Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is conducted as per a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the convenience of the students seeking admission to various National Law Universities in the country. An entrance test is conducted to provide a list of candidates on the basis of 'merit-cum- preference' to each University for admission to their Under-Graduate (UG)/Post-Graduate (PG) programs, as per the eligibility, reservation and other criteria laid down under the respective statutes of the participating Universities.
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), is an all India common entrance examination, conducted on rotational basis by 19 National Law Universities (NLUs) for admissions to their UG and PG degree programs. The 19 participating NLUs in the order of their year of establishment are:
The 19 participating NLUâ??s in the order of their year of establishment are:
- National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru
- National Academy of Legal Study and Research (NALSAR), University of Law, Hyderabad
- National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal
- The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), Kolkata
- National Law University (NLU), Jodhpur
- Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur
- Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar
- Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow
- Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Punjab
- Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna
- The National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi
- National Law University Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack
- National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi
- National Law University and Judicial Academy (NLUJA), Assam
- Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), Visakhapatnam
- Tamil Nadu National Law School (TNNLS), Tiruchirappalli
- Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai
- Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Nagpur
- Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Aurangabad
The first CLAT Core Committee consisting of Vice-Chancellors of seven participating NLUs decided that a Common Entrance Test shall be conducted by all the participating Universities on rotational basis in the order of their year of establishment. Accordingly, the first Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) was conducted in the year 2008. Presently there are 19 NLUs participating in CLAT and following the policy of rotation, the Eleventh Common Law Admission Test (CLAT - 2018) is being organised by NUALS, Kochi.
The nineteen NLUs offer five-year integrated Under-Graduate Law Programs leading to the award of a degree in Law as per their respective nomenclature.
Most NLUs also offer PG Programs in Law. The information pertaining to the LL.B. and LL.M. Degree Course offered at various NLUs along with the course duration and the specializations offered has been provided in detail under the respective sections of each Universityâ??s website and information brochure. The candidates are advised to check the websites of the respective Universities from time to time to keep themselves updated with any change in the course structure or other details.