Counselling - 2 May '26
Are you confused about the benefits of giving the CLAT exam? Here are the top five reasons for you to consider appearing for CLAT 2026.
CLAT 2026: CLAT or the Common Law Admission Test is a national-level Law entrance exam conducted by the Consortium of NLUs every year. The exam is conducted for admission to five-year integrated LLB (BA LLB, BBA LLB, BSc LLB, BCom LLB, etc.) and LLM courses. Through the CLAT exam 2026, you can secure admission to the prestigious National Law Universities (NLUs) and various other private Law schools accepting exam scores. For this, your CLAT result will be considered. The result is expected to be released in the second week of December 2025 at consortiumofnlus.ac.in/clat-2026.
Every year, thousands of candidates appear for the CLAT exam. Yet, many candidates find themselves in a fix about whether to appear for CLAT. Many candidates wonder about the benefits of taking the CLAT exam; while many others think of the ways CLAT can help them succeed in their career. However, candidates must ensure they appear for CLAT Exam when they are well prepared.
This article aims to answer all such questions and presents the top five reasons to take the CLAT 2026 exam.
- Provides a chance to get into a top Law school in India
- Accepted by a large number of private Law colleges
- Top-notch placements at top companies
- Helpful in PSU recruitment
- Provides a good start to your career in Law
Provides a chance to get into a top Law school in India
CLAT is the only exam in India that offers you the chance to secure admission to the prestigious NLUs. Considered the IITs of Law, the NLUs are the top-ranked Law colleges in India. The first ever NLU in India was established in 1986, named, National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore. Currently, there are total 24 NLUs in India, out of which admission to 25 NLUs is done through CLAT exam.
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Commonly asked questions
Though CLAT Preparation takes months of practice, it is still not impossible. You can prepare for the CLAT Exam in one week with a correct and dedicated focus. But you should have at least some understanding of concepts to clear the exam.
Yes it is very much possible to clear the CLAT Exam in first go. You just need to be consistent and prepare well. Candidates must include attempting mock test and solving past years question paper in their study plan.
As per NIRF ranking 2025, NLSIU Bangalore is the No. 1 ranked NLU colleges in India. The table below has other NLUs in India rankwise.
Top NLUs in India | NIRF 2023 | NIRF 2024 | NIRF 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | 1 | |
2 | 2 | 2 | |
4 | 4 | 4 | |
7 | 8 | 5 | |
18 | 21 | 27 | |
24 | 22 | 30 | |
30 | 26 | 15 | |
28 | 27 | 35 |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website of the ranking body listed and may vary.
Accepted by a large number of private Law colleges
Apart from the participating 24 NLUs, various private Law colleges also accept CLAT scores to provide admission to candidates to LLB courses offered by them. Every year, many private colleges sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the CLAT Consortium under which they reserve some seats only for CLAT aspirants. A total 60 private colleges signed the MoU with the NLU Consortium to offer seats to CLAT aspirants.
Apart from those affiliated with the Consortium, many other private Law schools also accept CLAT scores for admission. However, such colleges may not specifically reserve seats for CLAT aspirants.
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Top-notch placements at top companies
CLAT provides you the opportunity to get top-notch placements at some of the top companies. As per the NLU placement reports, at the end of a Law course, NLU students on average get placement ranging from INR 4-16 lakh per annum. Some of the top Law firms that participate in the NLU placement process include:
- AZB & Partners
- Argus Partners
- Majmudar & Co
- Fox Mandal & Associates
- Khaitan & Co
Some top corporates that participate in the NLU placement process include:
- Ernst & Young
- ICICI Bank
- Times of India
- Tata Sons Ltd.
- Star India
- Deutsche Bank
Commonly asked questions
While it is bit challenging as its syllabus is not defined. Candidates can expect question on CLAT Current Affairs from anywhere. But if you do prepare well your chances to score high in this section also increases. The best way to prepare is to read the newspaper on a daily basis. Rest is to read GK books.
