. But it's a scoring opportunity if prepared properly.
Also checkout Ways to Choose Between CLAT and Judiciary
8. Use Final Year College Work to Support Your Judiciary Prep
One of the smartest things you can do is turn your college assignments, moots, and seminars into part of your judiciary prep. The subjects you study in class often match your judiciary syllabus.
Here’s how to make the most of college:
Choose project topics related to core subjects like Evidence, Constitution, or Criminal Law
Use moot court experiences to improve your legal reasoning and writing
Intern under trial court advocates or legal aid cells to see how procedural laws work in practice
Participate in debates and essay competitions to polish language skills
Instead of treating college and judiciary prep as separate worlds, merge them together. It saves time and builds strong subject understanding without extra effort.
Final Thoughts: It’s Not About Studying Harder, It’s About Studying Smarter
Starting judiciary preparation in the final year is not only possible-it’s strategic. You have a clear goal, a law background, and an entire year to build your foundation.
What matters now is:
Starting small but staying regular
Following a proper structure
Getting expert guidance when needed
Practicing answer writing from the beginning
Believing that this dream is 100% achievable
Don’t worry if someone else started earlier. Everyone has their own timeline. What’s important is how you use your time now.
Start with just:
One hour of Bare Act reading today
One short answer writing session this weekend
One essay in the next ten days
Each small effort adds up. And by the end of this year, you’ll not only be a law graduate—you’ll be a judiciary aspirant with real preparation in your pocket.
Comments