Common Law Admission Test-CLAT

Common Law Admission Test-CLAT

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is an all India entrance examination conducted on rotation by 14 National Law Universities (NLUs) for admissions to their under-graduate and post-graduate degree programmes (LL.B & LL.M).

The 14 participating NLUs in the order of their establishment are:

1. National Law School of India University, Bangalore (NLSIU) http://www.clat.ac.in/uni_pdf/NLSIU%20Bangalore.pdf
2. National Academy of Legal Study & Research (NALSAR) University of Law, Hyderabad http://www.clat.ac.in/uni_pdf/NALSAR%20Hyderabad.pdf
3. National Law Institute University, Bhopal (NLIU)http://www.clat.ac.in/uni_pdf/NLIU%20Bhopal.pdf
4. The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata (WBNUJS) http://www.clat.ac.in/uni_pdf/WBNUJS%20Kolkata.pdf
5. National Law University, Jodhpur (NLUJ) http://www.clat.ac.in/uni_pdf/NLU%20Jodhpur.pdf
6. Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur (HNLU) http://www.clat.ac.in/uni_pdf/HNLU%20Raipur.pdf
7. Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar (GNLU) http://www.clat.ac.in/uni_pdf/GNLU%20Gandhinagar.pdf
8. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow (RMLNLU) http://www.clat.ac.in/uni_pdf/RMLNLU%20Lucknow.pdf
9. Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab (RGNUL) http://www.clat.ac.in/uni_pdf/RGNUL%20Patiala.pdf
10. 10) Chanakya National Law University, Patna (CNLU)http://www.clat.ac.in/uni_pdf/CNLU%20Patna.pdf
11. National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi (NUALS) http://www.clat.ac.in/uni_pdf/NUALS%20Kochi.pdf
12. National Law University, Odisha (NLUO) http://www.clat.ac.in/uni_pdf/NLUO%20Orissa.pdf
13. National University of Study 6 Research in Law, Ranchi (NUSRL)http://www.clat.ac.in/uni_pdf/NUSRL%20Ranchi.pdf
14. National Law University & Judicial Academy, Assam (NLUJA)http://www.clat.ac.in/uni_pdf/NLSJA%20Assam.pdf

CLAT Core Committee

The first CLAT Core Committee consisting of Vice-Chancellors of the seven participating NLUs at that time decided that the test should be conducted by rotation in the order of their establishment. Accordingly, the first Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) was conducted in the year 2008 by the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore. Subsequently, CLAT-2009, CLAT-2010, CLAT-2011 and CLAT-2012 have been conducted by NALSAR-Hyderabad, NLIU-Bhopal, WBNJUJS-Kolkata and NLU-Jodhpur, respectively. The CLAT-2013 is being conducted by Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur.

Seats Reserved for State Domicile Candidates

It may be noted that other than NLSIU (Bangalore), WBNUJS (Kolkata), NLU (Jodhpur) and NLU (Odisha), rest of the 10 NLUs have specific number of seats reserved for state domicile candidates. Domicile means permanent legal residence. Legally speaking, domicile is the status of being a permanent resident in a particular jurisdiction (State or Union Territory). Domicile certificate is a document that is issued by competent authorities (i.e. Tehsildars) of a State or Union Territory to prove that the person is a resident or domicile of that particular State/Union Territory. The domicile certificate is required to avail the resident quota reservation in educational institutions, employment, etc. By producing the domicile certificate, a person can seek admission under the Domicile/State category of seats reserved by a particular NLU for the candidates coming from that particular State. Candidates falling under “Other” in domicile category are not required to submit any domicile certificate

Under-Graduate (LL.B) Programme

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification:

• General and OBC: Higher Secondary School/ Intermediate Examination (10+2) or its equivalent examination with not less than 45% marks in aggregate.
• SC and ST: Higher Secondary School/ Intermediate Examination (10+2) or its equivalent examination with not less than 40% marks in aggregate.

Note: Candidates who are appearing or have appeared in the 10+2 examination and are awaiting results are also eligible to appear in the test.

Age:

General and OBC: The candidate should not have completed 20 years

SC and ST: The candidate should not have completed 22 years Candidates do not have to send any certificates and documents in support of their qualification/age. The allotted/selected candidates will be required to submit the relevant certificates/documents issued by competent authority to the University only at the time of admission.

Pattern of Examination

• Total Marks 200
• Total numbers of multiple-choice questions of one mark each 200
• Duration of examination Two Hours

Subject areas with weightage:

• English including Comprehension 40 Marks
• General Knowledge/ Current Affairs 50 Marks
• Elementary Mathematics (Numerical Ability) 20 Marks
• Legal Aptitude 50 Marks
• Logical Reasoning 40 Marks

Note: There shall be a system of Negative Marking wherein 0.25 mark will be deducted for each of the wrong answers to multiple choice questions.

Subject Areas

English Including Comprehension The English section will test the candidates’ proficiency in English based on comprehension passages and grammar. In the comprehension section, candidates will be assessed on their understanding of the passage given, its central theme and meanings of the words used therein, etc. The grammar section will focus on correction of incorrect grammatical sentences, filling of blanks in the given sentences with appropriate words, etc.

General Knowledge and Currents Affairs As far as general knowledge is concerned, the candidates will be assessed on their general awareness including static general knowledge. Questions on current affairs will test candidate’s knowledge on current affairs.

Mathematics This section will test candidate’s knowledge on elementary mathematics, i.e. mathematics taught up to Class X.

Legal Aptitude This section will test candidate’s interest towards study of law, research aptitude and problem solving ability. Questions asked may comprise of legal propositions/ principles and a set of facts to which the said proposition/ principle has to be applied to arrive at a most reasonable conclusion. Such propositions may or may not be ‘true’ in the real sense; yet the candidates will have to assume that the given propositions are true and answer the questions accordingly. An example of such legal proposition may be that any person who speaks in a movie hall and disturbs others who are watching the movie will be banned from entering any movie theatre across India for one year.

Logical Reasoning The purpose of the logical reasoning section is to test the candidate’s ability to identify patterns, logical links and rectify illogical arguments. It will include a wide variety of logical reasoning questions such as syllogisms, logical sequences, analogies, etc. However, visual reasoning will not be tested.

Post-Graduate Programme 

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification:

• General and OBC: LL. B/B. L. Degree or an equivalent degree from a recognized University with not less than 55% marks in aggregate.
• SC and ST: LL. B/B. L. Degree or an equivalent degree from a recognized University with not less than 50% marks in aggregate.

Note: The candidates who are appearing or have appeared in the qualifying degree examination and are awaiting results are also eligible to appear in the test.

Age:

• General and OBC: The candidate should not have completed 20 years
• SC and ST: The candidate should not have completed 22 years

Test Pattern

• Total Marks 150
• Duration of examination Two Hours

Long Essay Type Descriptive Questions 100 Marks (4 questions of 25 marks each) (Covering Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence)

Multiple-Choice Questions 50 Marks (50 questions of 1 mark each) (Covering all compulsory law subjects prescribed by the BCI for the Under-Graduate Course except Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence)

Note: There shall be a system of Negative Marking wherein 0.25 mark will be deducted for each of the wrong answers to multiple choice questions.

Official Website

www.clat.ac.in

Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)—2013