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Law Admission Guide
Law Admission After Class 12 (2026): CLAT, NLUs & Fees
A five-year integrated law degree takes you from Class 12 straight into legal practice. Here is how CLAT, AILET and the other exams work, which colleges they open, and what a law career now pays.
- Integrated BA LLB
- 5 yrs
- Minimum Class 12 marks
- 45%
- Opens 20+ NLUs
- CLAT
- Typical starting pay
- ₹4–18 LPA
Law Admission 2026 at a Glance
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Courses | BA LLB, BBA LLB, B.Com LLB, BSc LLB (all five-year integrated) |
| Duration | 5 years after Class 12, or 3 years after any bachelor's degree |
| Eligibility | Class 12 with at least 45% in aggregate (40% for SC and ST, as per Bar Council norms) |
| Major exams | CLAT, AILET, LSAT—India, SLAT, MH CET Law, CUET-UG, university tests |
| Regulator | Bar Council of India |
| Annual fees | ₹30,000 at state universities to ₹6,00,000 at private law schools |
| Typical starting salary | ₹4 LPA – ₹18 LPA depending on the college and the role |
Figures are indicative, based on recent admission cycles, and can change by category, programme and year. Please confirm the latest details with the institute before applying.
Integrated Law, and Who It Suits
An integrated law degree combines a bachelor's in arts, commerce, business administration or science with the LLB, over five years. You study constitutional law, contracts, criminal law, torts, corporate law, taxation and procedure alongside moot courts, internships and legal research — and you qualify two years earlier than someone who takes a three-year LLB after graduation.
It suits students who read closely, argue carefully and are comfortable writing a great deal. Strong readers from any Class 12 stream do well; nothing in the curriculum assumes commerce or science.
After the degree, enrolling with a State Bar Council and clearing the All India Bar Examination lets you practise. Many graduates never see a courtroom, though: corporate law firms, in-house legal teams, compliance, policy, the judiciary and legal technology all compete for the same cohort.
Why Students Choose Law After Class 12
- Five years instead of the three-plus-three of a separate degree and LLB
- Open to every Class 12 stream, with no subject prerequisites
- Moot courts, internships and legal aid clinics from the first year
- Clear routes into corporate law, litigation, the judiciary and policy
- Recruitment at the National Law Universities starts on campus
- A base for an LLM, a judicial services attempt, or civil services preparation
The Law Admission Process, Step by Step
Finish Class 12
Any stream, with at least 45% in aggregate (40% for SC and ST candidates). Final-year students can apply before their result.
Register for the entrance exams
CLAT for most National Law Universities, AILET for NLU Delhi, and LSAT—India, SLAT, MH CET Law or CUET-UG for other colleges.
Prepare for the pattern, not the syllabus
These exams test comprehension, legal and logical reasoning, current affairs and basic quantitative skills — reading speed decides most scores.
Sit the exams
CLAT and AILET are usually held in December and before the academic year begins; each publishes its own schedule.
Counselling and choice filling
The CLAT Consortium runs centralised counselling for participating NLUs; other colleges run their own rounds.
Seat allotment and admission
Accept an allotted seat, pay the confirmation fee, complete verification and report to the university.
Eligibility
- Class 12 (10+2) passed from a recognised board, in any stream
- At least 45% in aggregate for the general category and 40% for SC and ST candidates, as per Bar Council of India norms
- Several National Law Universities and private law schools set higher cut-offs, commonly 50%
- A valid score in the entrance exam the college accepts
- No upper age limit for CLAT at present; confirm each college's own rule
- Category, domicile, PwD or income certificates where you claim a quota
The Entrance Exams That Matter
CLAT and AILET decide admission to the National Law Universities. The rest open strong private and state law schools, and are worth writing as back-ups.
| Exam | Conducted by | Leads to | What it tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLAT (UG) | Consortium of National Law Universities | Most National Law Universities, plus a long list of affiliate colleges | English comprehension, current affairs and general knowledge, legal reasoning, logical reasoning, quantitative techniques |
| AILET | National Law University, Delhi | NLU Delhi's five-year BA LLB (Hons) | English, current affairs and general knowledge, logical reasoning |
| LSAT—India | Law School Admission Council | Jindal Global Law School, UPES and other member colleges | Analytical reasoning, logical reasoning, reading comprehension |
| SLAT | Symbiosis International (Deemed University) | Symbiosis Law School Pune, Noida, Hyderabad and Nagpur | Logical and analytical reasoning, legal reasoning, reading comprehension, general knowledge |
| MH CET Law | State CET Cell, Maharashtra | Government and private law colleges across Maharashtra | Legal aptitude, general knowledge, logical reasoning, English, mathematics |
| CUET-UG | National Testing Agency | Integrated law programmes at central universities such as BHU | Language, a domain subject and general aptitude |
Exam patterns and dates are revised most years. We confirm the current pattern, eligibility and deadlines for every college on your list.
