Isprieth AcademyLAW | UG ADMISSIONS | AFTER CLASS 12
Law: UG Courses, Entrance Exams and Colleges in India
UG law courses, entrance exams and colleges in India, with a Tamil Nadu focus
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This guide explains how to enter an undergraduate law degree after Class 12: the CLAT route to National Law Universities, AILET for NLU Delhi, SLAT for Symbiosis, other state and university tests, and Tamil Nadu merit admission through TNDALU.
Live deadline
CLAT 2027 registration closes on October 31, 2026 (11:59 pm). AILET registration closes on November 10, 2026. Information is current as of October 8, 2026; dates labelled 2027 elsewhere are tentative. Confirm every date in the official notification.
In this guide
- 1UG law courses and ways in
- 2CLAT in depth
- 3Other exams: AILET, SLAT, state and CUET
- 4Costs, rankings and dates
- 5Tamil Nadu
- 6Careers, choose, prepare and takeaways
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1
UG Law Courses and Ways In
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UG Law Courses at a Glance
| Degree | What it is | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) | Arts and social sciences with law; the classic route to litigation and judiciary | 5 years |
| B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) | Management with law; suits corporate and compliance careers | 5 years |
| B.Com. LL.B. (Hons.) | Commerce with law; taxation, finance and company law | 5 years |
| B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) | Science with law; strong for intellectual property and technology law | 5 years |
| B.S.W. LL.B. (Hons.) / B.C.A. LL.B. | Social work with law (NLUs); BCA LL.B. at TNDALU SOEL | 5 years |
| LL.B. (3-year) and LL.M. | LL.B. after any graduation; 1-year LL.M. after LL.B. | 3 years / 1 year |
The 5-year integrated programmes are B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.), B.Com. LL.B. (Hons.) and B.S.W. LL.B. (Hons.), plus the 1-year LL.M. TNDALU SOEL also offers B.C.A. LL.B. (Hons.). The 3-year LL.B. (for graduates) is the other way into the profession. To practise, graduates enrol with a State Bar Council and clear the All India Bar Examination (AIBE); check the Bar Council of India rules.
Four Ways In
| Route | Conducted by | Who accepts it | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLAT | Consortium of NLUs | National Law Universities plus 60+ private law schools | The main national route |
| AILET | NLU Delhi | NLU Delhi only | A separate test used only for NLU Delhi |
| University tests | SLAT, NMIMS LAT, CULEE, MHCET Law | Symbiosis, NMIMS, Christ and Maharashtra colleges | Each runs its own test |
| State merit | TNDALU in Tamil Nadu | Government law colleges and SOEL | Class 12 marks decide rank |
| Best plan CLAT and AILET are one week apart in December (Dec 6 and Dec 13, 2026); combine them with a state or university test. |
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Eligibility at a Glance
| Exam | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| CLAT UG | 10+2 any stream; 45% (40% SC/ST). Appearing students can apply. No upper age limit. |
| CLAT PG (LL.M.) | LL.B. or equivalent; 50% (45% SC/ST). |
| AILET | Class 12 for BA LL.B. (Hons.); marks and age rules as in the NLU Delhi notice. |
| SLAT | Class 12 for BA LL.B. / BBA LL.B.; marks as in the Symbiosis notice. |
| MHCET Law | Class 12 for 5-year LL.B. at Maharashtra colleges; state rules apply. |
| TNDALU 5-year LL.B. | Class 12 pass; merit rank by Class 12 marks; SOEL is the most competitive. |
| TNNLU (Trichy) | CLAT score and CLAT eligibility; admission strictly through CLAT. |
| CUET-UG (Law) | Class 12 any stream; subjects per university (BHU, Allahabad, BBAU). |
CLAT UG needs a pass in 10+2 in any stream with 45% (General/OBC/NRI/PIO/OCI) or 40% (SC/ST); students appearing in Class 12 in the year of admission are eligible. For AILET, SLAT and MHCET Law, rules appear in each notification, so check them.
