Choosing law as a career after Class 12th is one of the best decisions for students who are passionate about justice, social change, leadership, debate, analysis, and public policy. With increasing respect for law professionals and the rise of opportunities in corporate law, cyber law, IPR, legal consultancy, and judiciary, thousands of students now aspire to join top law colleges in India.

To get into these premier institutes—especially National Law Universities (NLUs), Central Universities, and reputed private law schools—students must clear law entrance exams conducted after Class 12th.

This blog gives you a complete, beginner-friendly, 3000+ word explanation of all major Law Entrance Exams After 12th, including:

• CLAT

• AILET

• SLAT

• LSAT–India

• MHCET Law

• CUET (UG) for Law

• CULEE

• LPU NEST

• KIITEE Law

• AMU BA LL.B Entrance

• BHU UET (Law via CUET)

You will learn:
✔ What each exam is
✔ Who conducts it
✔ Which colleges accept it
✔ Eligibility
✔ Syllabus
✔ Exam pattern
✔ Preparation tips
✔ Why it is important

Let’s begin your complete guide to law entrance exams after 12th.

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Why Law Entrance Exams Are Important After 12th

Law is no longer limited to courtrooms or traditional practice. Today, lawyers work in:

• Corporate companies

• MNCs

• Banks & financial institutions

• Cybercrime departments

• Media houses

• NGOs

• Government commissions

• Big law firms

• International organizations

Law has become one of the most promising career paths.

But to enter a top law college, students must appear for competitive exams. These tests ensure admission based on merit rather than board exam marks.

Some advantages of clearing a law entrance exam:

✔ Access to Top Law Schools

• NLUs are among the best law universities in India.

• These institutions offer excellent faculty, internships, placements, and exposure.

✔ Better Career Opportunities

Students from top colleges get:

• High-paying corporate jobs

• International internships

• Research opportunities

• Better success rate in judiciary exams

✔ Standardized Selection Process

Entrance exams test:

• Logic

• English

• Legal aptitude

• General knowledge

• Critical reasoning

These skills are essential for a legal career.

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List of Top Law Entrance Exams After Class 12th

Here is the table of major exams:

Now we will discuss each exam in detail.

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1. CLAT (Common Law Admission Test)

Conducted By: Consortium of NLUs

Admission To: 24 NLUs (except NLU Delhi)

CLAT is the most popular and competitive law entrance exam in India. Every year, more than 60,000 students appear for CLAT for approx 3000 seats.

Eligibility

• 12th pass with 45% marks (40% for SC/ST).

• No age limit.

Colleges Accepting CLAT

• NLSIU Bangalore

• NALSAR Hyderabad

• NLU Jodhpur

• GNLU Gandhinagar

• NLU Bhopal

• WBNUJS Kolkata
  …and many more.

Many private universities also accept CLAT scores.

CLAT Exam Pattern

• Duration: 2 hours

• Total Marks: 120

• Negative Marking: Yes (-0.25)

Sections include:

• English Language

• Current Affairs & GK

• Logical Reasoning

• Legal Reasoning

• Quantitative Techniques

Why CLAT Is Important

• Provides entry into the best law colleges.

• Offers top internships and high placements (20 LPA+ in some NLUs).

• Strong reputation for judiciary and UPSC aspirants.

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2. AILET (All India Law Entrance Test)

Conducted By: NLU Delhi

Admission To: Only NLU Delhi

Unlike CLAT, AILET is exclusively for NLU Delhi, one of India’s top 3 NLUs.

Eligibility

• 12th pass with 45% (40% for SC/ST).

AILET Exam Pattern

• Duration: 120 minutes

• Total Marks: 150

• No Legal Aptitude section (as earlier)

Sections:

• English

• Logical Reasoning

• GK & Current Affairs

Why AILET Matters

• NLU Delhi has world-class faculty and research culture.

• Extremely competitive—only around 110 seats.

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3. SLAT (Symbiosis Law Admission Test)

Conducted By: Symbiosis International (Deemed University)

Admission To: Symbiosis Law Schools (Pune, Noida, Hyderabad, Nagpur)

SLAT is popular among students seeking private universities with strong placement and modern campus life.

Eligibility

• 12th pass with 45%.

SLAT Exam Pattern

• MCQ test + WAT (Writing Ability Test)

• Tests English, Reasoning, Legal Reasoning, GK, and Analytics.

Why Choose Symbiosis Law Schools?

• Excellent placements

• Modern infrastructure

• Strong alumni network

• Focus on international exposure

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4. LSAT—India

Conducted By: Pearson VUE (for LSAC)

Admission To: Several top private universities, including:

• Jindal Global Law School

• Amity University

• UPES

• GD Goenka
  …many more.

