CLAT 2025 Didn’t Work Out? Here Are the Top Law Exams to Try Next
If your attempt at the CLAT 2025 didn't go as planned, do not lose hope. The path to becoming a lawyer can take many roads, and several alternative law entrance exams can lead you to your desired law school. This guide will cover various law entrance exams in India, providing detailed insights into each one, including their structure, eligibility, and the colleges that accept their scores.
Alternative Law Entrance Exams
Always have a Plan B for a career in law. If CLAT didn't work out for you, here are some of the best alternatives you should look at:
- All India Law Entrance Test (AILET)
- Law School Admission Test (LSAT) India
- Symbiosis Law Admission Test (SLAT)
- Maharashtra Common Entrance Test for Law (MH CET Law)
- Telangana State Law Common Entrance Test (TS LAWCET)
- Andhra Pradesh Law Common Entrance Test (AP LAWCET)
- Kerala Law Entrance Exam (KLEE)
- Common University Entrance Test for Law (CUET Law Exam)
1. AILET
National Law University (NLU), Delhi offers the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) at the national level as an entrance examination. Most popularly, the exam caters to admissions in NLU Delhi into the integrated five-year course BA LLB (Hons).
Key Features:
- Exam Pattern: AILET holds multiple-choice questions totaling 150, covering areas such as English, General Knowledge, Legal Aptitude, Mathematics, and Reasoning
- Duration: 90 minutes.
- Eligibility: 10+2 education pass with the percentage as prescribed by NLU Delhi.
- Universities/ Colleges Accepting Scores: Majorly NLU Delhi.
2. LSAT India
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) India is an internationally accepted test that evaluates critical thinking and reading skills for success in law school.
Key Features:
- Exam Pattern: LSAT India comprises four sections: Analytical Reasoning, Logical Reasoning (two sections), and Reading Comprehension.
- Duration: The total time is 140 minutes.
- Eligibility: Open to students who have completed their 10+2 education or equivalent.
- Colleges Accepting Scores: Many top law colleges in India, such as Jindal Global Law School and more.
3. SLAT
The Symbiosis Law Admission Test, SLAT, is an entrance test for the admission of students to its law programs conducted by Symbiosis International University.
Key Features:
- Test Pattern: SLAT comprises 60 multiple-choice questions on Logical Reasoning, Legal Reasoning, Analytical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and General Knowledge.
- Test Duration: The test will be one hour long.
- Eligibility: Candidate must have passed 10+2 education with the minimum percentage specified by Symbiosis.
- Accepting Colleges: Symbiosis Law Schools across Pune, Noida, and Hyderabad.
4. MH CET Law
The MH CET Law is an entrance exam that allows admission into several law colleges in Maharashtra.
Key Features:
- Exam Pattern: The 5-year LLB program, is divided into five sections, such as Legal Aptitude and Legal Reasoning, General Knowledge and Current Affairs, Logical and Analytical Reasoning, English, and Mathematics.
- Duration: The test will take 120 minutes.
- Eligibility: Candidates must complete 10+2 education, that is, the degree prescribed by the Maharashtra Government as specified.
- Colleges that accept scores: Innumerable law colleges under the state of Maharashtra government include Government Law College, Mumbai, and ILS Law College, Pune.
5.TS LAWCET
Telangana State Law Common Entrance Test is TS LAWCET, a test conducted for law college admissions in Telangana.
Key Features:
- Exam Pattern: The questions are from Legal Aptitude, Current Affairs, General Knowledge, English Language Proficiency, and Logical Reasoning.
- Duration: The duration is 120 minutes.
- Eligibility: A student should have completed his/her 10+2 or an equivalent qualification with minimum percent marks as prescribed by the Telangana Government.
- Colleges Accepting Scores: Many law colleges in Telangana, among which is Osmania University College of Law.
6. AP LAWCET
AP LAWCET is also like TS LAWCET for students of law colleges in Andhra Pradesh.
Key Features:
- Exam Pattern: The test consists of similar subjects such as TS LAWCET: Legal Aptitude and Current Affairs.
- Duration: It takes two hours to finish.
- Eligibility: Qualification for 10+2 education with a specified percentage.
- Colleges Accepting Scores: Many law colleges of Andhra Pradesh Andhra University College of Law and so on.
7. KLEE
The Kerala Law Entrance Exam (KLEE) is conducted by the Commissioner of Entrance Examinations for law courses in Kerala.
Key Features:
- Exam Pattern: The KLEE consists of multiple-choice questions covering General Knowledge and Current Affairs, English Language and Comprehension, Legal Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability.
- Duration: The exam lasts for two hours.
- Eligibility: Candidates must have completed their 10+2 education with a minimum percentage as specified by the Kerala government.
- Colleges Taking the Scores: Several law colleges in Kerala including the National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS).
8. CUET Law Entrance
Common University Entrance Test, is a new entrance test introduced by the central government for students seeking admission into different central universities offering law courses in India.
Key Features:
- Pattern of Test: CUET would assess the candidates based on their knowledge of relevant subjects of legal studies along with general knowledge and reasoning skills.
- Duration & Pattern: Duration has yet to be completely determined, but it will most likely follow similar patterns to other entrance tests.
- Eligibility: Open to students who have completed their 10+2 education or equivalent.
- Colleges Accepting Scores: There are many central universities that offer law courses and will accept CUET scores once implemented fully.
Colleges Accepting CLAT Scores
While exploring other options is very important if CLAT doesn't work out for you this time around, it is also worth mentioning that many colleges accept CLAT scores. These are:
- National Law Universities (NLUs)
- Private law colleges like Jindal Global University
- Other state universities also run integrated LLB programs
Also Read : CLAT 2025 Question Paper Analysis: Section-Wise Insights and Key Takeaways
CLAT Syllabus 2025: Syllabus Highlights, Subjects-wise Syllabus
CLAT 2025: Exam Highlights, Admit Card, Exam Date, Exam Pattern, Syllabus
FAQs
What is the other law entrance exam?
Apart from CLAT, there are many other notable examinations, including AILET, LSAT India, SLAT, MH CET Law, TS LAWCET, AP LAWCET, KLEE, and CUET Law Exam.
Why take alternative law entrances?
Alternative exams may give you more chances for admission to a good law college if you fail in the CLAT.
Do I have to prepare both at a time?
Yes! Many students prepare in parallel; however, it's essential to know the specific syllabus and pattern of each exam.
How is AILET different from CLAT?
AILET is more inclined towards English comprehension and legal aptitude as compared to CLAT, which has a broader syllabus including Mathematics.
What are the Eligibility criteria for these Exams?
Normally, any candidate who has passed out his higher secondary education 10+2 with a certain percentage as defined by each examination authority.
Are there any negative marking schemes in these exams?
Most of these exams do not have negative markings; however, it's always important to check specific exam guidelines as they may vary.