Law Exams Compared
| Exam | Conducted by | Format | Exam date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLAT | Consortium of NLUs | Offline OMR; 120 MCQs; 2 hrs (2–4 pm); +1 / −0.25 | Dec 6, 2026 |
| AILET | NLU Delhi | Offline; 150-question, 3-section format (per 2027 notes) | Dec 13, 2026 |
| SLAT | Symbiosis | Symbiosis law aptitude test for SLS Pune, Noida, Hyderabad, Nagpur | Dec 2026 |
| MHCET Law | Maharashtra CET Cell | State test for GLC Mumbai, ILS Pune and other law colleges | Apr 2027 (tentative) |
| TNDALU | TN Dr. Ambedkar Law Univ. | No entrance test: merit on Class 12 marks | Counselling Jun |
| CUET-UG (Law) | NTA | CBT with domain subjects; BHU, Allahabad Univ., BBAU | About May 2027 |
Confirm each pattern and date in the official notification. MHCET Law is expected around April 2027 (tentative). TNDALU needs no entrance test for its 5-year LL.B.
2
CLAT in Depth
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CLAT
Common Law Admission Test · Consortium of National Law Universities | Consortium of NLUs
Courses
UG: 5-year B.A. / B.B.A. / B.Sc. / B.Com. / B.S.W. LL.B. (Hons.). PG: 1-year LL.M.
Eligibility
10+2 in any stream; 45% (40% SC/ST); appearing students eligible; no upper age limit.
Where
24 NLUs (NLSIU, NALSAR, WBNUJS, NLU Jodhpur, GNLU, TNNLU Trichy and more); 60+ private law schools.
Exam format
Offline OMR. English, Current Affairs & GK, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques. Passage-based MCQs; +1 / −0.25.
2027 cycle (confirmed)
Registration: Aug 3 – Oct 31, 2026
Exam: Sunday, Dec 6, 2026
Official site
Scope
Corporate lawyer, litigator, in-house counsel, judge, public prosecutor, policy researcher, IP attorney.
Good to know
- CLAT 2027 is confirmed for Sunday, December 6, 2026 from 2 to 4 pm. Registration opened on August 3, 2026 and closes on October 31, 2026 at 11:59 pm.
- The notification of July 22, 2026 says the pattern and syllabus are unchanged. The exam is offline (pen and paper). Centres: 80+ cities.
- Some guides say the consortium now counts more than 24 NLUs; use the current list on consortiumofnlus.ac.in.
- Fees: ₹2.2 to 3.8 lakh per year at NLUs including hostel and utilities. Rankings: NIRF Law.
After CLAT: Counselling
| Step | Stage | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | Exam | Offline test on Dec 6, 2026 |
| Step 2 | Answer key | Provisional key and objections in December |
| Step 3 | Result | Expected third week of December |
| Step 4 | Counselling | Register and fill preferences from late December (last week of December); seats allotted in rounds |
| Rank decides your NLU List NLUs in order of preference; higher ranks get first choice. Private law schools that accept CLAT run their own counselling. The consortium publishes the counselling schedule and seat matrix on consortiumofnlus.ac.in. |
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3
Other Entrance Exams
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3.1 AILET
All India Law Entrance Test · National Law University, Delhi | NLU Delhi
Courses
UG: 5-year B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) at NLU Delhi. PG: LL.M., Ph.D.
Eligibility
Class 12 or equivalent; marks and age rules as in the NLU Delhi notification.
Where
National Law University, Delhi only (NLU Delhi does not use CLAT).
Exam format
Offline test: 150-question, 3-section format reported for 2027. Ranks decide admission; tie-break rules apply.
2027 cycle (confirmed)
Registration: Aug 7 – Nov 10, 2026
Exam: Sunday, Dec 13, 2026
Official site
Scope
One of the most selective NLUs; same corporate, litigation, policy and judicial careers.
Good to know
- The earlier source listed AILET with a window of August to November 2026. NLU Delhi released the AILET 2027 notification on July 23, 2026: registration opened August 7, 2026 and closes on November 10, 2026, and the exam is on December 13, 2026, one week after CLAT.
- Neither NLU Delhi nor the Consortium announced changes to the 150-question, 3-section format. Check eligibility and fees in the notification.
3.2 SLAT
Symbiosis Law Admission Test · Symbiosis International University | Symbiosis
Courses
UG: B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) and B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) at Symbiosis Law Schools.
Eligibility
Class 12; marks and subject rules as per the Symbiosis notice.
Where
Symbiosis Law Schools in Pune, Noida, Hyderabad and Nagpur.
