Become a Lawyer: CLAT, LLB and Legal Careers

Become a Lawyer

CLAT, LLB and legal careers

• Law is open to students from any stream: Science, Commerce or Arts. You need 45% in Class 12 (40% for SC/ST/PwD) for most entrance exams.
• Two routes: a 5-year integrated LLB straight after Class 12, or a 3-year LLB after any graduation.
• The top law schools are the National Law Universities (NLUs), through CLAT (26 NLUs) and AILET (NLU Delhi). Many good government law colleges are much cheaper.
• Be realistic: courtroom practice usually pays little in the first years, but law opens many careers: judge, corporate lawyer, government, policy, teaching.

Official sources

• CLAT 2027 eligibility
• Participating NLUs

Inside this branch

• Deadlines now
• Routes into law
• CLAT explained
• Other law entrance exams
• How to prepare
• Fees and financial help
• Become an advocate
• Law careers
• Know your rights

Deadlines now

Checked 4 Oct 2026

• CLAT 2027: register by 31 October 2026; exam on 6 December 2026, 2–4 pm.
• AILET 2027 (NLU Delhi): apply by 10 November 2026; exam on 13 December 2026.
• AIBE XXII (bar exam, for law graduates and final-year students): register by 27 October 2026 (reported); exam 29 November 2026.
• Dates change every year; confirm on the official websites.

Official sources

• CLAT 2027 press release (PDF)
• AILET 2027 notification (PDF)

Routes into law

5-year or 3-year LLB

Inside this branch

• 5-year integrated LLB
• 3-year LLB
• Check the college is approved
• Is there an age limit?

Routes into law

5-year integrated LLB

• BA LLB, BBA LLB, B.Com LLB or B.Sc LLB, straight after Class 12. Admission through CLAT, AILET, state tests or university tests.
• Good if you are sure about law now: you finish a degree and law together in 5 years.

Routes into law

3-year LLB

• After any graduation (often 45–50% needed). For example, Delhi University's Faculty of Law admits through CUET PG (reported).
• Good if you want to keep options open, or decide on law later. Fees at government colleges are very low.

Routes into law

Check the college is approved

• Your college and university must be approved by the Bar Council of India, or you cannot become an advocate.
• For 2026-27 the BCI barred unapproved colleges from admitting students and put a 3-year halt on new law colleges. Check approval before you pay any fee.

Routes into law

Is there an age limit?

• CLAT and AILET have no upper age limit.
• The Bar Council's own rules have an age cap for LLB courses; in September 2026 the Supreme Court asked the BCI to consider withdrawing it. A decision is awaited.

Official sources

• Bar and Bench: Supreme Court asks BCI to reconsider the LLB age limit (Sep 2026)

CLAT explained

The main exam for 26 NLUs

Inside this branch

• Pattern
• Eligibility and fees
• NLUs and seats
• CLAT PG (LLM)

CLAT explained

Pattern

• 120 questions, 120 marks, 2 hours, pen and paper. +1 for a correct answer, −0.25 for a wrong one.
• Five sections, all based on reading passages: English (about 20%), Current Affairs and GK (25%), Legal Reasoning (25%), Logical Reasoning (20%), Quantitative Techniques (10%).
• No prior legal knowledge is needed: Legal Reasoning tests how you apply a rule given in the passage.

Official sources

• CLAT 2027 question format

CLAT explained

Eligibility and fees

• 45% in Class 12 (40% SC/ST/PwD); students appearing in Class 12 in 2027 can apply. No age limit.
• Application fee: ₹4,000 (₹3,500 for SC/ST/BPL/PwD).
• Counselling (December–January) needs a counselling fee (₹30,000 General / ₹20,000 reserved in the 2026 cycle, reported), adjusted in your NLU fee if you join.

Official sources

• CLAT 2027 instructions and fees
• CLAT 2027 FAQs

CLAT explained

NLUs and seats

• 26 NLUs take CLAT, with roughly 3,300 undergraduate seats; more than 92,000 students sat CLAT 2026 (reported).
• Many NLUs reserve seats for students from their state, and some for women: for example NLSIU Bengaluru has a 30% horizontal reservation for women.
• Check each NLU's brochure on the Consortium website.

Official sources

• Participating NLUs
• NLSIU BA LLB: fees and seat matrix

CLAT explained

CLAT PG (LLM)

• After an LLB (50%, or 45% for SC/ST/PwD): 120 questions in 2 hours for the 1-year LLM at NLUs.

