Law as a career has surged in popularity over the years. Aspirants see it as one of the most rewarding careers. It is one of the most esteemed career options providing a variety of opportunities. A successful career in law can be achieved by pursuing or studying law at a reputed university or Institute which one can do after clearing top law entrance exam.
Doing law from a reputed university or institution such as NLU helps in building great networks. The quality of education will be better with state-of-the-art facilities and resources. It increases the chance of employability. For studying law at reputed Institutes it is important to clear entrance tests.
In this article, we will discuss the various entrance exams for LLB/LLM in India:
What are LLB and LLM?
LLB (LLB full form is Bachelor of Law) is an undergraduate degree that is pushed after completing high school. LLB is a 3 year undergraduate course unless it is an integrated one in which case it is 5 years. There are entrance exams for LLB after 12th, LLB is normally studied at the undergraduate level in several nations, thus you can apply immediately to LLB programs after finishing your 12th-grade education. Some of the entrance exams for LLB after graduation are:
- Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)
- All India Law Entry Test (AILET)
- Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
Some of the best books for LLB entrance exams are published by Arihant, Pearson, and Universal’s Guide. LLM entrance question papers with answers may be available online or through self-preparatory books.
On the other hand, LLM (LLM full form is Masters of Law) is a postgraduate degree that allows students to study a specific area of law. The duration of the LLM course is 2 years and it is done after undergraduation. LLM helps people advance their careers.
To be eligible for an LLM program in India, applicants normally need to have graduated with a law degree (LLB) from an accredited university or other recognized institution. Candidates may additionally need to meet a minimal percentage requirement in their LLB degree from some universities.
Top LLB entrance exams in India
CLAT (Common Law Admission Test)
CLAT is the most prestigious law entrance exam for admission into 5 five-year LLB courses and a one-year LLM course. A consortium of NLUs conducts this exam at the National level. More than 70000 students are expected to take this examination this year.
| Overview | Details |
| CLAT Exam Duration | 2 hours |
| No. of Questions | 120 Questions |
| Mode | Offline mode |
| CLAT Exam Sections | English Language (22-26 ques.); Current Affairs/ GK (28-32 ques.); Legal Reasoning (28-32 ques.); Logical Reasoning (22-26 ques.); Quantitative Techniques (10-14 ques.) |
| Marking Scheme | +1 for every correct-0.25 for every incorrect |
AILET (All India Law Entrance Test)
AILET(All India Law Entrance Test ) is another top law entrance exam. NLU Delhi conducts it for admission into BBA LLB, LLM and PhD programs. Around 2000 students are expected to participate in the exam.
| Overview | Details |
| Exam Duration | 120 Minutes |
| No. of Questions | 150 Questions |
| Exam Sections | English Language; Current Affairs & General Knowledge; Logical Reasoning |
LSAT India (Law School Admission Test India)
LSAT is one of the top law entrance exam in India when it comes to law. LSAT India is conducted by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) for admission to various law schools in India. LSAC has set up LSAC Global – Discover Law for conducting the LSAT India entrance exam in the country.
| Overview | Details |
| Exam Duration | 2 Hours 20 Minutes |
| No. of Questions | 92 Questions |
| Marking Scheme | 1-3 for every correct answer No negative marking |
| Exam Sections | Reading Comprehension; Analytical Reasoning; Logical Reasoning |
MH CET Law Exam
Maharashtra Common Law Entrance Test is a state-level law entrance exam for admission to three-year LLB and five-year integrated LLB programs offered by various law colleges in the state of Maharashtra. It is a 2-hour Duration test held in a computer-based test mode.
| Overview | Details |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours |
| No. of Questions | 150 |
| Marking Scheme | +1 for every correct answer and no negative marking |
| Exam Sections | English Language; Current Affairs/ GK; Legal Aptitude and Legal Reasoning; Logical and Analytical Reasoning; Mathematical Aptitude |
SLAT (Symbiosis Law Aptitude Test)
The entrance exam SLAT is a law entrance exam conducted by SIU – Pune Symbiosis International for admission to undergraduate courses offered at its four law schools in Symbiosis Law School (SLS), Pune, SLS Hyderabad, SLS Noida and SLS Nagpur. It is conducted in an online mode.
