How to Start Judiciary Preparation in College
- Himanshi Goyal
- 7 hours ago
- 6 min read
Dreaming of becoming a judge someday? That dream doesn’t have to wait until your final year of law school or after graduation. The journey can begin right now-while you’re still in college.
Starting judiciary preparation early doesn’t mean giving up your college life or locking yourself away with thick books. It simply means making smart use of the time you already have. College offers you the perfect environment-legal subjects, access to teachers, internships, and most importantly, the time to learn things at your own pace.
Many successful judicial officers today started their preparation during college. They didn’t rush. They didn’t try to learn everything in one go. They just began, one step at a time. And that’s exactly what you can do.
This blog is your complete guide to starting judiciary preparation during college years-without feeling overwhelmed. Whether you're in your first year or heading toward your final semester, these tips will help you move in the right direction, slowly and steadily.
1. Get Familiar with the Exam Pattern and Syllabus
Understanding the structure of the judiciary exam is the first step. The judicial services exam, often referred to as PCS(J), is conducted by individual states in India to recruit judges for the civil court system.
The exam has three stages:
Preliminary Exam (Objective-type questions)
Mains Exam (Descriptive-type questions)
Interview or Viva Voce (Personality test)
Though every state has a slightly different syllabus, the core subjects remain the same:
Indian Penal Code (IPC)
Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC)
Civil Procedure Code (CPC)
Indian Evidence Act
Indian Contract Act
Constitution of India
Transfer of Property Act, Family Law, and Local Laws (varies by state)
General Knowledge, Current Affairs, and Language Papers (like Hindi, English, or regional language)
Having clarity about the syllabus helps in identifying what topics to study and how to align them with college subjects.
2. Consider Joining a Coaching Program When Needed
Many law students begin preparation on their own during college. But as the syllabus grows, they feel the need for guidance, mock tests, answer evaluation, and structured planning.
Joining a judiciary coaching institute can provide expert support and help you stay disciplined. Online coaching options are especially helpful for college students, as they offer flexible learning without interfering with your daily college routine. You can also join Judiciary Coaching in Prayagraj or any reputable institute near you if you prefer classroom learning or personalized mentoring.
Law Prep Tutorial is one of the top-rated institutes for Judiciary Coaching in India. Their foundation courses, test series, and mentorship programs are specially designed for college-going students. Starting early with the right guidance can help you build confidence and avoid confusion.
Even if you don’t join full coaching immediately, taking mock tests or joining an answer writing program can add value to your preparation.
3. Treat Your College Subjects as a Part of Judiciary Prep
Most law subjects taught in college are also part of the judiciary syllabus. Instead of studying only for passing exams or assignments, treating these subjects as preparation for the judiciary exam adds long-term value.
When studying IPC, CPC, CrPC, or the Constitution, focus on understanding concepts rather than memorising. Read legal provisions carefully and understand how they are applied in real cases. Use class notes, discussions, and lectures to deepen your knowledge.
Choosing the right books from the beginning can also help. Some highly recommended ones include:
Ratanlal & Dhirajlal for IPC
Takwani for CPC
Batuk Lal for Evidence Act
M.P. Jain for Constitution
College is the ideal place to build a solid understanding of the law that will help not only in exams but also in practical life as a judge.
4. Start Reading Bare Acts Regularly
Bare Acts contain the exact language of the law and form the backbone of judiciary preparation. Questions in both prelims and mains are often framed directly from the wording of Bare Acts.
Developing the habit of reading Bare Acts early can save a lot of time later. Start by reading one or two sections each day. Initially, the legal language might seem complex, but regular reading helps in understanding it better.
Instead of memorising, focus on comprehension. Try writing each section in your own words to ensure clarity. This habit improves both your legal language and writing skills, which are crucial for the mains exam.
5. Create a Consistent and Simple Study Routine
Judiciary preparation doesn’t require giving up on everything else. A simple and consistent study schedule can help you stay on track while managing college work. Spending 2 to 3 focused hours each day is more effective than long, unfocused study hours.
Here’s how your daily routine can look:
30 minutes: Read bare acts
1 hour: Focus on one major subject like IPC or Evidence Act
30 minutes: Read current affairs or revise previous topics
On weekends or holidays, you can add answer writing practice or revision sessions. Making use of small time slots across the day is a smart way to build momentum without feeling overwhelmed.
6. Stay Updated with Current Affairs & GK
Many students focus only on law subjects and ignore general knowledge and Weekly current affairs. However, these areas are part of both prelims and interview stages in many state judiciary exams.
Reading a good newspaper like The Hindu or The Indian Express regularly is a good starting point. Focus on:
Supreme Court and High Court judgments
Legal and constitutional developments
National and international issues
Government policies and acts
Along with that, revise current affairs from monthly magazines or online compilations. Make short notes for revision. Staying updated will also help in writing better essays and handling interview questions.
7. Use Internships to Learn About Practical Side of Law
Internships during college are not just about getting certificates. For judiciary aspirants, they are valuable opportunities to observe how courts function and how legal principles are applied in real situations.
Spending time in trial courts helps you understand procedures, arguments, and how evidence is examined. Interning with civil and criminal lawyers gives insight into drafting, filing, and presenting cases. Legal aid camps or NGO-based internships offer grassroots legal experience.
This exposure to real-world legal work gives clarity and confidence. It also helps in answering practical and situational questions during the interview round of the judiciary exam.
8. Begin Practicing Answer Writing for Mains
The mains stage is all about presenting legal knowledge in a clear, structured, and logical format. Writing answers effectively is a skill that improves with practice.
Even during college, starting with one answer per week is enough. Pick a previous year’s question from any state judiciary exam and attempt it under timed conditions.
While writing:
Start with a short introduction of the topic
Mention relevant legal provisions with sections
Add brief case references or examples
Conclude with a logical ending
Write in simple, direct language. Focus on structure and clarity. Over time, you’ll become faster and more confident in writing well-structured answers.
9. Practice Language Papers Side by Side
Language papers are often scoring, but many candidates ignore them. In states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and others, judiciary exams include papers in Hindi, English, or the regional language.
Practicing regularly can make a big difference. Work on:
Essay writing
Precis writing
Translation (Hindi to English and vice versa)
Grammar exercises
Writing one essay or precis every weekend builds confidence. It also improves your writing speed and ability to present ideas clearly-skills that matter in both mains and interviews.
Also checkout Ways to Revise the Entire CLAT Syllabus in One Month
10. Be Consistent and Believe in Your Journey
Preparing for the judiciary while managing college may feel tiring at times. There will be days when you feel low or distracted. That’s completely normal. What really matters is that you stay consistent and keep going.
Even one hour of quality study every day adds up to big progress over time. Some students wait till graduation to start preparing, but those who start early in college get a head start.
Believing in yourself is just as important as any book or coaching. With steady effort, you’ll find that difficult topics become easy, complex laws start making sense, and confidence grows naturally.
Final Thoughts
Starting judiciary preparation in college is not about adding pressure-it’s about using time wisely. With proper planning, focus, and guidance, college students can build a strong base for judicial exams without sacrificing their academics or personal life.
Focus on your law subjects and use them as judiciary prep.
Read bare acts daily to build strong legal language.
Practice writing and stay updated with current affairs.
Use internships to understand courts and case handling.
Stay consistent and take help when needed.
This journey requires time, discipline, and clarity-but beginning early gives you an advantage that most students don’t have. Keep learning, stay positive, and take each step with purpose. The bench you're dreaming of isn’t too far-it just takes steady effort and belief in your goal.
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