Official sources

• CLAT PG (LLM) format

Other law entrance exams

AILET and more

Learn from these

• OfficialFree
  AILET: NLU Delhi admissionsNLU Delhi's own entrance exam.
• OfficialFree
  Maharashtra CET Cell (MH CET Law, 3 and 5 year)Maharashtra law admissions.
• OfficialFree
  Delhi University: 5-year BA/BBA LLB admissionsPublic university, low fees.
• OfficialFree
  Delhi University: 3-year LLB admissionsLLB after graduation.
• OfficialPaid
  SLAT (Symbiosis, private)Private university; high fees.

Inside this branch

• AILET (NLU Delhi)
• State and university tests

Other law entrance exams

AILET (NLU Delhi)

• NLU Delhi does not use CLAT. AILET: 150 questions in 2 hours (English, Current Affairs/GK, Logical Reasoning), −0.25 per wrong answer.
• 110 BA LLB seats. Fee ₹3,000 (₹1,000 SC/ST/PwD). BPL SC/ST applicants and BPL women pay no fee.

Official sources

• AILET 2027 notification (PDF)
• AILET BA LLB exam details and past papers

Other law entrance exams

State and university tests

• Many states and universities run their own law entrance tests (for example Maharashtra's MH CET Law for 5-year and 3-year LLB), and private universities run theirs.
• Government law colleges in your state are often the most affordable good option.

How to prepare

CLAT is a reading exam

Learn from these

• OfficialFree
  PIB: government press releasesFree current affairs in Hindi and English.
• OfficialFree
  PRS Legislative Research: bill summariesPlain-English summaries of new laws; great CLAT practice.
• OfficialFree
  Constitution of India (official text)From the Ministry of Law.
• BookFree
  NCERT Class 11: Indian Constitution at WorkBest starting point for legal basics. Hindi edition: code hkps2.
• VideoFree
  BBC Learning English (YouTube)Free English practice.
• VideoFree
  LegalEdge by Toprankers (YouTube)Free CLAT videos (also sells paid courses).
• VideoFree
  Unacademy CLAT (YouTube)Free live classes (also sells paid courses).
• ArticlePaid
  The Hindu editorialsA few free articles a month; the print copy is free at libraries.

Inside this branch

• Read every day
• Practise with past papers

How to prepare

Read every day

• CLAT is almost entirely reading comprehension. Read a newspaper editorial and an explainer every day and summarise it in 3 lines.
• Follow current affairs from free government sources and law summaries.
• Your Class 11–12 stream does not matter.

How to prepare

Practise with past papers

• Solve past CLAT and AILET papers under a 2-hour timer. NLU Delhi offers past AILET papers to download; the CLAT Consortium sells past papers for ₹500.
• Coaching is optional; many students prepare with free reading and past papers.
• IDIA, a non-profit, trains underprivileged and first-generation students for law entrance exams free of cost.

Learn from these

• OfficialFree
  CLAT 2027: apply, notices and datesApplications close 31 October 2026; exam 6 December 2026.
• OfficialFree
  CLAT 2027 syllabus and guideWhat each of the 5 sections tests.
• OfficialFree
  CLAT 2027 FAQsEligibility, pattern and counselling.
• PracticeFree
  CLAT 2026 final answer key (PDF)Use with a copy of last year's paper.
• OfficialFree
  CLAT 2026 archive: notices, results, counsellingSee how last year's counselling worked.

Fees and financial help

Do not let money stop you

Learn from these

• OfficialFree
  NLSIU financial aidNLSIU's need-based aid policy.
• OfficialFree
  NLU Delhi scholarshipsOfficial scholarship page.
• OfficialFree
  IDIA: free law-entrance training for underprivileged studentsNon-profit that trains first-generation and underprivileged students for CLAT free of cost.
• OfficialFree
  National Scholarship PortalPost-matric scholarships apply to law too.
• OfficialFree
  PM-Vidyalaxmi education loansLoans without collateral or guarantor.

Inside this branch

• What it costs
• NLU fee waivers
• Loans and scholarships

Fees and financial help

What it costs

• NLUs are expensive: NLSIU Bengaluru charges about ₹4.5 lakh a year including hostel and food (2026-27).
• Government law colleges cost far less: Delhi University's 3-year LLB is reported at about ₹6,000 a year.