Exam format
Symbiosis aptitude test followed by a personal interaction for shortlisted candidates. Pattern is published with the notification.
2027 cycle (tentative)
Registration: Aug – Dec 2026
Exam: December 2026 (guides)
Official site
Scope
Private law-school route with corporate-law and international exposure.
Good to know
- SLAT scores are used by the four Symbiosis Law Schools only. Dates and the pattern are on slat-test.org.
3.3 State, CUET and Other Tests
| Test | Conducted by | Details |
|---|---|---|
| MHCET Law | Maharashtra CET Cell | 5-year LL.B. at GLC Mumbai, ILS Pune and law colleges in Maharashtra. Registration Jan – Mar 2027; exam expected around April 2027. Site: cetcell.mahacet.org |
| CUET-UG (Law) | NTA | BHU, Allahabad University, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University and more. Registration Jan – Feb 2027; exam around May 2027. Site: cuet.nta.nic.in |
| Other tests | Added from guides | CULEE (Christ University), NMIMS LAT, JMI law entrance, Panjab University test, KLEE (Kerala state test) |
MHCET Law and CUET-UG (Law) windows come from the earlier consolidated table. The other tests (CULEE, NMIMS LAT, JMI, Panjab University, KLEE) are added from admission guides; confirm each notification.
4
Costs, Rankings and Dates
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NLU Fee Structure
₹2.2–3.8 L per year
At NLUs, including tuition, hostel and utilities. About ₹11–19 L over five years (calculated).
| NLU cost | Low end (₹ lakh) | High end (₹ lakh) |
|---|---|---|
| Per year | 2.2 | 3.8 |
| Full 5 years | 11.0 | 19.0 |
Fees at Tamil Nadu government law colleges are set separately; check the TNDALU prospectus for exact figures. Many NLUs offer scholarships and fee waivers; check each prospectus.
Rankings and Placements
| Source | What it offers |
|---|---|
| NIRF Law | Official “Law” category updated yearly by the Ministry of Education (nirfindia.org) |
| Media rankings | India Today, Outlook and Week rank government and private law schools |
| Placement cells | NLU and college recruitment reports published yearly |
| NIRF data disclosures | Verified median salary, intake, higher studies and placed students |
Look at who actually recruits, litigation versus corporate placements, and higher-studies numbers, not just the headline salary.
Exam Windows and Links
| Exam | Conducted by | Institutes | Registration | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLAT | Consortium of NLUs | 24 NLUs + 60+ private universities | Aug 3 – Oct 31, 2026 | consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
| AILET | NLU Delhi | NLU Delhi (BA LL.B., LL.M., Ph.D.) | Aug 7 – Nov 10, 2026 | nludelhi.ac.in |
| SLAT | Symbiosis | SLS Pune, Noida, Hyderabad, Nagpur | Aug – Dec 2026 | slat-test.org |
| MHCET Law | Maharashtra CET Cell | GLC Mumbai, ILS Pune, law colleges | Jan – Mar 2027 | cetcell.mahacet.org |
| TNDALU / SOEL | TNDALU Chennai | SOEL and government law colleges in TN | May – Jun 2027 | tndalu.ac.in |
| CUET-UG (Law) | NTA | BHU, Allahabad Univ., BBAU and more | Jan – Feb 2027 | cuet.nta.nic.in |
CLAT and AILET show their confirmed 2026 registration windows. TNDALU applications for the 5-year LL.B. ran from May 18 to June 5 in 2026. Other windows are tentative.
Registration Calendar
| Exam | Window | Status | Portal |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLAT | Aug – Oct 2026 (Aug 3 – Oct 31) | Confirmed | consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
| AILET | Aug – Nov 2026 (Aug 7 – Nov 10) | Confirmed | nludelhi.ac.in |
| SLAT | Aug – Dec 2026 | From earlier guide (tentative) | slat-test.org |
| CUET-UG (Law) | Jan – Feb 2027 | From earlier guide (tentative) | cuet.nta.nic.in |
| MHCET Law | Jan – Mar 2027 | From earlier guide (tentative) | cetcell.mahacet.org |
| TNDALU / SOEL | May – Jun 2027 | From earlier guide (tentative) | tndalu.ac.in |
What Is Coming Up (as of Oct 8, 2026)
| Date | Event | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 31 | CLAT registration closes | 23 days from now |
| Nov 10 | AILET registration closes | |
| Dec 6 | CLAT exam | 2 pm – 4 pm |
| Dec 13 | AILET exam | One week after CLAT |
| Jan – Feb | CUET-UG registration | Expected |
| May – Jun | TNDALU application and counselling | 2026 pattern |
Urgent
CLAT registration closes in 23 days (Oct 31) and the Consortium rarely extends it. Register now, then prepare for the Dec 6 exam and the Dec 13 AILET. CUET-UG registration is expected in January to February 2027.
