Frequently asked questions about CLAT 2024 Exam, Eligibility Criteria 2024, Age Limit, Qualification, Minimum Qualifying Marks

The CLAT 2024 Examination will be conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities in offline mode. As per the notification released by the consortium, "CLAT 2024 will be held in December 2023 for admissions to the 5-year integrated B.A., LL.B (Hons.) and LL.M. programmes that commence in the Academic Year 2024-2025 at the 22 participating NLUs,".

If you are a law aspirant, you must be having a lot of questions in your mind regarding the CLAT 2024 examination. Smartkeeda has prepared a comprehensive list of all the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on CLAT 2024. In this article, we have made an effort to cover every aspect of the CLAT 2024 exam from the basic to the advanced level.

The article CLAT 2024 FAQs covers all the important and frequently asked questions (FAQs) including the examination pattern, eligibility criteria, application fee, CLAT syllabus, top NLUs, job opportunities, and other important aspects regarding the CLAT Exam.

Click here to attempt a free mock for CLAT 2024 Exam!!

What is CLAT Exam?

CLAT or Common Law Admission Testis a national-level entrance examination for admissions to undergraduate (“UG”) and postgraduate (“PG”) law programmes offered by 22 National Law Universities in India (NLUs). Several affiliate universities and organizations also use the CLAT exam for admissions and recruitment respectively.

This exam is taken after the Higher Secondary Examination or the 12th grade for admission to the integrated undergraduate degree in Law (BA/BBA/B.COM/B.SC LLB) and after Graduation in Law for Master of Laws (LL.M) programs offered by the law schools. The exam is conducted only once for admission to each Academic Year in December. As per the notification released by the consortium, no additional, second, or any other CLAT examination shall be conducted for admissions in programmes commencing in the Academic Year 2023-2024.

The duration of the CLAT exam is of two hours and is conducted in offline mode. A total of 150 questions from different sections like English language, Current Affairs (including General knowledge), Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques carrying 1 mark each are asked in the UG programme. In the PG programme, a total of 120 questions are asked from Constitutional Law & other Law Subjects, including Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, International Law, IPR, and Jurisprudence. While the postgraduate programme is a one-year master's programme in law, the undergraduate programme provided through CLAT is a five-year integrated law curriculum.

When will CLAT Exam be conducted?

The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) has announced that CLAT 2024 will be held in December 2023 for admissions to the 5-year integrated B.A., LL.B (Hons.), and LL.M. programmes that commence in the Academic Year 2024-2025 at the 22 participating NLUs.

What is the full form ofCLAT?

The full form of CLAT is Common Law Admission Test.

What is the purpose of the CLAT Exam?

The CLAT exam is a gateway to the world of law for Law aspirants in India. CLAT is mainly taken by those aspirants who want to pursue their career in Law. The CLAT exam offers you the opportunity to secure a seat in the top NLUs of India. NLUs or National Law Universities are considered the IITs of Law as they are known to provide quality legal education to Law aspirants. Currently, there are a total of 23 NLUs in India, out of which admission to 22 NLUs is done through the CLAT exam.

The undergraduate program (LLB) offered through CLAT is a 5-year integrated program, while the postgraduate program (LLM) is a 1-2 year program. The NLUs also offer various other programs such as BA LLB (Hons), BBA LLB (Hons), B.Com LLB (Hons), etc.

What are the top CLAT Colleges?

CLAT colleges are Law institutions specialized in providing legal education in India to become judges, attorneys, or other legal experts within a specific jurisdiction.NLSIU was the first National Law University that commenced from 1988 to pioneer legal education reforms in India. There are 22 National Law Universities (NLUs) in India, which are the most prominent and prestigious law colleges in the country. These NLUs accept the CLAT scores for admission to their undergraduate and postgraduate law programs.

These top law colleges in India use CLAT exam scores for admission to 5-year integrated and one-year LLM programs offered by the NLUs. To get admission to the top Law colleges in India you should get a decent rank in CLAT 2024.

There are many other private, self-financed law colleges other than NLUs such as Symbiosis Law School, Pune, Jindal Global Law School, Delhi, Christ University, Bangalore, and Amity Law School, Noida that also accept CLAT scores.

You must remember that the admission process, eligibility criteria, and selection procedure may vary from college to college.For more information, it is advised to visit the official websites of the relevant colleges.