To prepare for this section which cover 10 percent marks of the total CLAT paper it is important to have a right approach. Candidates must note that you can score really well if you study the Class 19 level mathematics properly. Be regular and plan strategically rather than trying to learn advance maths,
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Helpful in PSU recruitment
CLAT scores are used not only for LLB and LLM admissions, but also for recruitment at Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). Those who appear for CLAT LLM hold a chance of recruitment in legal positions at top PSUs such as:
- Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
- Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)
- Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)
- Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
- Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
- National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)
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Provides a good start to your career in Law
Appearing for CLAT is a good first step towards a flourishing career in Law. You can appear for the exam right after Class 12 to secure admission to an integrated-LLB course. Once you graduate with a Law degree, multiple avenues open up. Some of the career paths you can consider after obtaining an LLB degree include:
- Higher education – You can consider appearing for CLAT again, this time to pursue LLM from a prestigious Law college
- PSU recruitment – You can consider giving the CLAT LLM Exam 2026 also to secure a government job at one of the PSUs
- CS – You can consider pursuing a Company Secretary (CS) course
- Job – You can secure a job as a Legal Advisor, Corporate Law Practitioner, etc. at one of the leading corporate or legal firms
- Legal practice – After clearing LLB, you can also enroll yourself with a state bar council and start preparing for the All India Bar Examination (AIBE). Once you clear the Bar exam, you can start your Legal practice as an advocate.
- Judicial Services – You can seek a career in Judicial Services to become a Judge. For the same, you need to appear for competitive exams such as PCS (J) and HJS.
- Civil Services – You can also prepare for Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams and seek a career in Indian Civil Services or Legal Services
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 4 days ago
Admission to the IIULER BA LLB (Hons.) programme is now strictly and only integrated with the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) framework. As a member of the Consortium of NLUs, IIULER no longer conducts an independent entrance test for this program. Prospective students must register for CLAT during
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 4 days ago
No. Since IIULER has officially joined the Consortium of NLUs, it no longer conducts a separate entrance test for admission to IIULER BA LLB (Hons.) course. Admission is strictly based on the CLAT (UG) merit list. If you miss the CLAT window, you generally cannot apply for that academic year.
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 4 days ago
Candidates who score 60% and above in CLAT are eligible for various levels of tuition fee reduction as follows:
- AIR 1 to 5,000 in CLAT: The adjusted tuition fee is Rs. 4.2 Lacs for the first year, with a total annual fee of INR 7.2 lakh.
- AIR 5,001 to 10,000 in CLAT: The adjusted tuition fee is INR 4.5
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
Your CLAT rank acts as a direct "discount key" for your entire five-year journey at IIULER. If you work hard and rank in the top 5,000, your total expenditure drops significantly to INR 29,88,610. Even if your rank is between 10,001 and 15,000, you still benefit from a reduced total cost of INR 32,3
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 4 days ago
Absolutely! IIULER offers scholarships based on the merit of the exam you took. If you sit for the IIULET (the university's own entrance test) and score 95% or above, you can get a 60% discount on your tuition fees. At a score between 85-94%, you will get a 50% discount. This provides a fantastic "s
R
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 4 days ago
As of 2026, 26 National Law Universities (NLUs) participate in the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). These universities offer undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programs, with over 5,600 seats available in total. NLU Delhi is the only exception, conducting its own entrance exam (AILET) ra
M
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 5 days ago
The duration of the CLAT mock test is 2 hours (120 minutes), perfectly simulating the actual CLAT 2026 exam pattern. It consists of 120 multiple-choice questions. The test auto-submits after 120 minutes, requiring candidates to manage their time across five sections.
A
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 5 days ago
Yes, it is tough for an average student. However, with good strategy and study plan cracking CLAT exam is not tough.
C
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 5 days ago
Yes, CLAT is considered one of the most difficult law entrance exams. Candidates must note that the CLAT Exam is conducted for admission to NLUs across the country except NLU Delhi. Hence, the level of difficulty of CLAT Exam is tough.
P
Contributor-Level 8
Answered a week ago
Yes, you can pursue an LLB from most law colleges in Jabalpur without appearing for CLAT. In fact, a majority of the private and one govt. institutes that are BCI-approved and long-established, such as Hitkarini Law College and Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya provide admissions based on merit. Only N
S
Contributor-Level 10
She has over 10 years of experience in the education and publishing sectors. She specialises in exam coverage and content creation. At Shiksha, she writes, analyses, and presents information for students preparing f
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