What is ‘CLAT’ and which jobs does it open the way to?
Do you know that What is ‘CLAT’ If someone asks you about studying law, it’s likely that you’ll picture a lawyer in a white shirt and black coat in a courtroom.
But do those who study law only practice law, or do they become judges? The answer is no.
This is why the number of people wishing to study law at India’s 26 National Law Universities is increasing day by day.
Last year, approximately 76,000 candidates took the Common Law Admission Test (What is CLAT ), the exam that opens the door to 3,500 to 4000 seats at these law universities. This includes candidates taking both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
Why are thousands of young people showing so much interest CLAT exam ? The reason lies in the opportunities it offers.
The future of those who study law is no longer limited to courtrooms and paperwork. Instead, it has opened up avenues for the judiciary, including corporate law firms, company boardrooms, policy think tanks, international companies, and even entrepreneurship.
Before we proceed, let’s understand what this exam entails and what it entails.
Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a centralized, national-level entrance examination in India for admission to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programs offered by 24 prestigious National Law Universities (NLUs) across the country. Many other private and self-financed law schools also use CLAT scores for their admission processes.
1. Purpose of the CLAT Exam
The CLAT serves as the primary gateway to legal education in India, ensuring a standardized, merit-based admission process. Its main objectives are:
- Selection for Top Law Schools: It acts as a screening test for securing a seat in the highly coveted NLUs, which are renowned for producing top legal professionals.
- Standardization: It provides a uniform platform for evaluating law aspirants nationwide.
- Aptitude Testing: The exam is designed to test a candidate’s aptitude and skills necessary for legal studies, focusing on reasoning, comprehension, and analytical abilities, rather than just prior legal knowledge.
2. CLAT Levels
CLAT is conducted at two levels:
| Aspect | CLAT UG (Undergraduate) | CLAT PG (Postgraduate) |
|---|---|---|
| Target Audience | Students who have completed or are appearing for their 10+2 (Class 12) examination. | Students who have completed or are appearing for an LL.B. degree (3-year or 5-year integrated). |
| Courses | 5-year Integrated LL.B. programs (e.g., B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), B.Com. LL.B. (Hons.)). | Master of Laws (LL.M.) programs. |
| Minimum Marks | 45\% marks in Class 12 (or 40\% for SC/ST/PwD candidates). | 50\% marks in LL.B. (or 45\% for SC/ST/PwD candidates). |
| Age Limit | No upper age limit for candidates. | No upper age limit for candidates. |
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3. Exam Pattern (UG-CLAT)
The Undergraduate CLAT is a paper-based test designed to assess comprehension and reasoning skills.
| Section | Nature of Questions | Weightage (Approximate) |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | Comprehension passages (approx. 450 words each) followed by questions testing comprehension, vocabulary, and inference. | 22-26 questions |
| Current Affairs including General Knowledge | Passages derived from news and non-fiction, testing awareness of contemporary and historical events, arts, culture, and international affairs. | 28-32 questions |
| Legal Reasoning | Passages relating to fact situations involving legal matters and public policy. The focus is on identifying rules/principles and applying them to new scenarios. No prior legal knowledge is required. | 28-32 questions |
| Logical Reasoning | Passages followed by questions testing critical analysis, inference, drawing relationships, identifying contradictions, and assessing argument effectiveness. | 22-26 questions |
| Quantitative Techniques | Short sets of facts, graphs, or textual representations of numerical information. Questions require applying basic 10th standard mathematical operations (ratios, algebra, mensuration, statistics). | 10-14 questions |
General Details for UG-CLAT:
- Total Questions: 120 multiple-choice questions.
- Total Marks: 120 marks.
- Duration: 2 hours (120 minutes).
- Marking: +1 mark for every correct answer; -0.25 marks (negative marking) for every incorrect answer.
- Exam Mode: Pen-and-paper based.
4. CLAT PG Syllabus
The Postgraduate CLAT (LL.M.) focuses on the mandatory subjects of the undergraduate law program, including: Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Administrative Law, Law of Contract, Torts, Family Law, Criminal Law, Property Law, and Public International Law. The paper also heavily emphasizes reading and comprehending extracts from primary legal materials, such as important court decisions, statutes, and regulations.
For PG, candidates must have scored at least 50% in LLB. Reserved communities are given a five% concession.
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