List of Top CLAT Universities

Sl. No.	CLAT NLUs (National Law Universities)	Cutoff Rank required in CLAT to get admission in top CLAT colleges of India (Closing rank)	Location	CLAT seats
1.	National Law School of India University (NLSIU)	58	Bangalore	120
2.	National Academy of Legal Study and Research (NALSAR) University of Law	128	Hyderabad	96
3.	The West Bengal National University of Judicial Sciences (WBNUJS)	226	Kolkata	67
4.	National Law University, Jodhpur	354	Jodhpur	104
5.	Gujarat National Law University (GNLU)	468	Gandhinagar	130
6.	Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNLU)	926	Patiala	157
7.	National Law Institute University, Bhopal	376	Bhopal	51
8.	National Institute of advanced legal Sciences (NUALS)	983	Kochi	29
9.	Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMNLU)	694	Lucknow	81
10.	Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU)	638	Raipur	80
11.	National Law University, Orissa	953	Cuttack	119
12.	National University of Study and research in law (NUSRL)	1088	Ranchi	60
13.	Chanakya National Law University	1098	Patna	54
14.	National law university and Judicial Academy (NLUJAA)	1299	Guwahati	31
15.	DamodaramSanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU)	1292	Vishakhapatnam	54
16.	The Tamil Nadu National Law School (TNNLS)	1412	Tiruchirapalli	57
17.	Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU)	512	Mumbai	37
18.	Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU)	-	Aurangabad	23
19.	Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU)	1190	Nagpur	45
20.	Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU)	-	Shimla	90
21.	Dharmashastra National Law University	-	Jabalpur	60
22.	DR. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University (DBRANLU)	-	Sonepat	90

What is CLAT 2024 Exam Eligibility?

The CLAT exam eligibility criteria for both UG & PG law programmes are different. The eligibility criteria for CLAT 2024 is expressed in terms of educational qualifications, minimum qualifying marks, age limit, and others.

For Undergraduate Programs:

To get admission to the UG programmes through CLAT a candidate:

• Must have passed 10+2 or equivalent exams with a minimum of 45% marks (for general and OBC category candidates)
• Must have passed 10+2 or equivalent exams with a minimum of 40% marks (for SC/ST category candidates).
• The candidates appearing for their 10+2 or equivalent exams in the current year are also eligible to apply.

For Postgraduate Programs:

To get admission to the PG programmes through CLAT a candidate:

• Must have completed LLB graduation (3-year LLB or 5-year integrated LLB) from any recognized institute by the Bar Council of India.
• Must have obtained a minimum of 50% marks (for general and OBC category candidates) and 45% marks (for SC/ST category candidates) in the qualifying exam.
• Candidates appearing in the final year of LLB graduation are also eligible for CLAT LLM 2024 given that they submit the qualification certificate at the time of admission.

It is important to note that the eligibility criteria for CLAT 2024 exam may vary from college to college, and it is advisable to check the official website of the respective colleges for more information.

What is the Age limit for appearing in CLAT Exam?

There is no age restriction for taking the UG CLAT 2024 exam and enrolling in an LLB programme at a national law university. Candidates of any age group can take this exam.

Is CLAT Exam free?

No, the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is not free. There is a certain application fee for applying for the CLAT exam depending upon the category you’re applying from. The CLAT exam fee can be paid online only. If you fail to submit the application fee on time, your application will automatically get rejected.

What is the Application fee for CLAT Exam?

The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) application fee varies depending on the candidate's category. For the CLAT 2024 exam, the application fee details are as follows:

• For General/OBC/PWD/NRI/PIO/OCI category candidates, the application fee is Rs. 4,000/-
• For SC/ST/BPL candidates, the application fee is Rs. 3,500/-

As per the instructions released by the consortiums of NLUs, the candidates themselves will have to bear the bank transaction charges for remitting the fee online. The actual bank transaction charges will be displayed on the payment gateway page after candidates choose the mode of payment.

Also, CLAT aspirants will have to bear additional expenditures in addition to the application fee, such as travel and lodging costs if the examination centre is away from their home location.

Is CLAT Application Fee refundable?

No! The application fee for the CLAT 2024 exam is non-refundable and non-adjustable. If a candidate has filledin more than one online application form, the candidate's last online application form only will be considered. In such cases, the application fee for the previous application forms will not be refunded.

