India has witnessed a significant rise in the popularity of law as a career, thanks to the ever-growing opportunities in corporate law, judicial services, litigation, legal journalism, public policy, and other related fields. To gain admission to top law schools in the country, aspirants must pass competitive entrance exams. Among them, CLAT and AILET are the most prominent, but many other national and state-level exams also offer access to reputed law colleges.
This article will provide a detailed guide on the top law entrance exams in India, including eligibility, exam pattern, key dates, and participating colleges. Whether you’re aiming for a 5-year integrated BA LLB or a 3-year LLB program, this list will help you choose the right path.
Table of Contents
Why Law Entrance Exams Matter?
Law entrance exams are designed to test a candidate’s aptitude in areas such as legal reasoning, general awareness, English, logical reasoning, and quantitative skills. A good score in these exams ensures admission to premier law institutions, which offer academic excellence, better placements, and vast alumni networks.
List of Top Law Entrance Exams in India
| Exam Name | Conducting Body | Courses Offered | Exam Level | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAT | Consortium of NLUs | BA LLB, LLM | National | Once a year |
| AILET | NLU Delhi | BA LLB, LLM, PhD | National | Once a year |
| LSAT India | LSAC | BA LLB, LLB, LLM | National | Twice a year |
| SLAT | Symbiosis University | BA LLB, BBA LLB | University Level | Once a year |
| MH CET Law | Maharashtra Govt. | 5-year BA LLB, 3-year LLB | State Level | Once a year |
| CUET (LAW) | NTA | BA LLB, BBA LLB | National | Once a year |
| DU LLB | University of Delhi | 3-year LLB | University Level | Once a year |
| BHU UET (LAW) | Banaras Hindu Univ. | 3-year LLB | University Level | Once a yea |
Exam-Wise Breakdown
1. CLAT (Common Law Admission Test)
CLAT is the most prestigious law entrance exam in India, accepted by 24 National Law Universities (NLUs) for undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) courses.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligibility (UG) | 10+2 with 45% (General) / 40% (SC/ST) |
| Courses Offered | BA LLB, BBA LLB, B.Com LLB, LLM |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen & Paper) |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours |
| Subjects | English, GK, Legal Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques |
| Official Website | http://consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
Top Colleges Accepting CLAT:
- NLSIU Bangalore
- NALSAR Hyderabad
- NLU Jodhpur
- NUJS Kolkata
- NLIU Bhopal
2. AILET (All India Law Entrance Test)
Conducted by National Law University (NLU), Delhi, AILET is held for admission to BA LLB (Hons), LLM, and PhD programs.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligibility (UG) | 10+2 with 45% (General) / 40% (SC/ST) |
| Mode of Exam | Offline |
| Exam Duration | 1.5 hours |
| Subjects | English, Legal Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, GK, Maths |
| Official Website | http://nludelhi.ac.in |
Why Choose AILET: Highly competitive, with only 110 BA LLB seats, offering focused legal education at India’s top NLU.
3. LSAT—India (Law School Admission Test)
Organized by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), LSAT India is accepted by many private universities in India.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | 10+2 or graduation, depending on the program |
| Mode of Exam | Online (Remote proctored) |
| Frequency | Twice a year |
| Subjects | Logical Reasoning, Analytical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension |
| Official Website | 10+2 or graduation, depending on program |
Top Colleges Accepting LSAT India:
- Jindal Global Law School (JGLS)
- UPES Dehradun
- IFIM Law School
4. SLAT (Symbiosis Law Admission Test)
SLAT is conducted by Symbiosis International University for admission to BA LLB and BBA LLB in its law schools across India.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | 10+2 with 45% marks |
| Mode of Exam | Online |
| Colleges | SLS Pune, SLS Noida, SLS Hyderabad, SLS Nagpur |
| Official Website | http://set-test.org |
Highlights:
The Personal Interaction and Writing Ability Test (PI-WAT) is part of the final selection.
5. MH CET Law (Maharashtra Common Entrance Test – Law)
MH CET Law is a state-level entrance test conducted by the State CET Cell, Maharashtra, for admission into law colleges in Maharashtra.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Courses Offered | 5-year BA LLB, 3-year LLB |
| Mode of Exam | Online (Computer-Based) |
| Subjects | English, GK, Legal Aptitude, Reasoning, Math (5-year only) |
| Official Website | http://cetcell.mahacet.org |
Top Colleges Accepting CET:
- Government Law College (GLC), Mumbai
- ILS Law College, Pune
- Rizvi Law College
6. DU LLB Entrance Exam
Conducted by the University of Delhi, this exam is for admission to its 3-year LLB program.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Graduation with 50% marks (General) |
| Mode of Exam | Online (Computer-Based) |
| Subjects | Legal Aptitude, English, Reasoning, GK |
| Official Website | http://lawfaculty.du.ac.in |
Highlights:
It is one of the most affordable and reputed 3-year LLB programs in India.
7. CUET UG (LAW Stream)
The Common University Entrance Test (CUET-UG) is now being accepted by many central universities like BHU, JMI, and others for integrated law programs.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | 10+2 (with specific requirements depending on university) |
| Mode of Exam | Online (Computer-Based) |
| Subjects | English, Domain-specific tests, General test |
| Official Website | http://cuet.samarth.ac.in |
How to Choose the Right Law Entrance Exam?
| Consideration | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Aim for NLUs | CLAT, AILET |
| Prefer private universities | LSAT India, SLAT |
| Looking for state quota | MH CET Law |
| Graduated already | DU LLB, BHU UET |
| Cost-effective public college | CUET, MH CET, DU LLB |
| Prefer online test format | LSAT, CUET, DU LLB |
Important Exam Dates (Tentative)
| Exam | Application Month | Exam Month |
|---|---|---|
| CLAT | July – November | December |
| AILET | August – November | December |
| LSAT India | November – January | January & May |
| SLAT | January – April | May |
| MH CET Law | January – March | April – May |
| DU LLB | April – May | June |
| CUET UG | February – March | May |
End Notes
Cracking the top law entrance exams in India is the key to entering a high-growth legal career. Whether you aspire to join an NLU, Delhi University, Symbiosis, or other premier institutions, it’s crucial to understand which exam aligns with your academic background and career aspirations. Start preparing early, stay updated with exam patterns, and practice consistently.
Most importantly, choose the law exam that fits your future goals, be it litigation, civil services, corporate law, or legal academia.