5
Tamil Nadu
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Law Institutes in Tamil Nadu
| Institute | Programmes | Admission |
|---|---|---|
| SOEL, TNDALU, Chennai Perungudi campus · premier state university special campus |
B.A. / B.B.A. / B.Com. / B.C.A. LL.B. (Hons.), 5 years | Merit on Class 12 marks |
| TNNLU, Tiruchirappalli Tamil Nadu National Law University · centralised NLU |
B.A. LL.B. (Hons.), B.Com. LL.B. (Hons.), 5 years | Strictly through CLAT score |
Government Law Colleges (Affiliated to TNDALU)
- Ambedkar Govt Law College, Pattarai Perumbudur
- Ambedkar Govt Law College, Pudupakkam
- Govt Law College, Madurai
- Govt Law College, Tiruchirappalli
- Govt Law College, Coimbatore
- Govt Law College, Tirunelveli
- Govt Law College, Vellore
- Govt Law College, Ramanathapuram
- Govt Law College, Karaikudi
- Govt Law College, Theni
The two Ambedkar Government Law Colleges (Pattarai Perumbudur, Thiruvallur and Pudupakkam, Chengalpattu) are constituents of TNDALU; the others are government law colleges in Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Vellore, Ramanathapuram, Karaikudi and Theni. Admissions to state government law colleges are processed through TNDALU single-window merit counselling on Class 12 marks; TNNLU uses CLAT only.
TNDALU: How Admission Works
| Step | Stage | Details (2026 cycle) |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | Notification | TNDALU announced the 5-year LL.B. cycle on May 14, 2026 |
| Step 2 | Apply online | Applications May 18 – Jun 5, 2026 at tndalu.ac.in |
| Step 3 | Merit list | Rank by Class 12 marks; separate lists for SOEL and affiliated colleges |
| Step 4 | Counselling | Online counselling from mid-June; allotment in rounds |
| No entrance test SOEL is the most competitive; seats include a 7.5% internal reservation. Dates are from 2026 and will shift. Graduation marks are used for the 3-year LL.B. Admissions cover SOEL, affiliated government law colleges and government quota seats in private law colleges; a second allotment round follows later. Check tndalu.ac.in each year. |
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Tamil Nadu Pathways
| Aim for an NLU | Strong Class 12 marks | Private law schools |
|---|---|---|
| CLAT: Dec 6, 2026 TNNLU Trichy through CLAT AILET for NLU Delhi |
SOEL, TNDALU Chennai Ambedkar and other government law colleges Apply May–June |
SLAT for Symbiosis CLAT-accepting private universities Other university tests |
| Do both Sit CLAT in December and apply to TNDALU in May–June. The timelines do not overlap, so students can attempt both. |
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6
Careers, Choose, Prepare and Key Takeaways
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Where Can It Take You?
| Career roles | Sectors |
|---|---|
| Corporate Lawyer Litigation Advocate Legal Advisor / Consultant In-house Counsel (MNCs) Judicial Services Officer Public Prosecutor Legal Analyst IP Attorney / Policy Researcher |
Top law firms: AZB, SAM, CAM, Trilegal PSU legal officers: ONGC, IOCL, BHEL (via CLAT PG) Civil services Corporate houses Judicial system Academia |
PSU legal-officer roles are reached through CLAT PG scores after the LL.B.