Can the CLAT application fee be paid offline?

No! The application fee for the CLAT 2024 exam can be paid online only. You can make the payment through net banking, debit card, credit card, or UPI. You will also have to bear the bank transaction charges for remitting the fee online. The actual bank transaction charges will be displayed on the payment gateway page after candidates choose the mode of payment.

Can I give CLAT after the 12th?

Yes, you can give the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) after completing your 12th standard but you must fulfill the eligibility criteria of the minimum qualifying score to attempt the CLAT 2024 exam.

To be eligiblefor CLAT 2024 you must secure the following minimum percentage of marks in their qualifying examination (i.e., 10+2 or an equivalent examination):

• 45% marks or its equivalent grade for candidates belonging to General / OBC / PWD / NRI / PIO / OCI categories
• 40% marks or equivalent grade for candidates belonging to SC/ST categories.

Even if you’re appearing for your qualifying examination, you are eligible to appear for the CLAT 2024 exam but you will be required to produce evidence of your passing the qualifying examination at the time of admission, failing which you shall lose your right to be considered for admission.

Therefore, if you have completed your 12th standard or are currently in your 12th standard, you are eligible to apply for the CLAT undergraduate program, provided you meet the other eligibility criteria specified by the consortium.

Is CLAT compulsory for LLB?

No, it is not compulsory to appear for the CLAT examination to get admission to LLB courses.You can opt for other national-level law entrance exams like the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) conducted by National Law University Delhi, Law School Admission Test India (LSAT India) conducted by the Law School Admission Council, All India Bar Exam (AIBE) conducted by Bar Council of India, SLAT exam conducted by Symbiosis International University (SIU),etc. to pursue LLB from other law institutes in India.

However, qualifying CLAT Exam avails you the opportunity to get admission to the 5-year integrated LL.B. programme from one of the National Law Universities which are the top law institutions to get legal education in India.

To get admission to the top NLUs in India you must get a decent rank in CLAT 2024.There are 22 National Law Universities (NLUs) in India, which are the most prominent and prestigious law colleges in the country. These top NLUs use CLAT exam scores for admissions to the 5-year integrated LL.B. and Ll.M. programmes.

What is CLAT 2024 Exam Pattern?

The examination pattern for UG-CLAT and PG-CLAT is different.

CLAT UG 2024: The UG-CLAT 2024 will consist of 150 multiple-choice questions, each carrying one mark. The exam will last for two hours. For each incorrect response, 0.25 marks will be deducted from the final score. Your knowledge of the English Language, Current Affairs, including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Technique will be evaluated in this exam.

CLAT PG 2024: On the other hand, the PG-CLAT 2024 will consist of 120 multiple-choice questions, each carrying one mark. The exam will also last for two hours. The paper will be based on the mandatory subjects of the undergraduate program and include Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Administrative Law, Law of Contract, Torts, Family Law, Criminal Law, Property Law, Company Law, Public International Law, Tax Law, Environmental Law, and Lab our & Industrial Law.

You can easily understand the exam pattern for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) for undergraduate & post-graduate programme from the following table:

Features	UG Programme (5-year integrated Ll.B.)	PG Programme (1-year Ll.M.)
Mode of Exam	Offline
Duration	2 hours
Question Format	Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Maximum Questions	150 Questions	120 Questions
Maximum Marks	150 marks	120 marks
Subjects	The UG exam consists of five sections, namely, English Language, and Current Affairs including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques.	The PG exam consists of two sections, namely, Constitutional Law and Other Law Subjects such as Jurisprudence, Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, International Law, and Intellectual Property Law, among others.
Frequency of Exam	Once a year
Medium of Exam	English
Exam date	18.02.2023
Negative Marking Scheme	Yes (-0.25 marks for every wrong answer)
Official Website	https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in

What is the weightage of the Current Affairs & General Knowledge section in the CLAT exam?

The weightage of the Current affairs and general knowledge section is highest in the CLAT exam. 35-39 questions out of 150 questions would be asked from the current affairs and general knowledge section. Therefore this section would roughly cover 25% of the paper.

