Common Law Admission Test

Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a centralised test for admission to prominent National Law Universities in India. The test is taken after the 12th grade for admission to graduation (also known as Bachelor's) courses in Law. This exam was conducted for the first time on 11 May 2008 by NLSIU-BAGALORE. A total number of 1037 seats from seven law schools were offered to be filled by the test. The results of the first CLAT were announced on May 19, 2008. The two-hour admission test consists of objective type covering questions on English, general knowledge, basic mathematics, besides legal and logical reasoning. The second CLAT, for the academic year 2009-10, was conducted on 17 May 2009 by Nalsar-hyderabad and simultaneously by the preceding NLU(s) according to their establishment.

See also: Legal education#India

See also: Autonomous law schools in India

Before the introduction of the CLAT, the autonomous law schools in India conducted their own entrance examinations, requiring the candidate to prepare and appear separately for each of the examinations. The time of the administration of these tests sometimes conflicted with the other or with other major entrance tests such as the Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Examination and the All India Pre Medical Test. This caused students to miss tests and experience much stress.

There are fifteen National Law Universities in India, the first of which is the National Law School of India University, which admitted its first batch of students in 1987. Out of the fifteen, the National Law University, Delhi conduct its own separate entrance test. The CLAT admits the students on the basis of the national entrance test conducted by it generally in the month of May each year. With the emergence of other law schools, which also sought to conduct their admission tests at around the same time, students faced a hard time preparing for them. From time to time the issue was raised by different persons to conduct a common entrance exam to reduce the burden of the students to give multiple test, but given the autonomous status of each law school, there was no nodal agency to co-ordinate an action to this regard.

The matter drew national attention when a Public Interest Litigation was filed by one Varun Bhagat against the Union of India and various National Law Universities in the Supreme Court of India in 2006. The Chief Justice of India directed the Union of India to consult with the National Law Universities to formulate a common test. The move was strongly supported by the Bar Council of India.

Given the lack of a central nodal authority to bring forth a consensus on the issue, the Ministry of Human Resources Development, (Government of India) and the University Grants Commission of India organized a meeting of the Vice-Chancellors of seven National Law Universities along with the Chairman of the Bar Council of India. After a few such meetings, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the Vice Chancellors of the seven National Law University on 23 November 2007 to conduct a common admission test. The Common Law Admission Test will be conducted each year by each of the law colleges and the responsibility of conducting the exam will be rotated and given on the basis of seniority. Nonetheless, the matter has not been resolved completely as there are other national law universities which are not taking part in CLAT.

2008

The first entrance examination through CLAT took place to admit students for the academic year 2008-09. The examination was held on 11 May 2008.

The following law schools admitted the students on the basis of the scores obtained by the candidates in CLAT:

1. National Law School of India University, Bangalore
2. National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (Nalsar) University of Law, Hyderabad
3. National Law Institute University, Bhopal
4. The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata
5. National Law University, Jodhpur
6. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University, Lucknow
7. Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur
8. Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar
9. Chanakya National Law University, Patna
10. Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala
11. National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi.

2009

The second entrance examination through CLAT for admitting students for the academic year 2009-10 is scheduled for 31 May 2009. From seven last year, the list of participating law schools for this year has increased to eleven.

The following law schools admitted the students on the basis of the scores obtained by the candidates in CLAT:

1. National Law School of India University, Bangalore
2. National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (Nalsar) University of Law, Hyderabad
3. National Law Institute University, Bhopal
4. The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata
5. National Law University, Jodhpur
6. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University, Lucknow
7. Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur
8. Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar
9. Chanakya National Law University, Patna
10. Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala

2010

As of December 2009 it was announced that the CLAT 2010 examination is scheduled on May 9, 2010.

The following law schools admitted the students on the basis of the scores obtained by the candidates in CLAT 2010:

1. National Law School of India University, Bangalore
2. National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (Nalsar) University of Law, Hyderabad
3. National Law Institute University, Bhopal
4. The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata
5. National Law University, Jodhpur
6. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University, Lucknow
7. Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur
8. Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar
9. Chanakya National Law University, Patna
10. Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala
11. National University of Advanced Legal Studies, (Kochi)
12. National Law School and Judicial Academy, Assam

2011

The CLAT 2011 was organised by The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences. The candidates went disappointed with the standard of paper as 12 questions in the various sections had underlined answers due to the oversight of the organisers and students also found the paper lengthy in comparison to the time limit povided(i.e 2 hours). Around 24,000 candidates have given the test including the post-graduate candidates. Number of participants increased this year forming an competitive environment amongst students fighting for few seats in these prestigious National Law Universities. Eleven previous NLU(s) participated in CLAT 2011 , whereas National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi admitted students by utilised CLAT 2011 scores. NLU-D , NLU-O and NLSJA--ASSAM conducted their own ADMISSION TEST.

2012

The fifth edition of CLAT will be organised by National Law University, Jodhpur on 13th May 2012. Also,National University of Study and Research in Law,Ranchi National Law University, Orissa, and National Law School & Judicial Academy, Assam are the three NLU(s) who joined CLAT 2012 this year making the total number of Universities to 14. However, National Law University, Delhi will conduct its own admission test.

