Didn't Score Well in CLAT 2024? Check the List of Alternative Options!

CLAT Result 2024 was released on December 10, 2023. The CLAT 2024 exam was conducted on December 3, 2023 through a pen and paper-based mode. Candidates who appeared for the exam can also check the CLAT 2024 Toppers list to get to know which candidate scored the highest marks.

Since CLAT is the most popular law entrance exam in India, thousands of students rely on it to secure admission to the National Law Universities (NLUs) and other CLAT participating colleges. However, if you could not score well in CLAT, it does not mean that your dream of pursuing a law course has to come to an end. In this article, we have provided a list of alternative options that you can consider if you did not get a good rank in CLAT.

Alternate Options if You Didn't Score Well in CLAT

There are a number of options available that you can choose without having to give up on your aspiration of building a career in law. Some of them have been explained below.

1. Appear for State-Level Law Entrance Exams

There are many popular state-level law entrance exams for which you can still apply. Through these exams, you will be eligible to take admission to many law colleges in the state that accept the exam score for their admission process. The application process of most of them is still going on. Take a look at the table given below to know basic details about the state-level law exams in India.

To know the application process of these exams, click on the links provided below.

2. Appear for Institute/ University Level Entrance Exams

A number of universities and institutes conduct their own entrance exams for law admissions. The table given below provides a list of the most popular institute level law entrance tests.

3. Take Direct Admission Without Entrance Exam 

Several law colleges in India provide direct admission to students without any entrance exam score. These colleges carry out their selection process on the basis of merit obtained in the qualifying degree. An additional round of personal interview might also be conducted to test the candidate's aptitude.

Students can apply for admission to these colleges if they do not wish to appear for any other law entrance exam. Such colleges can be found across the country and some of them are quite popular as well.

4. Pursue 3 Year LL.B After a UG Degree

If you have not scored well in a law entrance exam due to which getting admission to your desired law college was not possible, there is another option in which you can pursue law. Such candidates can enrol in an undergraduate degree after which they can pursue a three year Bachelor of Law (LL.B) programme.

The only demerit of this option is that the candidate will complete the two degrees in six years as opposed to the integrated law courses which are covered over a span of five years. Additionally, no NLU offers the three year LL.B programme and hence, candidates will have to seek admission to other law colleges.

5. Take a Drop Year

Many students target admission to a few colleges and do not wish to get enrolled in any other course or institute. Such aspirants always have the option of taking a drop year and appearing for CLAT for admission to the next academic cycle.

This way, students get one whole to prepare for CLAT and work on their weak areas. Since there is no upper age limit to take the Common Law Admission Test, students who take a drop year are not at any major disadvantage as such.

List of State-Level Law Entrance Exams

By cracking the state-level entrance exams, law aspirants can pursue UG and PG law degree programmes. Here is the list of the major state-level entrance exams - 

Andhra Pradesh LAWCET (AP LAWCET)

The Andhra Pradesh Law Common Admission Test (AP LAWCET) is a state-level entrance test administered by the APSCHE in Hyderabad. The exam is held for aspiring law graduates seeking admission to various undergraduate and graduate law programmes. 

AP LAWCET is organised annually for individuals seeking admission into the three-year and five-year LLB programmes offered by Andhra Pradesh colleges. Applicants who pass this test will be enrolled to several government and private law institutes around the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Telangana State LAWCET (TS LAWCET)

The Telangana State Council for Higher Education - TSCHE administers the TS LAWCET for admission to three-year and five-year law programmes such as three-year LLB, and integrated degrees like BA+LLB, B.Com+LLB, B.Sc+LLB, and BBA+LLB. 

On behalf of TSCHE, Osmania University in Hyderabad administers the TS LAWCET or Telangana State Law Common Entrance Test (Telangana State Council of Higher Education). TSCHE is a regulatory body of the Telangana government in charge of regulating educational establishments and administering entrance tests.