The weightage of other subjects would be as follows:

English Language	28-32 Questions	Roughly 20% of the paper
Legal Reasoning	35-39 Questions	Roughly 25% of the paper
Logical Reasoning	28-32 Questions	Roughly 20% of the paper
Quantitative Techniques	13-17 Questions	Roughly 10% of the paper

What is the syllabus for UG CLAT 2024?

The UG-CLAT 2024 will evaluate your knowledge of the English Language, Current Affairs, including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Technique through an offline exam consisting of 150 multiple-choice questions. The exam will last for two hours & for each incorrect response, 0.25 marks will be deducted from the final score. By acknowledging UG-CLAT 2024 syllabus you can tailor your study plan to focus on the areas that will be tested.

Attempt a free full-length mock of CLAT 2024 Exam here!!

UG-CLAT 2024 would test the mainly test Aptitude and Analytical skills of the candidate that would further be required while pursuing the course. Let us have a quick glance over the exam pattern and understand the key features of this exam:

• The UG-CLAT 2024 Examination consisting of an objective test will be conducted online.
• The test will have five sections with a composite time of 2 hours.
• The candidate will have to answer 150 multiple-choice questions in the given time.
• The candidates would be awarded 1 mark for each correct answer.
• There shall be a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer.

These questions would be asked from the following 5 subjects:

1. English Language
2. Logical Reasoning
3. Quantitative Techniques
4. Current Affairs, including General Knowledge
5. Legal Reasoning

English Language

For the  English section of UG-CLAT 2024,  you should keep in your mind that this section would not just test your reading & writing skills in English, it would also test your concentration, patience, and understanding of the language.

In this section, you will be asked passage-based questions. Each passage would be about 450 words long. The passages asked in the UG-CLAT 2024 Exam will be derived from contemporary or historically significant fiction and non-fiction writing and would be of class 12th standard.

The candidates would be expected to answer some questions following the passages to exhibit their understanding of the language. The following type of question shall be asked from the passage:

• Inference and conclusion-based questions from the passage
• Summary-based questions from the passage.
• Comparing and contrasting arguments or viewpoints set out in the passage.
• Comprehending the important points, arguments, and viewpoints discussed in the passage.
• Meaning of different words and phrases used in the passage.

Click here to attempt English Language Questions for CLAT 2024!

Logical Reasoning

The logical reasoning test is a type of psychometric test that would test your problem-solving ability and critical thinking skills. The section would assess your ability to come to conclusions based on logic. However, this section is not as complex as it seems if you get to know basic rules, put some practice and create your own tactic to reach the conclusion.

The purpose of logical reasoning tests is to assess logical reasoning ability using the information provided in the passage. In the Logical Reasoning section of the UG-CLAT 2024, you would be presented with a series of short passages of about 300 words each. You would be required to read the passage thoroughly and based on it you would be expected to:

• Understand the argument and reach conclusions.
• Read and identify the arguments given in the passage.
• Analyze the patterns of reasoning critically and comprehend how conclusions may depend on particular premises or evidence.
• Draw inferences from the passage and apply these inferences to new situations
• Identify contradictions and equivalence, draw relationships and analogies, and assess the effectiveness of arguments.

Click here to attempt Logical Reasoning Questions for CLAT 2024!

Quantitative Techniques

The Quantitative Techniques section of the UG-CLAT 2024 would test your skills related to an empirical inquiry via mathematical, statistical, or computational data gathering and analysis. This is an essential part of UG-CLAT 2024 assessments that would gauge your ability to reason quantitatively and solve quantitative problems or the ability to take data (numerical, graphical, or tabular), or scientific concepts, and make sense of them.

In this section of the UG-CLAT 2024 exam, you will be provided with short sets of facts or propositions, graphs, or other textual, pictorial, or diagrammatic representations of numerical information.
There will be a series of questions following the passage and you will be required to

• Derive information from such passages, graphs, or other representations,
• Apply mathematical operations to such information.
• Use basic mathematical concepts on the given information such as ratios and proportions, basic algebra, mensuration, and statistical estimation to reach the result.

Click here to attempt Quantitative Techniques Questions for CLAT 2024!

Current Affairs& General Knowledge

The CLAT 2024  general knowledge and current affairs section will focus on the candidate's awareness of general as well as current events through the questions derived from the passages. So, candidates will have to prepare for this section in a detailed manner.

