CLAT

CLAT or Common Law Admission Test is one of the two (the other one being LSAT) elite law entrances conducted every year for admission to full-time on-campus BA LLB-Hons, BBA.LL.B-Hons, B.Com.LL.B-Hons, B.Sc.LL.B-Hons and LL.M degree programs offered by the 19 premier law schools or NLUs in the Indian subcontinent. It may be noted that the undergraduate courses are of 5 years duration, while the lone postgraduate program is of 1 year. These National Law Universities are listed below according to their year of establishment.

• Christ University, Bangalore
• MS Ramaiah College of Law, Bangalore
• KLE Society’s Law College, Bangalore
• National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru
• National Academy of Legal Study and Research University of Law (NALSAR), Hyderabad
• National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal
• National Law University (NLUJ), Jodhpur
• Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur
• Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar
• Dr. Ram ManoharLohiya National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow
• Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Punjab
• Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna
• National Law University Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack
• National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi
• National Law University and Judicial Academy (NLUJAA), Assam
• DamodaramSanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), Vizag
• Tamil Nadu National Law School (TNNLS), Trichy
• Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai
• Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla

Why should you opt for CLAT

The NLUs are regarded as the IIMs in the business of law education, and CLAT is the gateway to reach them. Anybody aspiring for a promising career in the field of law just cannot afford to ignore and skip this test.

How is CLAT different from LSAT

Difficulty level

The difficulty level of the CLAT questions is moderate. Nonetheless, the students are required to answer more questions in a very short span of time. The negative marking scheme and also the time constraint makes the test pretty challenging. CLAT is indeed considered by the student community as well as the CLAT coaches a notch difficult than the LSAT.

The difficulty level of LSAT questions is also high. Though negative marking scheme is not present in this examination, the sectional time limit and the complicated style of the questions make the test tougher to attempt all the problems asked.

Level of competition

CLAT is the only road that leads one to the NLUs. Around 50,000 applicants fight tooth and nail for less than 3,000 seats for the LLB courses. The competition is even much fierce for LLM programs which have a total of 600 odd seats.

As comparatively greater number (70 to date) of law schools accept the LSAT score, the odds of success for a student is statistically more compared to CLAT.

Syllabus of CLAT 

English and comprehension: Grammar and comprehension passages are the two key areas where a student is required to focus intensely. A CLAT aspirant should concentrate on the central theme of the passages, meaning of words, and any question that calls for reading between the lines. Fill in the blanks and spotting grammatical mistakes are the two primary tasks that a student needs to practice over and over again.

General knowledge and current affairs: Current affairs, static GK, recent topics, and general awareness are the four significant areas where one needs to shine.

Elementary mathematics or numerical ability test: The level of the questions appearing for this section will be that of 10^th standard.

Legal aptitude test: This section gauges one’s inclination in the study of law, problem-solving attitude, and research potential. The questions will appear on the basis of legal propositions and battery of facts satisfying those propositions. The proposition might not be true logically or in a realistic manner, and the test-taker has to assume the one which will be right (best possible or most appropriate) on the basis of the sets of facts provided.

Logic reasoning: To name a few; identifying patterns, rectifying illogical arguments, logical links, syllogism, analogies, and logical sequences; are some of the primary areas where the student is supposed to excel. It may be noted that CLAT does not ask questions on visual reasoning, perhaps, because of the reason that the course of law is blind!

Eligibility for CLAT: 2018

• A candidate should have cleared the Intermediate/Higher Secondary School Examination (HSSE)/10+2 or equivalent with a minimum of 50% (5% relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PWD) in aggregate
• There is no prescribed age limit to sit for this test
• Appearing candidates may also apply, however, they should be able to produce a provisional pass certificate along with non-consolidated marks cards to receive the offer letter for admission
• Students having a supplementary or compartmental in any paper in qualifying examination are not eligible for admission

The prescribed pattern of CLAT

• UG
  • Total marks/number of questions: 200/200
  • English &comprehension: 40/40
    • Comprehension & grammar
    • Vocabulary
    • Fill in the blanks
    • Correcting sentences

• • Elementary mathematics: 20/20
    • Number system
    • Percentage
    • Profit & loss
    • Time & work
    • Height & distance
    • Geometry
    • Algebra
    • Trigonometry

• • General knowledge and current affairs: 50/50
    • Static general knowledge
    • Current affairs

• • Logical reasoning: 40 /40
    • Syllogism
    • Logical sequences
    • Analogies
    • Blood relation

• • Legal reasoning: 50/50
    • Legal propositions

• • Duration: 2 hours
  • Negative marking: 0.25 marks will be subtracted for every incorrect response made

• PG
  • Total marks/number of questions: 150/150
    • Constitutional Law: 50/50
    • Jurisprudence: 50/50
    • Law of torts, law of contracts, international law, family law, criminal law, property Law, intellectual property law, etc.: 50/50

• • Duration: 1.5 hours
  • Negative marking: same as CLAT-UG

Registering and scheduling the CLAT       

• Click on the hyperlink that says “CLAT application form”
• A new window will open containing the links that say “New Registration and login”
• Click on the “New Registration” to launch the online application form
• Enter all relevant details including your name, father’s name, your date of birth, and your email
• Select either SMS or email option for receiving your user-id and login password
• Now login to the system using the user-id and password provided, and answering the security captcha
• Click on “Submit”
• Now populate the form with your academic credentials, address, preferred examination center
• Upload your photograph and signature
• Now proceed to pay the test fees online after completely filling up the application form
• Preview form data and make necessary changes, if required, by using the “Edit/Update” option
• Now click on the  hyperlink that says “Save and Submit”

Fees and modes of payment for taking the CLAT

• Mode
  • Online: credit/debit card, net-banking
  • Offline: crossed demand draft drawn in favor of the registrar of the respective NLU responsible for organizing that year’s CLAT, payable at the city where that NLU is located
• Amount
  • GEN/OBC/PWD: 4,000 rupees
  • SC/ST: 3,500 rupees

How to access CLAT score

• Visit CLAT portal
• Go to the information tab
• The system will take you to another page
• Click on the hyperlink that says “Results”
• Provide your registration number/roll number, date of birth, and answer the captcha
• Login to view your result

The validity of CLAT score

The score is valid only for the academic year CLAT is conducted.

Top non-NLU law schools accepting CLAT

• Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Mumbai
• University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun
• Nirma University, Ahmedabad