National Law Universities
The NLUs are the benchmark for undergraduate legal education in India. Almost all admit through CLAT; NLU Delhi admits through AILET.
| College | Location | Admission through | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Law School of India University (NLSIU) | Bengaluru | CLAT | India's oldest NLU; consistently top-ranked |
| NALSAR University of Law | Hyderabad | CLAT | Strong corporate and constitutional law faculty |
| National Law University, Delhi | New Delhi | AILET | Its own exam; heavy litigation and policy placement |
| The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences | Kolkata | CLAT | Reputed for moot courts and research journals |
| National Law University, Jodhpur | Jodhpur | CLAT | Early mover on business law and insurance law |
| Gujarat National Law University | Gandhinagar | CLAT | Strong corporate recruitment and exchange programmes |
| National Law Institute University | Bhopal | CLAT | Well regarded for intellectual property law |
| Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University | Lucknow | CLAT | Large alumni base in litigation and judicial services |
| Hidayatullah National Law University | Raipur | CLAT | Established NLU with a strong mooting culture |
| Maharashtra National Law University | Mumbai | CLAT | Access to Mumbai's commercial bar and firms |
Participating universities, seat counts and category-wise cut-offs change every cycle. Check the CLAT Consortium's current list before filling choices.
Leading Private and State Law Schools
These accept CLAT, LSAT—India, SLAT or their own tests, and are the realistic target for most applicants outside the NLU cut-offs.
| College | Location | Admission through | Total fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jindal Global Law School, O.P. Jindal Global University | Sonipat | LSAT—India or JSAT | ₹13–18 Lakh |
| Symbiosis Law School | Pune, Noida, Hyderabad, Nagpur | SLAT | ₹12–16 Lakh |
| Christ University School of Law | Bengaluru | Entrance test and interview | ₹7–10 Lakh |
| UPES School of Law | Dehradun | ULSAT, LSAT—India or CLAT | ₹21.18 Lakh |
| ILS Law College | Pune | MH CET Law | ₹1–2 Lakh |
| Government Law College | Mumbai | MH CET Law | ₹0.3–1 Lakh |
| Faculty of Law, Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi | CUET-UG | ₹0.3–1 Lakh |
| Army Institute of Law | Mohali | LAWCET / CLAT | ₹5–8 Lakh |
| Lovely Professional University | Phagwara | LPUNEST or CLAT | ₹5–8 Lakh |
| Sharda University School of Law | Greater Noida | SUAT or CLAT | ₹5–8 Lakh |
Figures are indicative, based on recent admission cycles, and can change by category, programme and year. Please confirm the latest details with the institute before applying.
Where Law Graduates Go
Litigation and advocacy
Practice before district courts, High Courts, the Supreme Court and tribunals, usually starting as a junior to a senior advocate.
Judiciary and public service
State judicial services examinations, public prosecution, and legal roles in the civil services and regulators.
Policy, compliance and legal tech
Think tanks, regulatory compliance, contract management and legal process outsourcing, including research and documentation roles.
Specialisations Growing Fastest
- Cyber law and data privacy
- Intellectual property
- Insolvency and bankruptcy
- Corporate and securities law
- Taxation
- Arbitration and dispute resolution
- Media and entertainment law
- Environmental and climate law
What Law Graduates Earn
Starting pay in law varies more than in almost any other profession — the college, the city and the route you choose all shift it sharply.
| Route | Typical starting package | How it grows |
|---|---|---|
| Tier-one corporate law firm | ₹12 – ₹18 LPA | Steeply, towards partnership over a decade |
| In-house legal team at a company | ₹7 – ₹12 LPA | Steadily, with bonuses and stock in larger companies |
| Independent litigation practice | ₹4 – ₹7 LPA | Slowly at first, then sharply with reputation |
| Judicial services and public sector | ₹8 – ₹11 LPA | Fixed scales with allowances and job security |
Figures are indicative, based on recent admission cycles, and can change by category, programme and year. Please confirm the latest details with the institute before applying.
Documents to Keep Ready
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and passing certificates
- Entrance exam scorecard and admit card, where one applies
- School transfer or migration certificate
- Photo ID (Aadhaar, passport or PAN) and passport-size photographs
- Category, domicile or income certificate if you claim a quota or scholarship
- Gap certificate if there is a break in your studies
Keep Planning
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Class 12 from a recognised board in any stream with at least 45% in aggregate, or 40% for SC and ST candidates, following Bar Council of India norms. Many National Law Universities and private law schools set higher cut-offs, commonly 50%.