CLAT 2018 (Common Law Admission Test) is a national level entrance exam conducted by one of the National Law University (NLU) of India for seeking admissions to undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes. This year NUALS Kochi (National University of Advanced Legal Studies Kochi) is to conduct CLAT 2018 in the month of May 2018. The CLAT Scores are considered by various government undertaking colleges and private law colleges across the country for admission.
Last year (2017), it was managed by the Chanakya National Law University Patna. The CLAT 2017 was held online in 66 exam centres across India. Last year around 2352 seats offered for undergraduate programmes, five year integrated law programmes (BA LLB, B.Com LLB, B.Sc LLB and BBA LLB) and 604 seats for postgraduate programmes by 18 National Law Universities (NLUs) and other law schools of India through CLAT 2017.
CLAT 2018 scores will be accepted by as many as 18 NLUs and other law colleges after result of CLAT 2018 announced in May month. CLAT 2018 online application form would be start from first week of 2018.
The 18 participating NLUs in the order of their year of establishment are:
- National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru
- National Academy of Legal Study and Research (NALSAR) University of Law, Hyderabad
- National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal
- West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), Kolkata
- National Law University (NLU), Jodhpur
- Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur
- Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar
- Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow
- Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Punjab
- Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna
- National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi
- National Law University Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack
- National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi
- National Law University and Judicial Academy (NLUJA), Assam
- Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), Visakhapatnam
- Tamil Nadu National Law School (TNNLS), Tiruchirappalli
- Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai
- Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Nagpur
NUALS Kochi is expected to release CLAT 2018 Notification in 4th week of December 2017.Candidates may check the detailed information about CLAT 2018 including important dates, eligibility criteria, application form, fees, and exam pattern on AfterGraduation.
CLAT 2018 Schedule
NUALS Kochi is to announce important dates of CLAT 2018 in the month of December. CLAT 2018 important dates will help candidates in knowing events of the common law admission test and their respective dates.
Events | Important dates |
Exam notification | Last week of December, 2017 |
Online Application form begins | First week of January, 2018 |
Application form ends | Last week of March, 2018 |
Issue of admit card | Third week of April, 2018 |
Conduct of online examination | Second week of May, 2018 (3:00 PM to 5:00 PM) |
Uploading the Answer Key | Third week of May, 2018 |
Declaration of result and score card | Last week of May, 2018 |
Counseling and seat allotment | First week of June-First week of July, 2018 |
READ Too: Exploring Law In India: An Honourable Career Option
Admission Process Through CLAT 2018
Aspirants seeking admission into undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes from top Law universities of India need to appear for CLAT 2018. The admission process of CLAT begins with the examination notification and availability of application forms. The CLAT 2018 applicants then will have to appear for the common law admission test.
Based on their performance in the entrance examination, candidates will be awarded All India Ranks (AIRs) and CLAT 2018 scores which will be accepted by NLUs and other various law schools. The CLAT committee will be organizing CLAT 2018 counseling upon which they will be allotted seats in different NLUs under centralized counseling system.
CLAT 2018 Eligibility Criteria
Candidates need to go through eligibility criteria of CLAT as specified by the law examination committee. The eligibility criteria for Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) courses are different as given below:
Candidates applying for UG Law programmes need to
- Qualify 12th board examination (Intermediate examination) of 10+2 educational system.
- Appearing candidates of Class 10+2 or equivalent examination in March/April 2018 are also eligible to appear in the entrance exam. At the time of admission, the candidates would have to produce an evidence of their passing qualifying examination.
- At least 45% marks (in case of Unreserved/OBC/SAP categories) and 40% marks (in case of SC/ST category) in the aggregate of subjects studied at 10+2 level).
Those who are applying for PG Law programmes
- Need to have an LL.B or equivalent degree with a minimum score of 55% marks (Unreserved/OBC/SAP categories) and 50% marks(SC/ST category) in the final year of law degree examination.
- Candidates would have to produce the evidence of their qualifying examination at the time of admission.
- There is no upper age limit for PG courses.
READ ALSO: Pursue A Career In Legal Field: Some Guidance
CLAT 2018 Application Fee
The application fee of CLAT 2018 is different for different categories, which is as follows:
Category | Application Fee |
General/OBC/SAP and other category candidates | Rs. 4000/- |
SC/ST category candidates | Rs. 3500/- |
Application fee is to be paid online only through net banking/credit card or debit card.
CLAT 2018 Exam Pattern
- Mode of Exam: The entrance exam will be held through online process.
- It will be a computer based test (CBT).
- Medium: The medium of examination will be of English language.
- Duration: The time duration of this entrance exam will be two hours.
- Marking Scheme: For each correct response, 1 mark will be given to the candidate.
- Negative Marking: There will be a provision for 0.25 negative marking for every incorrect response.
For UG Courses
Subjects | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks |
Logical Reasoning | 40 Questions | 40 Marks |
Legal Aptitude | 50 Questions | 50 Marks |
Elementary Mathematics (Numerical Ability) | 20 Questions | 20 Marks |
General Knowledge and Current Affairs | 50 Questions | 50 Marks |
English including Comprehension | 40 Questions | 40 Marks |
Total | 200 Questions | 200 Marks |
ALSO READ: CLAT 2017 Exam – Section Wise Paper Analysis
For PG Courses
Subjects | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks |
Jurisprudence | 50 Questions | 50 Marks |
Constitutional Law | 50 Questions | 50 Marks |
Other law subjects like Contract, Torts, Criminal Law, International Law, IPR etc. | 50 Questions | 50 Marks |
Total | 150 Questions | 150 Marks |
CLAT Previous Year Cut offs
NLUs | Rank (Closing Rank) |
National Law School of India University, Bangalore | 58 |
National Academy of Legal Studies and Research, Hyderabad | 108 |
West Bengal National University of Judicial Sciences, Kolkata | 260 |
National Law Institute University, Bhopal | 345 |
National Law University, Jodhpur | 360 |
Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar | 500 |
Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur | 700 |
Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow | 750 |
Rajiv Gandhi National Law University, Patiala | 925 |
Chanakya National Law University, Patna | 1100 |
National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi | 980 |
NLU, Odisha | 1125 |
NUSRL, Ranchi (National University of Study and Research in Law) | 1150 |
NLUJA, Assam | 1280 |
TNNLS, Tamilnadu | 1280 |
If you have any queries regarding CLAT Exam, please post your query on our Aftergraduation Forum and we would be happy to discuss. All the best to Law Aspirants and Start Your preparation. Connect with us for more updates through Facebook and Twitter also..!!