The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a nationwide law admission exam that is administered by the Consortium of NLUs each year. The CLAT examscores determine admission to five-year integrated LLB programs (BA LLB, BBA LLB, BSc LLB, B. Com LLB, etc.) and LLM programs. With the CLAT exam, you can get into any top private law college that recognizesthe CLAT results, including the prestigious National Law Universities (NLUs).
Thousands of candidates take the CLAT every year. Meanwhile, many applicants find it difficult to decide whether or not to take the CLAT exam. While many applicants think about the benefits of taking the exam, others wonder how it could help them succeed professionally.
Here are the top reasons for you to take the CLAT 2024:
Provides the opportunity to enroll in one of India’s best law colleges
CLAT is the first entrance exam that comes to mind when law aspirants prepare to get admission to the esteemed NLUs. The National Law University which is equivalent to the IITs for law studies is one of the top-ranked law colleges in India. The first NLU was started back in 1986 in Bangalore known as National Law School of India University (NLSIU).Out of 26 NLUs in India, 25 of them accept CLAT scores for admission in integrated law courses (BBA LLB, BA LLB) and LLMs.
A lot of private law colleges accept CLAT
In addition to the 24 participating NLUs, several private law colleges also accept CLAT results to admit applicants to their LLB programs. Every year, a large number of private universities enter into Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the CLAT Consortium, pledging to set aside a specific number of seats just for CLAT applicants. Sixty private colleges inked an agreement with the NLU Consortium to provide CLAT candidates with more seats.
Many other private law schools, not just those associated with the Consortium, also accept CLAT results as a prerequisite for admission. These colleges might not, however, reserve places expressly for CLAT candidates.
Excellent jobs with prestigious firms
You have the opportunity to earn excellent placements at some of the best organizations through CLAT. After completing a law course, NLU students often receive employment offers ranging from INR 4 to 16 lakh annually, according to NLU placement statistics. Here is a list of top law firms that recruit young graduates from National Law Universities:
- AZB & Partners
- Argus Partners
- Majmudar& Co
- Fox Mandal& Associates
- Khaitan& Co
List of top corporate houses that recruit law graduates from NLUs to meet their legal obligations as a company and settle legal disputes:
- Ernst & Young
- ICICI Bank
- Times of India
- Tata Sons Ltd.
- Star India
- Deutsche Bank
Beneficial for PSU hiring
In addition to being used for LLB and LLM admissions, CLAT scores are also utilized for hiring purposes at Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). Candidates for CLAT LLM are more qualified to be hired for legal posts at prestigious PSUs like:
- ONGC – Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
- BHEL – Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
- SAIL – Steel Authority of India Limited
- TRAI – Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
- SEBI – Securities and Exchange Board of India
- NTPC – National Thermal Power Corporation
Gives your legal career a strong foundation
Making an appearance for CLAT examis a wise move toward a successful legal profession. You can take this exam to pursue an integrated BBA LLB program from top NLUs after completing your 12th grade. Upon receiving your law degree, several opportunities become available to you. Once you complete your 5-year integrated degree program, these are the jobs you can think of pursuing:
- Higher education: You might think about taking the CLAT to pursue an LLM at a prominent law school.
- PSU hiring: To obtain a government position in one of the PSUs, you may also think about taking the CLAT LLM Exam in 2024.
- CS: A Company Secretary (CS) course may be something you want to look into.
- Employment: You might be hired as a corporate lawyer, legal advisor, or other position by one of the leading legal or corporate firms.
- Legal practice: After passing the LLB, you can register with your state’s bar council and begin preparing for the All India Bar Exam (AIBE). You can begin working as an advocate in the legal field after passing the bar test.
- Judicial Services: This field may be of interest to you if you wish to become a judge. To do the same, you have to show up for competitive exams like PCS (J) and HJS.
- Civil Services: You can also prepare for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams if you want to work in the Indian Civil Services or Legal Services.
Re-sharpen your math skills
The CLAT exam will include a mathematics section. Math still counts for the exam score even if it is based on law. Some applicants become discouraged by this and think that it will negatively affect their performance.
Have you noticed that this component only addresses 10% of the CLAT questions? Why should you be concerned, considering that the mathematics on the CLAT is straightforward and limited in scope? Think of this as an opportunity to improve without allowing negative thoughts to creep into your mind!
Take a look at the format before making a decision. The last thing you should be thinking about is phobia. Let yourself have an optimistic attitude and make use of the mathematics component of the CLAT. Maybe you had trouble focusing on it in the past, which kept you from succeeding. For example, it’s possible that your mentor wasn’t the best. So forget about the past. Restart from the beginning!
Higher Salary
Today, law college graduates earn salaries that are on par with or frequently more than those from engineering or business sectors. An average lawyer in India makes INR 5.70 LPA. A lawyer’s pay is determined by several factors, including geography, educational background, experience, and skills. Attorneys who represent clients in court frequently base their fees on the clients’ attendance.
Expert lawyers bill between INR 5,000 and INR 20,000 for every appearance, whereas newly graduated lawyers bill between INR 500 and INR 1500. For each appearance, some of the best lawyers in India demand INR 5,00,000 in fees.
In a Nutshell
That’s right—the old joke about lawyers and liars is just that—ancient. Today’s young attorneys aspire to do more than just be extremely wealthy after law school. If you are the compassionate type, you can impact social change by standing up for the rights of people who can’t defend themselves, like children, refugees, and the impoverished, to name a few.
Therefore, there is much more to the CLAT exam than just getting into India’s esteemed law colleges. It’s a world unto itself, with countless benefits and opportunities. It’s a fantastic adventure—the “NLU” tag, the locations you get to see, and the people you get to meet! Best wishes!
FAQs
Q1. What legal programs are available after passing the CLAT?
The CLAT is offered by graduate and undergraduate law programs. Completing CLAT UG is a prerequisite for admission to 5-year integrated legal programs; on the other hand, completing CLAT PG is a requirement for admission to LLM programs.
Q2. Who will administer CLAT in 2024?
The Consortium of National Law Universities, a permanent organization headquartered at NLSIU Bangalore, will administer the CLAT in 2024.
Q3. How many questions will be asked in CLAT 2024?
There will be 150 objective-type questions in the CLAT UG and 120 objective-type questions in the CLAT PG.
Q4. What kinds of questions are asked in the CLAT exam?
The prior year’s exam format revision made the CLAT a comprehension-based test. Questions on the CLAT UG and LLM are based on the comprehension passages.
Q5. What programs you can take admission into through CLAT?
You can seek admission to any integrated law program like BA LLB, BBA LLB, B. Com LLB, B.Sc. LLB, etc., through the CLAT exam.