Maharashtra CET Law (MH CET Law)

The State Common Entrance Test Cell arranges the MH CET Law entrance exam in several cities across the country. It is also known as the Maharashtra Law CET. Candidates who qualify the MH CET Law 2024 will be able to study 5-year LLB or 3-year LLB programmes offered by various participating colleges. 

After passing the MH CET Law 2024, applicants will be able to enrol in their preferred law school in Maharashtra.

Kerala Law Entrance Exam (KLEE)

Kerala Law Entrance Exam (KLEE) is administered by the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE), Government of Kerala, for candidates seeking entry into the state's Integrated Five-Year LL.B programme and Three-Year LL.B course. 

Candidates who pass the examination are eligible to participate in the KLEE CAP - centralised allotment process for seat allocation in law colleges. The admission for the 3-year programme is 625 seats, and the intake for the 5-year integrated programme is 1295 seats. The exam will be administered online and will consist of 200 questions.

PU UGLAW

Panjab University administers the PU UGLAW written entrance test. The entrance exam is held to select applicants for admission to the 5-year integrated BA LLB and BCom LLB degree. The OMR-based test lasts 1.5 hours and includes questions from General Knowledge & Current Affairs, Legal Aptitude, Mental Ability, and English Language. 

After the exam, the results are posted on the PU UG Law 2024 official website. Candidates who pass the entrance exam must complete an online admission form and attend offline counselling.

List of Institute/ University Level Law Entrance Exams

Aspiring candidates can also pursue law degrees by clearing the Institute-level or University-level law entrance exams such as RULET, LFAT etc. Below we have mentioned the list of Institute or University-level law entrance exams -

Rajasthan University Law Entrance Test (RULET)

Every year, the University of Rajasthan holds the law entrance test known as the 'RULET (Rajasthan University Law Entrance Test)' for admission to the five-year integrated programme of B.A. LL.B. RULET is held once a year in an offline manner and lasts two hours. Rajasthan University offers 120 vacancies in the five-year LLB programme, with all seats filled through RULET. 

To be suitable for access to the undergraduate integrated law course offered by Rajasthan University, candidates must pass the RULET. The exam will have 150 questions covering topics such as English Language, Legal Reasoning, General Knowledge & Current Affairs, Quantitative Aptitude, and Logical Reasoning.

BHU UET Law

NTA administers the BHU Undergraduate Entrance Test (BHU UET) on behalf of Banaras Hindu University (BHU). It is a nationwide common entrance exam for admission to BHU's undergraduate programmes. 

The exam is administered in CBT mode for the majority of the courses, although an OMR-based exam is administered for a few. The test takes place in several cities around India. Applicants can choose the exam centre of their choosing while applying for the BHU UET. The question papers for each test will be distinct; however, some tests will use common exam papers.

LFAT (Allahabad)

Allahabad University administers the Law Faculty Admission Test, popularly known as LFAT, on a national basis once a year. The admission exam is administered offline (pen and paper), with objective-style questions. 

Candidates taking and passing the LFAT can be admitted to the University of Allahabad's five-year integrated BA LLB (Hons) study. Previously the University of Allahabad administered the exam at the national level in offline mode. 

From 2022, the Central Universities Entrance Test (CUET) is accepted by the University of Allahabad (AU) for admission to BA LLB and other undergraduate courses. 

Candidates interested in the BA LLB programme should complete the CUET application form, which includes Legal Studies/Law as one of the subject papers.

Army Institute of Law Entrance Test (AIL LET)

The Army Institute of Law (AIL) conducts the Law Entrance Test (LET) for admissions to BA LLB courses. The admission exam consists of a two-hour paper with four sections. The paper includes objective type questions of the level required of 10+2 students. 

The exam includes questions on Mental Ability, General Knowledge & Current Affairs, Law Aptitude, and General English. The total number of marks in the paper is 200, and each question is worth one mark. There is no negative marking for failed attempts. 

