CLAT PG (Common Law Admission Test – Postgraduate)

1. What Is CLAT PG

CLAT PG stands for Common Law Admission Test – Postgraduate. It is a national-level entrance examination primarily used for admission to LL.M. (Master of Laws) programmes offered by National Law Universities (NLUs) and a limited number of other institutions in India.

Core identity of the exam

Parameter	Details
Full form	Common Law Admission Test – Postgraduate
Conducting authority	Consortium of National Law Universities
Primary purpose	Admission to LL.M. programmes
Year introduced	2011 (PG stream introduced after UG CLAT)
Exam level	National
Frequency	Once a year
Mode	Offline (pen-and-paper)

What CLAT PG is not

• It is not a judiciary examination.
• It is not required to practice law.
• It is not mandatory for most litigation or corporate careers.

PG is an academic gateway, not a professional license.

Explore- Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai

2. Who Should Consider This Exam

PG is a specialised exam. Many law graduates prepare for it without fully understanding whether they actually need it.

5-year LL.B. graduates

Students completing a 5-year integrated law degree who want:

• Academic specialisation
• Teaching or research exposure
• Policy, think-tank, or doctoral pathways

3-year LL.B. graduates

Equally eligible. PG does not differentiate between 5-year and 3-year LL.B. holders.

Career-specific suitability

Career Orientation	Relevance of CLAT PG
Academia / Teaching	High
Legal research / policy	High
Corporate law firms	Low to moderate
Litigation	Low
Judiciary preparation	Indirect, optional

Who should not rely on CLAT PG

• Graduates who want immediate litigation practice
• Students expecting LL.M. to automatically improve placements
• Aspirants with no interest in academic reading or writing
• Candidates unwilling to invest 1 additional year with uncertain ROI

CLAT PG is not a default next step after LL.B.

3. Courses Accessible Through CLAT PG

CLAT PG is primarily an LL.M. entrance exam. Its scope is narrower than CLAT UG.

Course	Eligibility	Is CLAT PG Mandatory
LL.M. (1-year / 2-year*)	LL.B. degree	Yes (for most NLUs)
Ph.D. (Law)	LL.M.	No
3-year LL.B.	Graduation	No
5-year LL.B.	Class 12	No

*Duration depends on university regulations and UGC norms applicable in that academic year.

4. Colleges and Universities Accepting CLAT PG

A. National Law Universities (Primary Users)

Most NLUs use CLAT PG as the sole admission criterion for LL.M.

Institution	Type	Programme
National Law School of India University, Bengaluru	NLU	LL.M.
NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad	NLU	LL.M.
WBNUJS, Kolkata	NLU	LL.M.
NLU Jodhpur	NLU	LL.M.
NLU Delhi	NLU	Does not accept CLAT PG
Other NLUs (approx. 20+)	NLU	LL.M.

Seat numbers and specialisations vary annually and must be verified from the official brochure.

B. Non-NLU Institutions

Some universities accept CLAT PG scores optionally, often alongside their own criteria.

Category	Use of CLAT PG
Central universities	Limited / case-specific
State universities	Rare
Private universities	Optional or merit-based

There is no uniform rule outside NLUs.

5. Exam Pattern and Structure

Overall structure

Feature	Details
Mode	Offline
Duration	2 hours
Total questions	120 MCQs
Total marks	120
Negative marking	–0.25 per wrong answer

Sectional structure

CLAT PG does not have multiple aptitude sections. It is subject-centric.

Component	Nature
Core law subjects	Constitutional, Contract, Criminal, etc.
Questions	Passage-based + direct
Skill tested	Legal understanding and application

6. Syllabus Explained for Beginners

CLAT PG tests foundational legal knowledge, not advanced research.

Constitutional Law

• Fundamental Rights
• Structure of the Constitution
• Judicial review

Why tested: Core to all Indian legal practice.

Contract, Tort, Criminal Law

• Basic principles
• Case law understanding

Skill focus: Application, not memorisation.

Jurisprudence

• Legal theories
• Schools of thought

Skill focus: Conceptual clarity.

Optional / Variable areas

• Administrative law
• International law
• Property law

Limitation: Weightage varies annually; official syllabus provides broad scope, not exact distribution.

7. Eligibility Criteria

Requirement	Details
Minimum qualification	LL.B. degree
Minimum marks	General: 50%, SC/ST: 45%
Age limit	None
Attempt limit	None
Category reservation	As per rules

Explore- Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU), Jabalpur

8. Application Process (Step-by-Step)

1. Visit the official CLAT portal
2. Register using email and mobile number
3. Fill academic and personal details
4. Upload required documents
5. Pay application fee
6. Submit and download confirmation

Documents required

• LL.B. marksheets / certificate
• Photograph and signature
• Category certificate (if applicable)

Application fee (indicative)

Category	Fee
General/OBC	₹4,000
SC/ST/BPL	₹3,500

Common mistakes

• Entering incorrect graduation details
• Uploading provisional certificates incorrectly
• Ignoring NLU preference order

9. Official Exam Portal and Important Links

• Official website: https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in
• Information brochure: Published annually on the same portal
• Application portal: Accessible only through the official website

No third-party platform controls PG admissions.

10. Preparation Timeline and Strategy

Ideal preparation duration

Candidate Type	Duration
Final-year LL.B. student	6–8 months
Graduate with gap	4–6 months
Repeater	3–4 months

Self-study vs coaching (objective view)

Aspect	Self-Study	Coaching
Cost	Low	High
Flexibility	High	Fixed
Content depth	Depends on discipline	Structured
Outcome	Individual-dependent	Usage-dependent

Coaching does not compensate for weak fundamentals.

11. Cut-Offs, Ranks, and Admission Reality

Rank vs college reality

Rank Range	Admission Possibility
Top 50–100	Top NLUs
100–500	Mid-tier NLUs
Beyond 500	Limited / category-dependent

Seat limitation reality

• Total LL.M. seats across NLUs are very limited
• Many NLUs offer 10–20 seats per specialisation

Competition is disproportionately high compared to seats.

12. Cost vs Outcome Analysis (For Parents)

Cost side

Component	Approximate Range
Exam + preparation	₹30,000 – ₹1.5 lakh
LL.M. tuition (1 year)	₹1.5 – ₹3.5 lakh
Living expenses	City-dependent

Outcome reality

• LL.M. does not guarantee placements
• Academic careers require further qualifications
• Corporate salary impact is inconsistent

LL.M. is an investment in depth, not income certainty.

13. Common Myths and Misconceptions

1. “LL.M. is mandatory to be a good lawyer” – False
2. “CLAT PG rank defines professional success” – False
3. “All NLUs provide equal LL.M. outcomes” – False
4. “LL.M. guarantees teaching jobs” – False
5. “CLAT PG is easier than CLAT UG” – Misleading

Explore- CLAT UG (Common Law Admission Test – Undergraduate)

14. Final Evaluation: Is PG Worth It

CLAT PG benefits most:

• Academically inclined graduates
• Research and policy-oriented students
• Aspirants planning Ph.D. or teaching careers

Keep backup options if:

• You want immediate courtroom practice
• You expect guaranteed placements
• You are financially constrained without clear academic goals

Strategic conclusion
CLAT PG occupies a narrow but important space in India’s legal education ecosystem. It is valuable for specialisation and academic depth, but it is not a universal career accelerator.

The decision should be driven by clear academic intent, not momentum or peer pressure.

Connect with us on Instagram – X – LinkedIn for daily updates, quizzes, and other materials