Law Exams in India: Top Law Entrance Exams, Government LLB Exam Details!

Pursuing a career in law in India begins with clearing several entrance exams, which open up opportunities to the best law schools and government jobs within the legal sector. The law exams in India can mainly be divided into two groups: law entrance exams that permit access to law courses pursued at undergraduate and postgraduate levels of study, and government law exams for gaining very coveted positions in government bodies. Different types of tests are used to evaluate various skills like legal reasoning, general awareness, analytical abilities, and language ability. A career in law is a fairly broad spectrum of activities as it can either be practiced inside the courts or as a law officer in the government.

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List of Law Entrance Exams & Government Law Exams in India

Different law schools and universities have a different set of entrance exams for pursuing a postgraduate or a Bachelor’s Degree in Law. Students need to crack these entrance exams to get into their dream schools to pursue their desired legal careers –

Exam NameTypeConducting BodyEligibilityCourse/PositionCommon Law Admission Test (CLAT)Law EntranceConsortium of NLUs10+2 for UG, LLB for PGUG & PG Law CoursesAll India Law Entrance Test (AILET)Law EntranceNational Law University, Delhi10+2 for UG, LLB for PGUG & PG Law CoursesSymbiosis Law Admission Test (SLAT)Law EntranceSymbiosis International (Deemed University)10+2UG Law CoursesLaw School Admission Test (LSAT) IndiaLaw EntranceLaw School Admission Council10+2 for UG, Graduation for PGUG & PG Law CoursesDelhi University LLB Entrance Exam (DU LLB)Law EntranceUniversity of DelhiGraduationLLBMaharashtra Common Entrance Test Law (MH CET Law)Law EntranceState Common Entrance Test Cell10+2 for UG, Graduation for PGUG & PG Law CoursesJudicial Services ExamGovernment Law ExamVarious State Public Service CommissionsLLB, enrolled as an advocateCivil Judge & Judicial MagistratePublic Prosecutor ExamGovernment Law ExamState PSCs or UPSCLLB, enrolled as an advocatePublic ProsecutorAssistant Public Prosecutor (APP) ExamGovernment Law ExamState PSCsLLBAssistant Public ProsecutorLaw Officer in Banks ExamGovernment Law ExamIBPS, SBI, or individual banksLLBLaw Officer in Public Sector BanksLegal Advisor in PSUs ExamGovernment Law ExamPSUsLLBLegal Advisor in Public Sector UndertakingsUPSC Indian Legal Service ExamGovernment Law ExamUPSCLLBLegal Positions in Ministries & Departments

Detailed Information on Law Entrance Exams

Exams that provide entry into some of the top law universities in India. The exam details are mentioned below:

1. Common Law Admission Test (CLAT):

   • Nature: National-level law entrance exam

   • Courses offered: UG and PG law courses in NLUs.

   • Eligibility:
     UG: 10+2 with a minimum of 45% marks.
     PG: LLB or equivalent degree with at least 50% marks.

   • Exam Pattern: CLAT comprises segments such as English, Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques.

   • Importance: CLAT is the most widely taken entrance exam for law in India, and successful candidates are awarded a seat in all of the NLUs.
     
     
     

2. All India Law Entrance Test (AILET):

   • It is a national law entrance test that is organized by National Law University, Delhi.

   • The courses offered include UG (BA LLB) and PG (LLM).

   • Eligibility:
     UG: Eligible candidates have 10+2 or similar degree from an acknowledged institute with a minimum of 50% marks.
     PG: The candidate must have an LLB degree, or an equivalent degree with at least 55% marks.

   • Exam Pattern: The sections include English, General Knowledge, Legal Aptitude, Reasoning, and Mathematics.

   • Importance: NLU Delhi does not admit students based on CLAT scores. However, AILET is the sole entrance to this elite university.
     
     
     

3. Symbiosis Law Admission Test (SLAT):

   • Type: A kind of university-level entrance exam.

   • Conducting Body: Symbiosis International (Deemed University).

   • Courses: Offers UG level law courses.

   • Eligibility: Pass 10+2 or equivalent from any recognized board with at least 45% marks.

   • Exam Pattern: The sections offered are Logical Reasoning, Legal Reasoning, Analytical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and General Knowledge.

   • Importance: SLAT gives the candidate an entry into the esteemed Symbiosis Law School that tops the private law school list of India.
     
     
     

4. Law School Admission Test India (LSAT India):

• Type: International law entrance exam for the benefit of Indian students.

• Conducting Body: Law School Admission Council.

• U.G. and PG Courses.

• Eligibility:
  UG: 10+2 or equivalent.
  PG: graduation in any stream.