LSAT–India is known for its international-style logical reasoning format.

Eligibility

• 12th pass from any stream.

LSAT Exam Pattern

• Entirely based on Logical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and Analytical Reasoning.

• No GK, no maths.

Why LSAT Is Popular

• Ideal for students strong in reasoning & English.

• Leads to top private colleges with global recognition.

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5. MHCET Law

Conducted By: Maharashtra CET Cell

Admission To: Government & private law colleges in Maharashtra

(for 5-year Integrated Law)

Eligibility

• 12th pass with 45%.

Exam Pattern

• Objective test covering:

  • English

  • Logical Reasoning

  • Legal Aptitude

  • GK

  • Maths (only few questions)

Why MHCET Law Is Important

• Gives entry to top Maharashtra colleges:

  • GLC Mumbai

  • ILS Pune

• Affordable fee structure

• Huge number of seats

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6. CUET (UG) – LAW

Conducted By: National Testing Agency (NTA)

Admission To:

• Delhi University BA LL.B

• Banaras Hindu University

• Allahabad University

• Many Central Universities

CUET has become one of India’s biggest exams because many government universities use its score.

Eligibility

• Pass in 12th.

CUET Exam Pattern

• English

• General Test

• Domain Test (if applicable)

Why CUET Law Is Important

• Enables admission into top Central Universities with low fees.

• High academic reputation.

• Strong career opportunities in judiciary and academics.

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7. CULEE – Christ University Law Entrance Exam

Conducted By: Christ University

Admission To: School of Law, Christ University (Bangalore)

Christ University is known for discipline, strong academics, and great placements.

Eligibility

• 12th pass in any stream.

Exam Pattern

• Objective test

• Skill Assessment

• Personal Interview

Tests English, Reasoning, GK, Maths, and Writing skills.

Why Choose Christ University?

• Well-structured curriculum

• Strict academic culture

• Good placements

• National recognition

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8. LPU NEST (Law)

Conducted By: Lovely Professional University (LPU)

Admission To: LPU School of Law

Highlights

• Easy to moderate level exam.

• Scholarship-based admission.

Who Should Apply?

Students who want a modern campus, flexible curriculum, and global exposure.

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9. KIITEE Law

Conducted By: KIIT University

Admission To: KIIT School of Law, Bhubaneswar

KIIT Law School is known for:

• International collaborations

• Moot court culture

• Excellent placements

Eligibility

• 12th pass with 45%.

KIITEE Exam Pattern

• English

• Reasoning

• GK

• Maths

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10. AMU BA LL.B Entrance

Conducted By: Aligarh Muslim University

Admission To: Faculty of Law, AMU

AMU is an old and prestigious central university.

Eligibility

• 12th pass.

Exam Pattern

• Objective + Descriptive
  Tests English, GK, Reasoning, and Legal aptitude.

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11. BHU UET (Law via CUET)

Conducted By: Banaras Hindu University (through CUET)

Admission To: Faculty of Law, BHU

BHU law department is one of India’s oldest and most respected.

Eligibility

• Pass in 12th.

Why Choose BHU for Law?

• Highly experienced faculty

• Great academic environment

• Prestigious degree

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Comparison of All Law Entrance Exams

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Which Exam Should You Choose? (Decision Guide)

Choose based on career goals:

If you want the BEST law colleges →

✔ CLAT
✔ AILET

If you prefer top private colleges →

✔ LSAT
✔ SLAT
✔ KIITEE

If you want central universities →

✔ CUET UG – Law
✔ BHU (CUET)
✔ AMU Law

If you’re from Maharashtra →

✔ MHCET Law

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Final Tips to Crack Any Law Entrance Exam

1. Read newspapers daily
   (The Hindu, Indian Express).

2. Practice logical reasoning
   (critical thinking is VERY important).

3. Build strong vocabulary
   via reading novels, articles.

4. Regular mock tests
   analyze mistakes & improve speed.

5. Stay consistent
   2–3 hours per day is enough.

6. Learn time management
   especially for CLAT & AILET.

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After Class 12th, law offers a promising future with multiple opportunities—not only in courts but also in corporate companies, MNCs, government organizations, journalism, and international institutions.

Choosing the right exam and preparing strategically is the first step toward becoming a successful lawyer.

Whether you dream of joining:

• the prestigious NLUs through CLAT,

• NLU Delhi through AILET,

• Symbiosis through SLAT,

• or Central Universities through CUET,