| Overview | Details |
| Duration | 1 Hour |
| No. of Questions | 60 |
| Exam Sections | Reading Comprehension; General Knowledge; Legal Reasoning; Analytical Reasoning; Logical Reasoning |
| Marking Scheme | +1 for every correct answer and no negative marking |
Top LLM entrance exams in India
CLAT PG (Common Law Admission Test for Postgraduate)
It is one of the most prestigious law entrance exam for LLM in India. It is conducted for admission to LLM programs at various National Law Universities (NLUs) and other recognized participating institutions. There is no upper limit for appearing in this examination. It is also conducted by a consortium of NLs. This is a computer-based test consisting of MCQs.
| Overview | Details |
| Duration | 2 Hours |
| Number of Questions | 120 |
| Marking Scheme | +1 for every correct-0.25 for every incorrect |
| Mode of Examination | Offline |
AILET PG (All India Law Entrance Test for Postgraduate)
It is also one of the prestigious LLM entrance exams in the country designed for those aspiring to study at National Law University Delhi in its LLM program. Admission to National Law University Delhi is secured based on merit earned in this entrance exam.
| Overview | Details |
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Number of Questions | 100 |
| Marking Scheme | +1 for every correct-0.25 for every incorrect |
| Mode of Examination | Offline |
LSAT India (Law School Admission Test)
LSAT India is conducted by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) for various LLM programs being offered by some of the top universities in this country. The admission is again based on merit secured in the exam. It is a computer-based test consisting of MCQs. It is the top law entrance exam in the country.
| Overview | Details |
| Duration | 140 minutes |
| Number of Questions | 92 |
| Mode of Examination | Online |
CUET LLM Examination
This entrance exam provides an opportunity for students to pursue LLM courses in some of the top Central and State Universities of this country. It is an online mode law entrance exam conducted once a year at the National level. This exam is typically held in September.
| Overview | Details |
| Duration | 105 minutes |
| Number of Questions | 75 |
| Marking Scheme | +4 for every correct-1 for every incorrect |
DU LLM
DU LLM law entrance exam is conducted by Delhi University for admission to its LLM program in various law colleges. There is no age limit for this examination. This exam is conducted in English Language and consists of MCQs. It is conducted on specific exam dates across Delhi or other cities.
| Overview | Details |
| Duration | 2 Hours |
| Number of Questions | 100 Questions |
| Marking Scheme | +4 marks for each correct answer and -1 mark for every incorrect answer. |
| Mode of Examination | Online Mode |
Conclusion
With a range of LLB and LLM entry exams, India provides aspiring law students with an abundance of opportunities. These entrance tests act as entry points to some of the best law schools and colleges in the nation for undergraduate programs, the best tests are the CLAT, SLAT India, the AILET etc. Exams like the DU LLM and AIBE (LLM) are highly respected for postgraduate courses, in addition to CLAT PG.
Prospective law students need to select the appropriate LLB and LLM admission exams in India to launch their legal careers. It is essential to make the right choice of entrance exams by considering various factors such as the institution, the exam pattern and syllabus, career goals etc.
FAQs
Q. Is CLAT the most popular examination?
Yes, CLAT is the most popular examination for law and is therefore very competitive.
Q. What are the eligibility criteria for LLB entrance exams in India?
Candidates in general are expected to have completed their 12th grade with a minimum specified percentage. Although it may differ depending on the institutes.
Q. How many times is CLAT conducted?
CLAT is conducted once every year.
Q. Is there a negative marking in the SLAT exam?
There is no negative marking in the SLAT exam.
Q. Is there any entrance exam for LLB?
As previously indicated, there are admission tests for LLB. These tests differ based on the nation and the particular needs of the legal schools or universities.
Q. How to prepare for the law entrance exam?
Understanding the syllabus and exam format is the first step in preparing for a law entrance exam. Make a study plan and set up time for every subject. Practice with past years’ exam questions and make use of high-quality study resources.