Official sources

• NLSIU BA LLB: fees and seat matrix

Fees and financial help

NLU fee waivers

• NLSIU says admission ignores financial background and it will support every admitted student whatever their finances, through need-based aid and donor scholarships.
• NLU Delhi waives up to 60% of the academic fee for families earning up to ₹3 lakh (from the 2nd year, with a minimum grade).
• Ask every NLU about aid before deciding against it because of fees.

Official sources

• NLSIU financial aid for students
• NLU Delhi financial assistance policy (PDF)

Fees and financial help

Loans and scholarships

• PM-Vidyalaxmi: education loans with no collateral or guarantor at listed top institutions (NLSIU is one), with interest help for families earning up to ₹8 lakh.
• Post-matric scholarships for SC, ST and OBC students apply to law degrees too (National Scholarship Portal).

Official sources

• PIB: PM-Vidyalaxmi education loans (PDF)

Become an advocate

Enrolment and the bar exam

Inside this branch

• Enrol with a State Bar Council
• Pass the AIBE

Become an advocate

Enrol with a State Bar Council

• After your LLB, enrol with your State Bar Council. The Supreme Court (2024) capped the fee at ₹750 (₹125 for SC/ST) and barred extra charges.
• A Bar Council draft bill in 2026 proposes a higher fee; it is only a proposal.

Official sources

• Supreme Court judgment capping enrolment fees (2024)

Become an advocate

Pass the AIBE

• The All India Bar Examination gives you the Certificate of Practice. It is open-book, 100 questions, no negative marking, held twice a year.
• Pass mark: 45% (40% for SC/ST/PwD). Final-year law students with no backlogs can now take it.
• In AIBE XXI (June 2026), about 66% of 1.76 lakh candidates passed.

Official sources

• All India Bar Examination
• AIBE notifications (final-year students allowed)

Law careers

Courtroom and beyond

Learn from these

• OfficialFree
  All India Bar ExaminationPass AIBE to practise as a lawyer.
• OfficialFree
  Bar Council of IndiaCheck that a law college is approved.
• OfficialFree
  UGC NET (NTA)Route to becoming a law teacher.
• OfficialFree
  Delhi High Court (example of a judiciary route)Each state's High Court or PSC runs judge exams.
• ArticleFree
  Army JAG entry explained – Careers360Army legal officers (men and women), shortlisted on CLAT PG scores.
• ArticleFree
  LiveLaw: legal newsMostly free legal news.

Inside this branch

• Litigation (court practice)
• Become a judge
• Other paths

Law careers

Litigation (court practice)

• Start as a junior to a senior advocate in a district court or High Court. Early pay is low and uneven, but it grows with skill and reputation.
• Good for people who enjoy argument, people and long-term building.

Law careers

Become a judge

• Civil Judge (Junior Division) posts are filled through state judicial service exams.
• Rule changed in August 2026: until 31 March 2027 any law graduate can apply; from 1 April 2027 you need 1 year of practice. Those selected train for 2 years (judicial academy + clerkship).

Official sources

• SCC Online: Supreme Court changes the practice rule for Civil Judges (Aug 2026)

Law careers

Other paths

• Corporate law firms and in-house legal teams in companies, government legal posts, the Army's Judge Advocate General branch (men and women; shortlisted on CLAT PG scores), UPSC (law is a popular optional), teaching and research (LLM, UGC-NET), legal journalism and public policy.

Know your rights

Free legal help for everyone

Learn from these

• OfficialFree
  NALSA: free legal aid (call 15100)Free legal aid for women, SC/ST and low-income families.
• OfficialFree
  Tele-Law: free legal adviceTalk to a lawyer by phone or video, often via your local Common Service Centre.
• AppFree
  Tele-Law app (Department of Justice)Official government app.
• OfficialFree
  India Code: every central law, freeOfficial text of all central Acts.
• AppFree
  eCourts Services appTrack any court case (National Informatics Centre).
• VideoFree
  NALSA (YouTube)Legal rights awareness videos.

Inside this branch

• Free legal aid

Know your rights

Free legal aid

• Women, children, SC/ST, people with disabilities and low-income families can get free legal aid through Legal Services Authorities (NALSA). National helpline 15100.
• All central laws are free to read online. Knowing the law helps your family even if you do not become a lawyer.