Can a law student with no law background in family still become successful?

The legal profession is demanding and requires passion, some would even say it's a calling. Any NLU you join, will award you a law degree after 5 yrs certified by the Bar Council of India. What next? Litigation lawyer? or corporate lawyer? 

The arduous Litigation path: Are you an idealistic person? with regards to India, how does the idea of justice and judicial system sit with you? Are you financially secure enough to pursue working for a cause, on a pittance? 

Are you good at networking? Are you driven by being right and fighting for it (translates to long hours of work with few perks) no matter what.. Seek answers to the above questions from yourself and then decide if litigation is for you. To go into litigation and practice in the courts in India, you can study at any good law college. Career prospects for litigation lawyers are on an even keel because you must practice under a lawyer and do your apprenticeship. You will probably be paid a pittance but you will gain enormously in experience. Then you can take your judicial service exams in case you want to get into judiciary (be a judge).Rich and Jaded Corporate path: National Law School of India University i.e. NLSIU Bangalore is considered creme de la creme, a good Law School will automatically open many doors like internships, networking i.e. rubbing shoulders at the alumni association etc. If you choose to, join a corporate law firm, the placements average 12 to 18 lakhs and can go upto 22 lakh per annum but the mantra is work hard, play hard. 

By the way every lawyer you hear of or see on the News is probably a litigation expert. 

This applies to any student looking at legal education in India. 

UPDATE: This article which came out today (23/11) may help you. 

To be a first-generation lawyer is an adventure in itself: Adv. Abhinav Sood, P&H High Court