If you are an aspiring lawyer or looking forward to having an honorable career in the legal services of the country, then this article is for you. Every year, thousands of candidates appear for the CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) exam with a goal to get admission to law courses in the topmost law institutions of India.

Similar to the CUET and JEE/GATE, CLAT is a national-level exam that assesses the qualification of candidates at college level and university level degree courses. But unlike the latter two exams, CLAT is designed particularly for law students. It is often considered one of the toughest entrance exams in India, with an acceptance rate being only 3 percent.

Here, we will look at the important aspects of the CLAT 2025 exam, and help you prepare for your future. Keep on reading to know everything you need to know about CLAT 2025!

What is CLAT Exam?

The Common Law Admission Test, abbreviated as CLAT is a centralized national-level entrance test for admission to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law programs in India. The exam is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) and grants admission to the 25 out of 27 National Law Universities (NLUs) in India.

Apart from the NLUs, several private law schools of the country too include CLAT scores in their admission process. However, there are two NLUs that conduct their own entrance exams. These are NLU Delhi and NLU Meghalaya. Both of these institutes conduct their own entrance exams – the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) and the NLU Meg Admission Test (MEG UAT).

Candidates can give the CLAT 2025 exam after passing the 12th grade or higher secondary examination for admission to undergraduate law degrees, and after graduating with an undergraduate law degree for admission to postgraduate law programs. Not only that, CLAT scores are also used by certain public organizations like the ONGC, BHEL, etc. for their respective recruitments.

All the official information about the CLAT 2025 can be accessed from the official website: consortiumofnlus.ac.in.

CLAT Eligibility Criteria 2025

The application process for CLAT 2025 will begin around July this year, and the exam will be conducted by the end of 2024. However, before proceeding to the application process, it is essential to have a look at the eligibility criteria and make sure you are fulfilling them. The CLAT 2025 eligibility criteria for UG and PG courses are discussed below:

UG CLAT 2025 Eligibility Criteria:

  • Candidates applying to CLAT 2025 must have the following minimum percentage of marks in their 10+2 or equivalent exam –
  • 45 percent marks or its equivalent grade for candidates belonging to Unreserved/OBC/PWD/NRI/PIO/OCI categories, and
  • 40 percent marks or its equivalent grade for candidates belonging to SC/ST categories.
  • For candidates who are appearing for their 10+2 or equivalent exam can also apply to CLAT but if qualified, they will be required to produce appropriate evidence proving their eligibility.

PG CLAT 2025 Eligibility Criteria:

  • Candidates applying to CLAT 2025 must have an LL.B. or equivalent degree. The minimum percentage of marks in their graduation exam is –
  • 50 percent marks or its equivalent grade for candidates belonging to Unreserved/OBC/PWD/NRI/PIO/OCI categories, and
  • 45 percent marks or its equivalent grade for candidates belonging to SC/ST categories.
  • For candidates who are appearing for the LL.B or equivalent exam can also apply to CLAT but if qualified, they will be required to produce appropriate evidence proving their eligibility.

CLAT Exam Pattern 2025

The chief features of the CLAT 2025 exam pattern are given below:

  • Total Marks: Their will be 120 questions in total, each carrying one mark. Thus, the total marks for the CLAT 2025 exam will be 120.
  • Negative Marking: According to the latest announcement made by the Consortium, there will be negative marking in CLAT 2025. Each wrong question will deduct 0.25 marks.
  • Duration of Exam: The total duration of the CLAT 2025 exam is 120 minutes or 2 hours.
  • Exam Difficulty Level: The CLAT 2025 exam for admission to undergraduate courses will test the candidates based on the 10+2 difficulty standards.
  • Types of Questions: The questions that will be asked in the CLAT 2025 will be MCQ-based comprehension passages, with heavy emphasis on Quantitative Techniques, English, Current Affairs, and Logical Reasoning. The candidates will be assessed based on their comprehension and reasoning skills. Most importantly, it will examine whether the candidate possesses the aptitude and skills requisite for higher education in the legal field.
  • Mode of Exam: The CLAT 2025 exam will be conducted in offline mode, i.e., pen & paper based.

Career Scopes After CLAT

The most obvious career after CLAT is joining the legal field as a legal practitioner. However, there are exciting career opportunities waiting after CLAT that goes beyond the courtroom. Once you qualify the CLAT exam, and complete your UG and/or PG law degrees, these versatile career options will open up to you. Here, we have listed some of the most interesting and unconventional career scopes you can look out for after you qualify CLAT and get a law degree.

  1. Jobs in the Public Sector: Public Sector Undertakings in India like the ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation), BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited), Coal India, Oil India, and the Steel Authority of India use CLAT PG (post graduation) scores for their respective recruitments. Even the legal branch of the Indian Army – the JAG or Judge Advocate General's Department – recruits using the CLAT PG scores.
  2. Legal Research and Academia: Every field has its own academia, whether it is the sciences or law. Completing post graduation in law with good qualifying marks in the CLAT PG exam can help you kick-start your scholarly pursuits in the legal field and work towards a Ph.D. in law. Several government and non-government organizations, including universities, research institutes, think tanks, and even the leading legal firms employ legal researchers and academicians. As a legal researcher and academician, you can actively contribute to the formulation and development of legal theories and policies.
  3. Legal Consultancy: Legal consultants play a crucial role in assisting businesses and organizations with navigating legal complexities, ensuring compliance, managing risks, and developing effective strategies. By becoming a legal consultant, you can utilize your specialized expertise to provide valuable guidance that helps these entities operate within the boundaries of the law while also maintaining ethical standards.
  4. Legal Journalism and Media: Legal journalism serves as a vital bridge between the complex world of law and the general public, ensuring that important legal concepts are accessible to all. You can report on court proceedings, provide updates in the legal field, and analyse of intricate legal matters. As a legal journalist, you can help demystify and break down complicated terminology for readers across various media platforms.
  5. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): In recent years, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) has gained significant traction as a more efficient and cost-effective means of resolving legal disputes. This method involves using third-party facilitators to help parties reach mutually agreeable resolutions without going through the traditional court system. CLAT graduates can play a crucial role in this emerging system by pursuing a career as a ADR professional.

Conclusion

For students who want to pursue a glorious career in the legal field, either conventional or unconventional, the CLAT 2025 exam is the most important. Preparing for the exam will lay the foundation stone for the upcoming years of legal practice. Moreover, qualifying the CLAT UG and/or PG exams will help you get the best legal education in the country and jumpstart your career as a renowned professional in the field!