Law admissions after Class 12: CLAT, AILET and other routes

The five-year integrated route

After Class 12 you can study law through an integrated programme that combines an undergraduate degree with an LLB. Common forms are B.A. LL.B., B.B.A. LL.B., B.Com. LL.B. and B.Sc. LL.B. The programme runs for five years. You qualify to practise as an advocate only after meeting the rules of the Bar Council of India (BCI) and enrolling with a State Bar Council.

The Bar Council of India approves law courses and sets the standards for legal education. A law school that is not approved by the BCI should be avoided, however attractive its advertising may be.

CLAT and the National Law Universities

CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities. The consortium's member universities use CLAT UG scores for admission to their five-year programmes. Several other law universities and colleges also accept CLAT scores.

The consortium publishes the notification, the pattern, the eligibility conditions, the reservation rules and the counselling method every year. Pattern and marking can change, so read the current notification. Do not trust a tuition centre summary.

AILET and other tests

AILET (All India Law Entrance Test) is the entrance test of the National Law University, Delhi. It has its own application, its own pattern and its own counselling, separate from CLAT. A student who wants Delhi must apply to AILET specifically.

Other universities conduct their own tests, such as the law entrance tests of private universities, and some states have a common entrance test for law. A few universities admit on Class 12 marks or on other national tests such as CUET UG. Make a list of the tests you plan to take and write their dates in one calendar, because several fall close together.

How counselling for NLUs works, in general terms

After the result, the consortium publishes a merit list. Candidates register on the counselling portal, fill their preferences for the participating NLUs, and are allotted seats in rounds based on merit, preference, category and, where it applies, domicile and horizontal reservation. You then accept the seat, pay what the counselling notice says and report to the university with original documents.

Each round has its own rules about upgrading or leaving. These change, so read the counselling notice at the start and not halfway through. Keep a record of every email and receipt from the process.

Bar Council of India rules, in general terms

The BCI Legal Education Rules specify the qualifying examination for the five-year course, which is Class 12 or an equivalent examination, along with the minimum percentage of marks for each category. The exact figures are set in the rules and in each university's notice, so check the current version.

The BCI has in the past prescribed an upper age limit for admission, and this has been challenged in court more than once. The position has changed over time and may still be under court review. Do not assume anything: check the current BCI notice and the university's admission notice before you apply, especially if you are older than a typical Class 12 student.

The three-year LLB after graduation

If you finish a bachelor's degree in any subject, you can study law through a three-year LLB. Admission is through a university entrance test or sometimes through merit. Universities run their own process or use a national or state test, so check each one.

This route suits students who first want a different degree or who decide on law later. The qualification is recognised for enrolment as an advocate if the programme is approved by the BCI.

What to check before choosing a law school

Where to check: Consortium of National Law Universities (CLAT), National Law University Delhi (AILET), Bar Council of India, the State Bar Council of your state, University Grants Commission for university status, and the admission notice of each university.

Approval of the programme by the Bar Council of India, and the university's own statutory status.
Whether the admission test accepted and the seat matrix are officially published.
Moot courts, internships, legal aid clinics and library, as the school itself states them.
Faculty strength, attendance rules and the mandatory internships the BCI requires.
The total cost of the programme in writing, including hostel, as the school states it.
What the school says about enrolment and further study, and whether those claims can be verified.

By Padhaidekho Editorial Team · 2026-10-20

Keep reading

Career