• Passages of up to 450 words each would be provided to the candidates.
• The passages will be derived from news, journalistic sources, and other non-fiction writing.
• No additional knowledge of the law would be required from the candidate beyond the passage.
• Several questions based on the passage would be asked from the candidate to check the knowledge of various aspects of current affairs and general knowledge

The questions following the passage would test the candidate's knowledge of the following topics:

1. Contemporary events of significance from India and the world;
2. Arts and culture;
3. International affairs; and
4. Historical events of continuing significance.

Click here to attempt General Knowledge Questions for CLAT 2024!

Legal Reasoning

Legal reasoning deals with the steps and the inferences made by judges, lawyers, and legal researchers in reaching a conclusion on some issue. However, the questions asked in this section would completely be based on the given passage and will not require any prior knowledge of the law.

The passages may be related to fact situations or scenarios involving legal matters, public policy questions, or moral philosophical inquiries. The candidates would also get benefit from a general awareness of contemporary legal and moral issues to better apply general principles or propositions to the given fact scenarios.

In CLAT 2024 legal reasoning section, candidates will be expected to read passages of around 450 words each and answer a series of questions based on the passage involving:

• Identification and inference of the rules and principles given in the passage;
• Application of such rules and principles to various fact situations; and
• Comprehending how changes to the rules or principles may alter their application to various fact situations.

 Click here to attempt Legal Reasoning Questions for CLAT 2024!

Is CLAT Exam Necessary for Law?

No! CLAT is not the only way to pursue a career in law in India, but it is one of the most popular and prestigious entrance exams for admission to National Law Universities (NLUs) in India. However, if you are specifically interested in pursuing an undergraduate law program at one of the NLUs in India, then taking the CLAT exam is necessary. The NLUs are some of the top law universities in the country and offer high-quality legal education and numerous career opportunities.

There are several other law entrance exams conducted by various universities and institutions. You can opt for other national-level law entrance exams like the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) conducted by National Law University Delhi, Law School Admission Test India (LSAT India) conducted by the Law School Admission Council, All India Bar Exam (AIBE) conducted by Bar Council of India, SLAT exam conducted by Symbiosis International University (SIU),etc. to pursue a law degree from other law institutes in India.

Some universities also offer admission to their law programs based on merit or based on the candidate's performance in the 12th standard or graduation exams.

CLAT Exam avails you the opportunity to get admission to the 5-year integrated LL.B. programme from one of the National Law Universities which are the top law institutions to get legal education in India.

However, to get admission to the top NLUs in India you should get a decent rank in CLAT 2024.There are 22 National Law Universities (NLUs) in India, which are the most prominent and prestigious law colleges in the country. These top NLUs use CLAT exam scores for admissions to the 5-year integrated LL.B. and LL.M. programmes.

So, CLAT is not the only way to pursue a career in law, it is an important and popular option for those who want to study law at one of the NLUs.

What are the passing marks in CLAT?

There are no certain passing marks for the CLAT exam declared by the exam conducting agency. However, different NLUs declare the minimum qualifying marks a candidate must obtain in order to get shortlisted for the admission process by the participating institutes.

The CLAT cut off is the minimum marks required by a candidate in the CLAT exam to get admission to top national law universities (NLUs). As per the previous year's trends, candidates who secure 100+ marks stand a good chance to be in the top 3 NLUs (86+ for reserved categories).

However, several factors like exam difficulty level, seat intake, answer key disparities, and the total number of shortlisted candidates influence the CLAT Cut Off every year. Therefore,  we have shared all the important details related to CLAT Cut Off including the previous year's qualifying marks for the top NLUs, and opening and closing ranks for different categories. You must check these all to know the range of CLAT Cut Off marks that need to be scored to get shortlisted for the final admission process of the top NLUs.