This is an institute-level exam held at around 50 test centres across India. As many as 100 BA LLB seats are available through AIL LET, including 75 for wards of Army Personnel, 20 for Punjab Resident Civil Category, and 05 seats for all India category candidates.

KIITEE (Law)

The KIITEE Law examination is administered by the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT). In most academic years, the KIITE law test is given around May or June of that particular year.

In order to provide entry into a number of different undergraduate legal programmes, KIIT hosts the KIITEE Law exam. There will be a total of 120 multiple-choice questions on the exam covering subjects including mathematics, logical thinking, verbal skills, and general knowledge. The questions will be objective in nature.

DU LLB Entrance Exam

The DU LLB exam is most likely held in August or September. The DU LLB 2024 test results will be used to determine admission to 3-year LLB programmes. Those interested in the LLM programme must take the DU LLM 2024 entrance exam.

The DU LLB 2024 exam will be held online as a Computer Based Test. The whole exam schedule will be available on the Delhi University admissions website.

UPES Law Studies Aptitude Test (ULSAT)

ULSAT is the Law School Admission Test - ULSAT for admission to the University Of Petroleum & Energy Studies' 3 year Bachelor of Law - LLB, 5 year LLB (BA LLB, BBA LLB, BCom LLB, BTech LLB), and LLM degrees. CBT is used for the entrance exam. The exam involves multiple-choice queries/ questions.

The exam format or pattern for LLM admission differs from those of the other law courses. Candidates who pass the ULSAT must next participate in group discussions and interviews to be considered for admission.

Qualifying applicants are accepted to the UPES School of Law to pursue their chosen law program. There are 520 vacant seats in the undergraduate law courses. There are also 70 seats available in the postgraduate legal courses.

CULEE (Christ University Law Entrance Exam)

CULEE, or Christ University Law Entry Exam, is a university-level entrance exam. CULEE 2024 is held for applicants who wish to pursue BA LLB / BBA LLB (Honours) courses at the institution. 

Aspirants interested in pursuing a profession in law can take this entrance exam to become qualified to attend law courses at Christ University.

AILET - All India Law Entrance Test

The National Law University, Delhi (NLU D) holds AILET every year to give admission to BA LLB (Hons), Master of Law (LLM), and Ph.D programmes. The exam is be administered offline.

The AILET law entrance exam for BA LLB (Hons.) consists of 150 questions that students must answer in 90 minutes. The updated AILET 2024 syllabus for the BA LLB (Hons.) course will consist of three (3) parts of 150 multiple-choice questions for 150 marks.

The redesigned LLM syllabus for AILET 2024 will include 108 - 110 questions in total. Section A will include 100 objective type questions and Section B will have 8 To 10 descriptive questions. An applicant must attempt any two of the eight to ten long-form questions.

BVP CET Law

Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University administers the Bharati Vidyapeeth Common Entrance Test (Law) (BVDU). The test is held online (Computer centre based/Remote proctored mode) for admission to BA LLB, BBA LLB, and LLB. Because the BVP CET Law entrance examination will be held online (Computer centre based/ Remote proctored mode), candidates must answer their questions accordingly. 

There will be 100 objective questions with four possible answers. Candidates must choose the best responses. The exam duration is two hours, and students must complete 100 questions within that time span. Candidates will get one point per correct answer, with no deductions for incorrect responses or unattempted questions.

List of Private Colleges for Law Admissions

There are a number of private law colleges in India that accept CLAT scores for their admission process. The cutoff of these institutes is not as high as the NLUs and hence, candidates can consider them for taking admission.

Hope this article helps you in deciding which path to take after CLAT. If you have any other doubts or queries, send them to us through the QnA zone. To take admission to any desired college, you can either dial 1800-572-9877 (toll-free) or fill the Common Application Form. Our admission experts will connect with you to guide you through the process.

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