CLAT UG
A complete roadmap for students who want admission to undergraduate law programmes through the Common Law Admission Test conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities.
What is CLAT?
Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is the entrance examination used for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes at participating National Law Universities and other institutions that use CLAT scores under their published rules. This guide focuses on CLAT UG, the route for students seeking a five-year integrated undergraduate law programme.
The Consortium of National Law Universities has announced that CLAT 2027 will be held on Sunday, 6 December 2026, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The Consortium has also announced that the UG and PG syllabus and examination pattern will remain unchanged for CLAT 2027. citeturn0search0turn0search5
Important: CLAT rules, dates and admission procedures can change. This page uses the current CLAT 2027 information available from the Consortium; always check the latest official notification before applying.
CLAT UG eligibility
For the five-year integrated LL.B. programme, the CLAT 2026 information brochure required a pass in 10+2 or an equivalent examination with at least 45% marks or equivalent grade for General/OBC/PwD/EWS categories and 40% for SC/ST candidates. Candidates appearing for their qualifying examination were also permitted to apply, subject to fulfilling the requirements before admission. There is no upper age limit for the UG programme. citeturn0search6
Class 12 passed
Students who have completed the qualifying examination can apply subject to the current Consortium rules.
Class 12 appearing
Students appearing in the qualifying examination may apply under the applicable rules, but admission remains conditional on meeting the qualifying criteria.
Age
The published UG rules state that there is no upper age limit.
Year-specific warning: The percentage and category requirements above are based on the published CLAT admission rules. Verify the current CLAT 2027 brochure before submitting an application.
CLAT UG exam pattern
The Consortium has confirmed that the CLAT 2027 exam pattern remains unchanged from the current structure. The UG paper is designed around five sections and tests comprehension, reasoning and basic quantitative ability rather than requiring prior professional legal education. citeturn0search0turn0search1
| Section | What it tests | Typical preparation focus |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | Reading comprehension, language and verbal ability | Passage reading, vocabulary in context, inference and grammar |
| Current Affairs including General Knowledge | Contemporary events and general awareness | National/international news, important issues and static GK |
| Legal Reasoning | Application of principles and facts presented in passages | Principle-fact application, legal awareness and careful reading |
| Logical Reasoning | Arguments, relationships, inference and analytical reasoning | Critical reasoning, arrangements, assumptions and conclusions |
| Quantitative Techniques | Numerical information and elementary mathematical reasoning | Percentages, ratios, averages, data interpretation and arithmetic |
Exam-day tip: Read the latest official instructions carefully. Do not rely on old preparation books for exact question count, duration or marking details if the Consortium issues an updated brochure.
Understand the five CLAT sections
English Language
Develop fast, accurate reading. Practise identifying the main idea, tone, inference, vocabulary in context and the relationship between statements.
Current Affairs & GK
Build a consistent news-reading habit. Revise important national, international, legal, economic, science and social developments.
Legal Reasoning
Focus on applying a rule or principle to facts in a passage. You do not need to become a law student before taking CLAT.
Logical Reasoning
Practise arguments, assumptions, conclusions, inference and relationships while improving reading speed.
Quantitative Techniques
Strengthen basic arithmetic and data interpretation. Accuracy and time management matter as much as calculation speed.
How to prepare for CLAT
A practical daily cycle
CLAT application process
Applications are submitted through the official Consortium of NLUs portal. For CLAT 2027, the Consortium has announced an online application window from 3 August 2026 to 31 October 2026. The examination is scheduled for 6 December 2026. citeturn0search0turn0search2
1. Registration
Create your candidate account through the official CLAT 2027 portal and preserve your login details.
2. Application form
Enter personal and academic details, choose applicable preferences and upload documents in the prescribed format.
3. Fee & submission
Pay the prescribed fee and complete the submission before the official deadline. Keep the confirmation/application record safely.
What happens after CLAT?
After the examination, candidates receive their result/rank and eligible candidates participate in the admission and counselling process specified by the Consortium and participating NLUs.
Rank & preferences
Understand your rank and carefully consider the participating universities and programme preferences available in the official counselling process.
Seat allocation
Follow the Consortium's published counselling schedule, fee instructions, allotment rounds and deadlines.
Document verification
Keep Class 10/12 documents, category certificates and other required records ready in the format specified by the admitting institution.
Remember: A CLAT score does not mean automatic admission to every law college. Check whether the institution participates in CLAT and follow its current admission rules.
What can you do after a 5-year law degree?
A five-year integrated law programme can lead to many legal and non-legal career paths. Your eventual options depend on the degree, professional requirements, skills and experience you build.
- Litigation and legal practice
- Corporate and commercial law
- Legal compliance and in-house counsel roles
- Judicial and other competitive examinations, subject to eligibility
- Legal research and policy work
- Public policy and governance
- Law firms and legal consulting
- Academia and higher legal education
When comparing law schools, look beyond rankings. Consider curriculum, internships, mooting and research opportunities, alumni network, fees, location, campus environment and your intended career path.
Official websites and reliable sources
Final check: Saraswat Academy PathFinder is an educational guide. Before applying, verify the current CLAT notification, eligibility, fee, dates, examination instructions and counselling rules directly with the Consortium of NLUs.