National Law Universitis :-

1. National Law School of India University, Bangalore
2. National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (Nalsar) University of Law, Hyderabad
3. National Law Institute University, Bhopal
4. The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata
5. National Law University, Jodhpur
6. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University, Lucknow
7. Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur
8. Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar
9. Chanakya National Law University, Patna
10. Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala
11. National University of Advanced Legal Studies, (Kochi)
12. National Law University, Orissa
13. National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi
14. National Law School & Judicial Academy, Assam

Non-participating schools

See also: List of law schools in India

Despite the Supreme Court in the Public Interest Litigation and the efforts of the Ministry of Human Resources Development, not all law schools in the country could come to an agreement to be participants to CLAT. While the number of participating institutions has increased from seven to eleven from 2008 to 2009, there are still a number of law schools which choose to continue with their existing admission test system by conducting their own entrance examinations. Some of the main ones are;

1. National Law University, Delhi,(New Delhi)
2. Army Institute of Law, (Mohali)
3. Baroda School of Legal Studies, Faculty of Law, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat
4. Symbiosis Law School, (Pune)
5. ILS Law College, (Pune)
6. Amity Law School, (Delhi)
7. Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University, (Chennai)
8. Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, (Kharagpur
9. KIIT Law School, (Bhubaneswar)
10. Faculty of Law, Delhi University, (Delhi)
11. Government Law College, (Mumbai)
12. School of Law, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, (Dehradun)
13. Faculty of Law, Banaras Hindu University, (Varanasi)

Institutions utilising CLAT 2011 scores

The following institutions have been permitted to utilise CLAT 2011 scores for the purposes of admissions to their undergraduate and postgraduate courses:

1. Andhra Pradesh University of Law, Palace Layout, Pedawaltair, Viskhapatnam
2. Jodhpur National University, Narandi, Jahnwar Road, Jodhpur
3. Siddhartha Law College, Sahastradhara Road, Near IT Park, Dehradun
4. SOA National Institute of Law, Faculty of Legal Studies, Siksha O Anusandhan University, Khandagiri Square, Bhubaneswar
5. Institute of Law, Nirma University, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, Post Chandlodia, Via Gota, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

In addition to this, CLAT has also entered into a MOU with the Indian Oil Corporation, whereby IOC would be utilising CLAT scores as one of the selection criteria for recruitment of legal professionals to IOC.

Method of allocation

The CLAT form provides the students with a preference list. Each student fills the preference list, according to the colleges he/she desires.On the basis of these preferences and ranks obtained, students are allocated colleges. CLAT 2011 has seen a dramatic change. The previous system of asking applicants preferences of institution at the time of filing the application form has been done away with. In an attempt to allow for more informed choice, CLAT 2011 applicants would be asked to make a selection of institutions after the declaration of results.

Formal structure

CLAT is administered by the fourteen participating law schools each year turn by turn, on the basis of seniority. For the first year (2008) the National Law School, (Bangalore) was in charge of conducting CLAT. For the year 2009, the responsibility to conduct CLAT was upon NALSAR University of Law, (Hyderabad). As a formal structure, CLAT is administered through two committees which have been constituted by the participating law schools. These is a 'Core Committee', which consists of the Vice-Chancellors/Directors of the participating law schools and an 'Implementation Committee' which constitute of the Registrars of the participating law schools. The current members of the two committees (ex-officio) are as under:

Members of Core Committee, CLAT 2012

Mr. Justice N.N, Mathur (Retd.), Vice-Chancellor, National Law University, Jodhpur Convenor

Prof. R. Venkata Rao, Vice-Chancellor, National Law School of India University, Bangalore

Prof. Veer Singh, Vice-Chancellor, NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad

Prof. S. S. Singh, Director, The National Law Institute University, Bhopal

Prof. P. Ishwara Bhat, Vice-Chancellor, The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata

Prof. Dr. Sukh Pal Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur

Prof. Bimal N. Patel, Vice-Chancellor, Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar

Prof. Balraj Chauhan, Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow

Prof. Paramjit S. Jaiswal, Vice Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala

Prof. A. Lakshminath, Vice-Chancellor, Chanakya National Law University, Patna

Prof. N.K. Jayakumar, Vice-Chancellor, National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi

Prof. Faizan Mustafa, Vice-Chancellor, National Law University, Orissa

Prof. A.K. Koul, Vice-Chancellor, National University of Study & Research in Law, Ranchi

Prof. Gurjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor, National Law School & Judicial Academy, Assam

Members of Implementation Committee, CLAT 2012

Shri Ratan Lahoti, Registrar, National Law University, Jodhpur

Prof. V. Nagaraj, Registrar, National Law School of India University, Bangalore

Prof. M. Sridhar Acharyulu, Registrar, NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad

Mrs. Chandrakanta Garg, Registrar, The National Law Institute University, Bhopal

Dr. Surajit C Mukhopadhyay, Registrar, The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata

Mr. B. C. Biswas, Registrar,Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur

Dr. Dolly Jabbal, Registrar (I/C), Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar

Ms. Anita Mishra, Registrar, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow

Prof (Dr.) G.I.S. Sandhu, Registrar, Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala

Dr. S.P. Singh, Registrar, Chanakya National Law University, Patna

Mr. V. Narayana Swami, Registrar, National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi

Prof. Pabitra Mohan Samal, Registrar, National Law University, Orissa

Mr. Aloke Kumar Sengupta, Registrar, National University of Study & Research in Law, Ranchi

Mr. R. Hazarika, Registrar, National Law University & Judicial Academy, Assam

See also

• List of law schools in India
• Autonomous Law Schools in India
• Legal Education in India
• Law School Admission Test

External links

• Official Website
• CLAT Brochure 2010