Here is the CLAT 2022 cut off of the top NLUs:

Name of the Institution	Opening-Closing Ranks of different categories
	General	OBC	SC	ST
NLSIU Bengaluru	1-85	88-638	431-2224	554-3428
NALSAR Hyderabad	8-162	505-7849	1252-2761	3818-5158
WBNUJS Kolkata	117-257	1989-111472	2503-4933	5084-7238
NLU Jodhpur	70-344	-	2318-5881	1727-7620
NLIU Bhopal	241-451	771-1510	3618-4793	6076-10789
HNLU Raipur	430         756	1721       1980	4918       8797	11785    12027
GNLU Gandhinagar	175         430	752         1747	3779       6527	6155       12014
RMLNLU Lucknow	377         756	902*      3568*	4565*    10476 *	15889*  19504*
RGNLU Patiala	437         1184	-	6134       9434	6449       16179
CNLU Patna	932         1498	1882*    9085*	9825       18386*	29956    29956*
NUALS Kochi	413         1315	2114*    20999*	8411*    25640*	16977*  16977*
NLU Odisha	470         1191	-	5800       9726	13361    17417
NUSRL Ranchi	933         1603	1386       2698	3540*    21084*	13311    31604*
TNNLS Tiruchirappalli	807         1816	1770       3789	6909       12015	15682    16880
DSNLU Vishakhapatnam	1002       1589	8881       11160	10847*  10847*	24160*  24160*
MNLU Nagpur	999         1657	6293*    18196*	16251*  36646*	30004*  30479*
MNLU Aurangabad	1390       2323	19850*  34225	20505*  45669*	44623-   46061*
NLUJAA Guwahati	1131       1979	5542*    39724*	25357*  41911*	16817*  40718*
HPNLU Shimla	1056       2302	-	7229       12507	12778    22145
DNLU Jabalpur	1314       2262	1647       3489	10967    12925	15638    22762
NLU Sonipat	1094       2333	1917       4018	6448       12213	12177    23212

*State wise category

Marks Vs Rank

CLAT Score Range	Rank Range	No. of Candidates
125-150	1	1
120-125	2-3	2
115-120	4-5	2
110-115	6	1
105-110	7-9	3
100-105	10-19	10
95-100	20-57	38
90-95	58-173	116
85-90	174-362	189
80-85	363-743	381
75-80	744-1411	668
70-75	1412-2318	907
65-70	2319-3572	1254
60-65	3573-5200	1628
55-60	5201-7284	2084
50-55	7285-9841	2557
45-50	9842-12994	3153
40-45	1299-16746	3752
35-40	16747-21135	4389
30-35	21136-26442	5307
25-30	26443-32188	5746
20-25	32189-38320	6132
15-20	38321-44066	5746
10-15	44067-48884	4818
5-10	48885-51683	2799
0-5	51684-52956	1273

What are the Job Opportunities after CLAT? or What jobs can we get after CLAT? Or What is the scope of CLAT in the future?

CLAT Exam avails you the opportunity to get admission to the 5-year integrated LL.B. programme from one of the National Law Universities which are the top law institutions to get legal education in India.Completing graduation in law opens doors to a wide range of career options including:

Law Firms

Working at legal firms can be considered one of the most prominent career opportunities for law graduates after CLAT. In India, several law firms take part in student placements on campus and provide job opportunities to law graduates. These companies offer competitive pay scales and employ people according to their qualifications.

A law firm is typically a collaboration of lawyers who come together to provide legal knowledge to their clients under one name. These partners hire additional legal experts to work with them as associates and split share the profits of the firm as well as the risks (liabilities).

Khaitan & Co · Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A Shroff & Co · Trilegal India · AZB & Partners · Luthra & Luthra Law Offices · are some of the top legal firms in India.

Corporate Sectors

Most Multinational organizations have a legal department and hence they require need lawyers to address the legal issues pertaining to their business. However, the competition for these entry-level legal jobs is intense. Nonetheless, as per the records students who attend top-tier law schools typically have a better chance than their counterparts who attend lower-tier institutions of landing a good job at these organizations.

LLB graduates can get a job in a company but the package highly depends on the type of company and if you have done an internship or have practical exposure in the field. Different organizations have distinct pay scales, which may also depend on your level of expertise.

If your performance is particularly good, the salary progressively rises over time. The typical annual compensation is in the range of 5-6 lakhs. Yet, several other factors affect the average salary.

Judicial Services

A career in judicial services is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling career options for law graduates who have a passion for justice and the rule of law. Judges in India are well-paid, enjoy a lot of perks and privileges, and have job security and the opportunity to make a significant impact on society.

To pursue a career in judicial services, you are required to appear for the Judicial Service Examination conducted by the respective high courts or the State Public Service Commission. The career of a judge is challenging and demanding.They need to have a thorough knowledge of the law, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to make fair and unbiased decisions.