After the Degree
| Step | Stage | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | LL.B. complete | Five-year integrated or 3-year degree from a Bar Council-approved college |
| Step 2 | Enrol | Register with a State Bar Council to practise as an advocate |
| Step 3 | AIBE | Clear the All India Bar Examination for the Certificate of Practice |
| Step 4 | Choose a path | Litigation, firms, in-house, judiciary exams, LL.M. via CLAT PG |
| Check Bar Council of India rules and state judicial-service eligibility change; verify before you plan. Judicial services are entered through state exams. |
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Which Law Degree Fits You?
| If you like… | Consider |
|---|---|
| Courts, debate, public policy | B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) |
| Corporate and compliance work | B.B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) |
| Tax, finance and company law | B.Com. LL.B. (Hons.) |
| Patents, IP and technology law | B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) |
| Social justice and welfare law | B.S.W. LL.B. (Hons.) at NLUs |
| Cyber law and digital regulation | B.C.A. LL.B. (Hons.) at TNDALU SOEL |
All are 5-year integrated degrees with the same LL.B. core; the first degree adds an academic base for your chosen field.
Prepare Smart
| Tip | Why |
|---|---|
| Read daily | Current affairs and passages decide a large share of CLAT marks. |
| Legal reasoning | Practise principle-and-facts questions every day. |
| Basic maths | Quantitative Techniques is Class 10 level: practise tables and graphs. |
| Timed mocks | 120 questions in 2 hours with −0.25 for wrong answers. |
| Apply to a mix | CLAT, AILET, SLAT and TNDALU in different months. |
| Track deadlines | CLAT closes Oct 31; AILET Nov 10. |
Key Takeaways
- CLAT: 120 MCQs, 2 hours, +1 / −0.25, Dec 6, 2026. Registration closes Oct 31.
- AILET (NLU Delhi) is Dec 13; register by Nov 10. SLAT, state and university tests follow.
- Tamil Nadu: TNNLU needs CLAT; SOEL and government law colleges admit on Class 12 marks via TNDALU.
- After the degree: enrol with the Bar Council, clear AIBE, then litigation, firms, judiciary or LL.M.
Before you apply
Confirm all dates and rules on official portals. Rules, seats and fees change every year.
A–Z
Abbreviations and Their Expanded Forms
- LL.B.Bachelor of Laws
- LL.M.Master of Laws
- B.A. / B.B.A.Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Business Administration
- B.Com. / B.Sc.Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Science
- B.S.W.Bachelor of Social Work
- B.C.A. / BCABachelor of Computer Applications
- Hons.Honours
- Ph.D.Doctor of Philosophy
- UG / PGUndergraduate / Postgraduate
- CLATCommon Law Admission Test
- AILETAll India Law Entrance Test
- SLATSymbiosis Law Admission Test
- NMIMS LATNMIMS Law Aptitude Test
- CULEEChrist University Law Entrance Examination
- MHCET LawMaharashtra Common Entrance Test for Law
- KLEEKerala Law Entrance Examination
- CUET-UGCommon University Entrance Test – Undergraduate
- AIBEAll India Bar Examination
- NLUNational Law University
- NLSIUNational Law School of India University (Bengaluru)
- NALSARNALSAR University of Law (National Academy of Legal Studies and Research), Hyderabad
- WBNUJSWest Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences
- GNLUGujarat National Law University
- TNNLUTamil Nadu National Law University
- TNDALUTamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University
- SOELSchool of Excellence in Law (TNDALU)
- SLSSymbiosis Law School
- NMIMSNarsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies
- GLCGovernment Law College (Mumbai)
- ILSILS Law College, Pune (Indian Law Society)
- BHUBanaras Hindu University
- BBAUBabasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University
- JMIJamia Millia Islamia
- NTANational Testing Agency
- CET CellCommon Entrance Test Cell (Maharashtra)
- NIRFNational Institutional Ranking Framework
- AZBAZB & Partners (law firm)
- SAMShardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co (law firm)
- CAMCyril Amarchand Mangaldas (law firm)
- PSUPublic Sector Undertaking
- ONGCOil and Natural Gas Corporation
- IOCLIndian Oil Corporation Limited
- BHELBharat Heavy Electricals Limited
- MNCMultinational Corporation
- IPIntellectual Property
- SC / STScheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes
- OBCOther Backward Classes
- NRINon-Resident Indian
- PIO / OCIPerson of Indian Origin / Overseas Citizen of India
- OMR / MCQOptical Mark Recognition / Multiple Choice Question
- CBTComputer-Based Test
- GKGeneral Knowledge
- PIPersonal Interaction (interview round)
- TN / Univ. / GovtTamil Nadu / University / Government
- No abbreviation matches that search.
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