CLAT- Common Law Admission Test: Details, Colleges, Exam, Eligibility, Syllabus, Result, Counselling, Important Dates

It is an all India entrance examination for the aspirants are willing to get admission to undergraduate (LLB) and postgraduate law degree programs (LLM). It is a national level exam conducted by 18 National Law Universities (NLUs).

Note: Other than 18 NLUs, the CLAT score is also considered by 43 other colleges and a PSU. CLAT exam is held through online mode (computer based)

Eligibility Criteria

UG Programme

1.    There is no upper age limit for UG Programme in CLAT 2019.
2.    Minimum percentage of marks in the qualifying examination (i.e., 10+2 or an equivalent examination), the candidates must have secured:
i.    Forty five percent (45%) marks or its equivalent grade in case of candidates belonging to General/OBC/PWD/NRI/PIO/OCI categories
ii.    Forty Percent (40%) marks or equivalent in case of candidates belonging to SC/ST categories.
3.    Candidates who are appearing in the qualifying examination in March/April 2019 are also eligible to appear in CLAT-2019 examination. However, they shall be required to produce an evidence of their passing the qualifying examination at the time of admission, failing which they shall lose their right to be considered for admission.
4.    The result of the qualifying examination (i.e., 10+2) shall be submitted by the candidate at the time of admission failing which the candidate shall be ineligible for admission to the Course.
5.    In case of equal marks, the break of tie shall be by the following procedure and order as under:
i.    Higher marks in the component /section on legal aptitude in the CLAT-2019 exam;
ii.    Higher age;
iii.    Computerised draw of lots.

PG Programme

1.    An LL.B Degree or an equivalent examination with a minimum of Fifty five percent (55%) of marks or its equivalent grade in case of candidates belonging to General/OBC/PWD/NRI/PIO/OCI categories and Fifty percent (50%) of marks or its equivalent grade in case of candidates belonging to SC/ST categories.
2.    Candidates appearing in the qualifying examination in April/May 2019 are also eligible to apply.
3.    No upper age limit is prescribed for appearing in CLAT-2019.

Syllabus of UG Programme
CLAT exam needs a good preparation with lot of emphasis on General Knowledge and Current affairs. One also needs to practice logical reasoning as well as Legal Aptitude. Lot of students enrol in year long coaching programs to hone their skills.

Scope and coverage of questions under different subject areas are:

1.    English including comprehension:
The English section will test the candidate's proficiency in English based on comprehension passages and grammar. In the comprehension section, candidates will be assessed on their understanding of the passage and its central theme, meanings of words used therein, etc. The grammar section requires correction of incorrect grammatical sentences, filling of blanks in sentences with appropriate words, etc.

2.    General Knowledge and Current Affairs:
The General knowledge will be evaluated on the general awareness including static general knowledge. Questions on current affairs will test the candidate's on their knowledge of national and international current affairs.

3.    Mathematics:
This section will test the candidate's knowledge on elementary mathematics, i.e., maths taught upto 10th Class/Standard.

4.    Legal Aptitude:
This section will test the candidate’s interest towards the study of law, research aptitude and problem solving ability. Questions may include legal propositions (described in the paper), and a set of facts to which the said proposition has to be applied. Some propositions may not be “true” in the real sense, candidates will have to assume the “truth” of these propositions and answer the questions accordingly.

5.    Logical Reasoning:
The purpose of the logical reasoning section is to test the candidate’s ability to identify patterns, logical links and rectify illogical arguments. It may include a variety of logical reasoning questions such as syllogisms, logical sequences, analogies, etc. However, visual reasoning will not be tested.

The pattern of Question Paper for the UG Courses in CLAT-2019

The pattern of the question paper for admission to the Post-Graduate Course for CLAT-2019 is as under:

CLAT 2019

National Law University Odisha, Cuttack is conducting CLAT 2019 Counselling in the second week of June 2019. Candidates need to attend the counselling in online mode. Candidates whose name will appear in the merit, will be issued call letters to attend the Counselling as a medium to seek admissions into 20 NLUs (National Law Universities) participating in the CLAT 2019.

Process for CLAT 2019 Counselling:

Round-I

•    Candidates will be required to login to their respective CLAT 2019 accounts
•    View the NLUs allotted to them according to the seat allotment list (according to the merit list and preferred choices) in Round-I of counseling.
•    Deposit fees, an amount of Rs. 50,000 as counselling fee in the stipulated time.

Note: Those who fail to deposit the fees in the stipulated time may lose their allotted NLU seat. Admission opportunity to NLU and CLAT candidature even as their names will be dropped from the CLAT merit list.

Round-II

o    After CLAT counselling fees have been deposited

o    Second seat allotment list is issued, mentioning the names who have locked their NLU seats and the list of candidates who are provisionally selected for the second round of counselling against the vacant seats made by the dropped out candidates of the first counselling round. The list will also indicate the candidates who have been upgraded/ shifted to a higher NLU as per the vacancy.

o    The new candidates selected in the second indicative counselling list, will need to pay the counselling fees in stipulated time. However, those who have been upgraded need not to re-deposit the fee.

Note: Similar to the first seat allotment in round I, candidates who fail to deposit the counselling fee within the time limit will lose their allotted NLU admissions and their names will be dropped from the merit list of CLAT 2019.

Round-III

Important Note:

Withdrawal:

•    Before publishing third indicative list, the CLAT committee will provide an option of withdrawal to all those candidates who have been allotted NLUs in the previous CLAT counselling rounds.
•    Those who wish to withdraw from CLAT 2019 admissions will need to exercise the ‘Withdrawal’ option after which an amount will be credited to their registered bank account after deducting Rs.10,000 from deposited counselling fees.
•    However, those who withdraw their allotted NLU seats after the last date of withdrawal will not be liable to receive any amount and it’ll result in loss of entire counselling fee.

•    The third and the last indicative list of CLAT counselling 2019 mentioning all those candidates who have been allotted NLUs for a final term is published.
•    Candidates as per the final seat allotment list of CLAT 2019 counselling will have to deposit the entire fees at their respective allotted NLUs.
•    The candidates are required to report at their respective NLUs with their relevant certificate/ documents required for the CLAT 2019 admission formalities.

Caution:
•    It must be noted that the candidates who do not meet CLAT eligibility criteria 2019 will not be offered admissions to NLUs.
•    These candidates will automatically lose their candidature as well as counselling fee amount of Rs. 50,000 and are not permitted to claim for that, under any circumstances.
•    So, it is always advisable to read the eligibility criteria of CLAT 2019 before proceeding to any step of admission.

Documents Required
•    CLAT Application Form 2019
•    CLAT Admit Card 2019
•    CLAT Scorecard 2019
•    Mark sheets of 10th and 12th
•    Specially-abled certificate (If applicable)
•    Caste certificate (If applicable)
•    NRI Certificate (If applicable)
•    Domicile Certificate (If applicable)
•    Sponsored NRI Certificate (If applicable)

CLAT 2019 Calendar