CLAT, Common Law Admission Test, is one of the most important Law entrance exams. It is a national-level law entrance exam. Most of the candidates willing to build a career in the field of legal studies give at least one attempt at the exam. CLAT is popular amongst such students. But what might account for its popularity? Why is CLAT the top Law exam in India? 

For CLAT 2024, the exam to be held on Dec 2024 (expected).

Top five reasons that account for the popularity of the CLAT exam

The first step to starting your career in Law 

The candidates who get good CLAT scores are offered admission to various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. It includes courses like BA LLB and BSc. LLB, LLM etc. Through these courses, the candidates are trained to build a career in law. The training helps them develop a strong aptitude for legal studies and helps them excel. Therefore getting admission through CLAT helps to get the best training and exposure to the legal scenario.

CLAT score is accepted by NLUs and many private law schools: Across the country, 24 NLUs (National Law Universities) accept CLAT scores for admission to various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Besides the 24 NLUs, various private law schools also accept CLAT scores to provide admission to aspirants in various courses. Private law colleges sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the CLAT consortium. Under which the private colleges agree on providing admission to aspirants based on their CLAT score. These colleges reserve seats for admission through CLAT. Therefore, giving CLAT increases your chances of getting a seat for pursuing legal studies and making a career in law.

Helps get placement to top companies: Due to the training rigour of the law courses, the top companies and law firms come for placements. The annual package bagged during the placement drive ranges from Rs 4 to 16 lakhs. AZB Partners, Argus Partners, Majmudar Co, Fox Mandal Associates and Khaitan Co. are some of the big law firms in India that participate in the placement drives. Apart from Law firms, corporates also hire students of legal studies. These include Ernst group, ICICI Bank, Times of India, Tata Sons Ltd., Star India, Deutsche Bank and many more. These corporate companies and firms offer good positions to students, therefore, a good start to their career in law. 

PSU recruitment: The CLAT score is accepted for Public Sector Undertakings (PSU) recruitment. Candidates appearing for CLAT LLM are also hired for legal positions at PSUs. These include Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Steel Authority of India (SAIL), Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and many more. As CLAT score is accepted not just for admission but also for recruitment, making the CLAT exam even more desirable.

Helps to kick start your career: The exam is your entry into the field of legal studies. You can enrol for a 5 year integrated programme by appearing for the CLAT exam immediately after your 12th standard exams. If not, you can sit for the CLAT-PG exam after graduation and start your legal studies. So the CLAT exam is the gateway to many opportunities in the field of law. It makes you eligible for 

• PSU recruitments,
• Job profiles like Legal Advisor, Corporate Law Practitioner etc.
• Company Secretary Course.

 Along with this, you can further enrol yourself with a state bar council. Then prepare for AIBE, All India Bar Examination. Once the exam is cleared, you can start practising as an advocate. Opportunities at Judicial Services and Civil Services also open up for candidates. This scope of CLAT surely has the potential to help a candidate start a good career in law.

Considering all these benefits of the CLAT exam, we can easily understand why CLAT is a top Law exam in India. However, there are other important exams that a candidate must sit for to get a good kick start to their legal career.

1. The National Law University, Delhi, conducts AILET. It is the only NLU that does not accept CLAT scores for admission to legal studies courses.
2. The University of Delhi also conducts its exam for admission to Masters in Law, DU LLM. 
3. MH CET Law is conducted to provide admissions to various LLB courses in Maharashtra. It is conducted by the Directorate of Higher Education (DHE). 
4. BHU LLB is another important law entrance exam. It is conducted by the Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
5. Other important law entrance exams include TS LAWCET, BVP CET LAW, SLAT and AP LAWCET.

Even though limited institutions accept these exam scores but can also help the aspirants build a good legal career. The candidates’ dedication and determination for clat preparation help them get to the top. Constant hard work in the right direction will help fetch desirable results.