After clearing the Judicial Services Examination, the candidate has to go through a training period, where they will learn about the legal system and the procedures followed in the courts. After completion of the training period, the candidate is appointed as a judge in the subordinate courts.

Legal journalism

If you have a passion for both law and media, a career in journalism can be an excellent career option for you. They can work in television news, radio, print media, or online media. Journalists with a legal background can provide valuable insights and analysis onlegal matters, which is a necessity in the modern media sector.

Journalists with an LLB degree can specialize in legal reporting, which involves covering news related to the legal system, court proceedings, and legislative developments. Legal journalists are also in demand in news outlets that cover business, finance, and politics.

Civil Services

Many law graduates qualify the Civil Services exam each year to join IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and other govt. services. After completing LLB you gain a good knowledge of the Constitution of India, which is a core subject in the UPSC - Civil Services Exam.

Indian Corporate Law Service (ICLS) is a Group A service and is the most respected and extremely sought-after career choice. You have to crack the civil services examination conducted by UPSC to get a job in Indian Corporate Law Services.

Recruitment of ICLS officers is done through Civil Services Exam conducted by UPSC. If you are aspiring to become an ICLS officer you have to attempt the Civil Services Exam and clear all three rounds, i.e. Prelims, Mains, and Interview. 

These are just a few of the career paths available to law graduates. With a law degree and the skills and knowledge gained through CLAT, graduates can pursue a wide range of careers in the legal field.

What are the Salary details in Job and Scope in Career after CLAT?

 First of all, you must understand that CLAT is not a degree or course. CLAT or Common Law Admission Test is a national-level entrance examination for admissions to undergraduate (“UG”) and postgraduate (“PG”) law programmes offered by 22 National Law Universities in India (NLUs).  

The salary and career scope after completing a law program varies based on various factors, such as the institution from which you have completed your graduation, the area of practice, work experience, location, and employer. While working for prestigious law firms or large organizations, the initial wage may be higher

Job Profile	Junior Level Salary	Senior Level Salary
Legal Analyst	Rs. 3 – 4 LPA	Rs. 6-7 LPA
Civil Lawyer	Rs. 3 – 4 LPA	Rs. 20+ LPA
Corporate Lawyer	Rs. 4– 5 LPA	Rs. 9– 10 LPA
Lawyer	Rs. 3 – 4 LPA	Rs. 9 – 10 LPA

However, the career scope after completing your degree from the top NLUs that offer admission on the basis of CLAT score is vast, and the salaries can be very lucrative, particularly for those who excel in the field and have a passion for law.

Here is the average salary package offered to the students after completing graduation from the top NLUs:

Name of the NLU	Average Salary Package
National Law School of India University, Bangalore	16 LPA
National Law University, Delhi	18 LPA
National Academy of Legal Study & Research (NALSAR) University of Law, Hyderabad	16 LPA
The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata	15 LPA
National Law Institute University, Bhopal	16 LPA
National Law University, Jodhpur	14 LPA

How many students appear for CLAT every year?

The number of people appearing for the CLAT exam each year for different Undergraduate and postgraduate courses varies each year. As per the data provided by the Consortium of National Law Universities for the year 2022, the candidates who registered for the CLAT UG exam in 2022 were over 70,000. However, the number of candidates who actually appeared for the exam was around 61,500.

Here's approximate data of the number of candidates that register & appear for the exam :

Year	Number of Candidates Registered (Approx)	Number of Candidates Appeared (Approx)
2020	75000	59000
2021	70000	60000
2022	72000	61500

Overall, the CLAT exam is highly competitive, and the number of candidates appearing for the exam is expected to continue to rise in the coming years.

How many students pass CLAT every year?

There is no pass or fail concept in CLAT. You have to secure a good rank to get a seat in the top NLUs of the country. For the majority of Law aspirants, passing CLAT means getting into one of India's top five national law schools, which have a combined capacity of around 500 students.

More than 60,000 students appear for the CLAT exam every year intending to secure a seat in the top NLUs. NLUs or National Law Universities are considered the IITs of Law as they are known to provide quality legal education to Law aspirants. There are a total of 3361 seats in the National Law universities of India, so the competition to grab one is immense.