• Exam Pattern: Reading comprehension, logical reasoning, analytical reasoning.

• Importance: LSAT is accepted by most of the top private law schools in India.

5. Delhi University LLB Entrance Exam (DU LLB):

• Type: University-level entrance examination for postgraduate law education.

• Conducted by: University of Delhi.

• Courses Offered: LLB.

• Eligibility: Graduates of a recognized university with a minimum of 50% of marks in their first-degree examination.

• Exam Pattern: The exam includes English, Legal Aptitude, General Knowledge, and Logical Reasoning.

• Importance: The Faculty of Law at DU is one of the most reputed law schools in India.

6. Maharashtra Common Entrance Test Law (MH CET Law):

• Type: State-level law entrance examination.

• Conducted by: State Common Entrance Test Cell.

• Courses Provided: UG and PG.

• Eligibility: For UG: 10+2 with not less than 45% marks.

• Exam Pattern: The sections include Legal Aptitude, General Knowledge, Logical Reasoning, and English.

• Significance: MH CET Law serves as a gateway to law school admission in Maharashtra, including governmental and private institutions.
  
  

  

Detailed Information on Government Law Exams

Exams that may act as an entry ticket in government legal jobs are mentioned below. These government exams are competitive-level, and many law students, lawyers, and aspirants appear for these examinations.

1. Judicial Services Exam:

• Conducted by: Different State Public Service Commissions

• Eligibility: LLB graduation and his enrollment as an advocate under the Advocates Act, 1961.

• Exam Pattern: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The exam tests the knowledge of law, judgment writing, and the current legal issues.

• Importance: This exam is the way to become a Civil Judge or Judicial Magistrate.

2. Public Prosecutor Exam:

• Conducted by: State PSCs or UPSC

• Eligibility: LLB graduation, and enrollment as an advocate.

• Exam Pattern: Prelims, Mains and Interview.

• Importance: Those selected will act as Public Prosecutors to represent the State in criminal cases.

3. APP Exam

• Conducting Authority: State PSCs

• Eligibility : Degree in LLB

• Exam Pattern: Prelims, Mains and Interview.

• Importance: They will help the public prosecutors and are an important part of the criminal justice system.

4. Law Officer in Banks Exam

• Conducting Authority: IBPS or the concerned bank

• Eligibility : Degree in LLB

• Exam Pattern: Legal knowledge, reasoning, English, and general awareness.

• Importance: Law officers handle the legal affairs of public sector banks.

5. Legal Advisor in PSUs Exam:

• Released by: Various Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).

• Eligibility: LLB.

• Exam pattern: Written test combined with an interview.

• Importance: Legal advisors deal with law compliance and litigation for PSUs.

6. UPSC Indian Legal Service Exam:

• Released by: UPSC.

• Eligibility: LLB.

• Exam pattern: Objective as well as subjective tests along with an interview.

• Importance: The candidates who qualify for this exam work as lawyers in the legal departments of various ministries and government organizations. 

Conclusion

Thus, law examinations in India are gateways to the various legal careers ranging from academic pursuits in premier law schools to some of the most lucrative positions in the government and public sector roles. From national-level entrance examinations, such as CLAT and AILET, to judicial services and Public Prosecutor exams under the government, there are plenty of avenues for budding legal professionals. Each of the exams calls for excellent preparation in legal aptitude, reasoning, and general awareness. Chosen with the right strategy, the exams offer rewarding opportunities for people to add to the judiciary, corporate law, or public legal services.

Law Exams in India FAQs

1. What are the common entrance examinations for law in India?
The common entrance examinations include CLAT, AILET, LSAT India, and SLAT. All these entrance examinations will help you to get admission in the best colleges for an undergraduate and as well as postgraduate course in law. 

2. Are there any law exams to get government jobs?

Apart from that, a number of government law exams such as Judicial Services Exam, Public Prosecutor Exam, and Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) Exam offer employment opportunities in the form of Civil Judge, Judicial Magistrate, and Public Prosecutor in government organizations.

3. What are the eligibility criteria for taking the Judicial Services Exam?

The LLB degree and enrollment as an advocate must precede an application for the Judicial Services Exam. Apart from the general conditions, some states even consider work experience as a practicing advocate.

4. Which are the differences between CLAT and AILET?

CLAT is conducted by the Consortium of NLUs for admitting students in multiple NLUs whereas, AILET is only to NLU Delhi. Both are national level tests but the methods of application and syllabus differ in both.

5. Are there any age criteria for law entrance examinations?

The age limit varies, but most law entrance exams, such as CLAT, do not have any upper-age limit and in exchange require the candidate to meet minimum educational qualification. However, some government law exams may have age limits that differ according to the conducting authority.