Here is a breakdown of seats in the NLUs of India for the integrated 5-year LLB programme:

S.No	NLUs	Seats in 5-year LLB programmes
1	NLSIU Bangalore	240
2	NLU Hyderabad	132
3	NLU Jodhpur	104
4	NUJS Kolkata	132
5	GNLU Gandhinagar	172
6	RGNUL Patiala	180
7	NLU Lucknow	169
8	NLU Odisha, Cuttack	180
9	NLU Assam	60
10	NLIU Bhopal	120
11	CNLU Patna	138
12	NLU Kochi	120
13	NLU Ranchi	120
14	NLU Visakhapatnam	138
15	NLU Trichy	120
16	MNLU Mumbai	150
17	MNLU Nagpur	240
18	MNLU Aurangabad	60
19	NLU Shimla	180
20	NLU Jabalpur	120
21	HNLU Raipur	180
22	Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University	120
23	GNLU Silvassa	66
24	NLUT Tripura	120
	Total	3361

Is 100 a good score in CLAT?

If we consider last year’s paper, 100 is definitely a good score in CLAT. As per the CLAT result declared in 2023, CLAT topper Abhinav Somani (AIR 1) secured 116.75 marks, while the second topper Sahil Gupta (AIR 2) secured 112 marks. The one who scored 101.75 marks in CLAT 2023 ranked AIR 40. So if we consider the last year's result, if you scored above 100, you would have secured an under 50 All India Rank and will easily manage to get a seat in the top NLUs.

However, setting one ideal score benchmark would make it very difficult for you to evaluate yourself since the CLAT cut-offs vary in difficulty. Every year, the CLAT cut off varies based on how challenging the questions are and how well the students perform in general.

You can get a fair idea of a good CLAT score from the following table.

Name	Rank CLAT 2023	Marks Obtained
Abhinav Somani	AIR 1	116.75 Marks
Sahil Gupta	AIR 2	112 Marks
Piyush Gupta	AIR 8	107.75 Marks
Kshitika Tyagi	AIR 12	106.75 Marks
Priyam Mitra	AIR 13	106.75 Marks
Ayesha Khan	AIR 17	105.75 Marks
Arunav Ghosh	AIR 40	101.75 Marks

However, it's worth noting that the rank obtained by the candidate based on their score is typically more important than the actual score itself. The opening and closing rank is used for admission to the law programs, and the cutoffs for admission are typically set based on the rank obtained by the candidate in the CLAT UG exam.

What is the difference between CLAT and LLB?

The main difference between CLAT & LLB is that LLB is an undergraduate degree in law(popularly known as Bachelor of Law) while CLAT or Common Law Admission Test is an entrance exam that offers you the opportunity to secure a seat in the top NLUs of India to study LLB. NLUs or National Law Universities are the top law institutes that are known to provide quality legal education to Law aspirants in India.

The undergraduate program (LLB) offered through CLAT is a 5-year integrated program, while the postgraduate program (LLM) is a 1-2 year program. The NLUs also offer various other programs such as BA LLB (Hons), BBA LLB (Hons), B.Com LLB (Hons), etc.

Is Math compulsory for CLAT 2024?

If you’re asking about “Maths” being a compulsory subject to attempt CLAT 2024 Exam, the answer is No! You can pass in any stream from class 12th onwards and can appear for CLAT 2024.

The Quantitative Techniques section carries a weightage of around 20 questions which is roughly 10% of the paper. If only you are exceptionally good at other sections, you can even avoid the Quantitative Techniques section as there is no sectional cutoff for any section in the CLAT exam. However, having a good hold over the basic concept of mathematics can help you score well in the CLAT 2024 Exam.

I am in 11th standard. What is the right time to prepare for CLAT 2025?

The right time to start your preparation for CLAT 2025 Exam is now. The CLAT exam is highly competitive and requires consistent efforts to secure a decent rank & get admission to the top National Law universities of the country. Since you will be eligible to attempt CLAT 2025 after completing your 12th grade, starting early to prepare for this exam will give you an extra advantage to get an edge over the other candidates. You can understand the examination pattern of CLAT from this article and practice consistently through CLAT mock tests at Smartkeeda.

What is the Official Website for CLAT?

The link to CLAT Official Website which is CLAT Consortium is given below:

https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in