CLAT 2024: ALL THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE EXAM!
Due to the wide scope of legal studies, many students are willing to pursue courses in law. Legal studies is a highly respected career path. To make a promising career in legal studies, the aspirants must get training from the best law schools in the country. India is home to some of the best law schools in the world. Aspirants across the globe seek admission to Indian National Law Universities. To get admission to NLUs, aspirants shall appear for the CLAT exam.
The CLAT exam is one of the most competitive entry-level exams for legal studies. Thousands of students compete for a few seats at the undergraduate levels and postgraduate levels. CLAT 2024 exam will be scheduled in December 2023 to grant admission to law aspirants for the academic year 2024-2025. Aspirants nationwide prepare for the CLAT exam with sheer dedication and diligence. To increase their chances of acing the CLAT 2024 exam, the aspirants shall know every detail about the CLAT exam. This article will provide all the necessary information to prepare for CLAT 2024.
CLAT 2024
December 2023 is when we are expecting CLAT 2024 to be administered. The Consortium of National Universities administers the exam and releases all CLAT-related details through an official notification. The official announcement of CLAT 2024 is expected to be released by the first week of August 2023, almost 4 months before the exam.
Since last year, the CLAT schedule has witnessed a significant change. Typically aspirants appear for the exam in May every year, but from CLAT 2023 onwards, the exam will be conducted in December.
The CLAT exam is considered one of the toughest CLAT entrance exams. The ratio of students appearing for the exam and the seats available in participating law schools accounts for the increased competition in the CLAT exam. Several thousand students compete for a few thousand seats, making it all the more difficult to get through the exam.
The duration of the CLAT exam is 2 hours, i.e. 120 minutes. The candidates must also consider the sectional time limit in each section. The candidates can complete a particular section within the stipulated time. They cannot switch between sections during examinations. The CLAT exam is administered in the English language in CBT mode. It is held once every year. The CLAT score obtained by the candidates is valid only until the current academic year’s admission process is completed.
BENEFITS OF APPEARING FOR CLAT EXAM.
Thousands of students aspire to pursue a career in legal studies. They wish to establish a name and reputation in the legal scenario. CLAT is one of the most popular gateways for entering the legal structure. But do you wonder why CLAT is so popular among students? Here are the top 5 reasons why thousands of students decide to appear for CLAT.
It is the first step to your career in law.
Candidates with high CLAT scores can enrol in various undergraduate and graduate programmes. It consists of programmes like BA LLB and BSc. LLB, LLM, etc. The candidates are prepared for a legal career through these courses. They gain aptitude for legal subjects through the programme, which helps them succeed. Consequently, admission via CLAT aids in receiving the finest training and exposure to the legal system.
NLUs and many private law schools accept CLAT scores.
22 NLUs (National Law Universities) nationwide accept CLAT scores for entry into various undergraduate and graduate programmes. In addition to the 22 NLUs, several private law schools admit applicants to multiple programmes based on CLAT scores. Private law schools and the CLAT consortium sign a Memorandum of Understanding. It stipulates that applicants will be accepted based on their CLAT scores by private colleges. These colleges reserve spaces for applicants who shall be granted admission through CLAT. As a result, taking the CLAT improves your chances of obtaining access to legal education and pursuing a profession in law.
Placement in Top Companies with good salary packages and profiles.
Top organizations are keen to offer positions to leading law school students because of the rigorous training and exposure they are subjected to during their courses. The placement can result in yearly salaries ranging from Rs 4 lakhs to Rs 16 lakhs. Big legal firms in India that take part in the placement drives include AZB & Partners, Argus Partners, Majmudar & Co, Fox Mandal & Associates, and Khaitan & Co. Corporate entities, in addition to law firms, also employ legal studies students. These corporations include Ernst & group, ICICI Bank, Times of India, Tata Sons Ltd., Star India, and Deutsche Bank. These large corporations and law firms give students solid jobs and a good start in their legal careers.
Public Sector Undertaking Recruitments.
The CLAT score is accepted for hiring purposes in Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). PSUs hire those candidates for legal roles who have taken the CLAT LLM for legal parts. These companies include the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Steel Authority of India (SAIL), Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), and many others. The CLAT exam is even more sought-after because CLAT scores are accepted for recruiting and admission.
Opens up a whole new world of opportunities.
CLAT is an entry-level exam for legal study. By taking the CLAT exam right after your 12th-grade examinations, you can enrol in a 5-year integrated programme. If you still need to, you can begin your legal studies after graduation and take the CLAT-PG exam. So, the CLAT exam is the entry point to a wide range of legal opportunities. You get qualified for PSU hiring, Company Secretary Course, and positions such as legal advisor, corporate lawyer, etc. You can also enrol yourself in a state bar council in addition to this. Next, prepare for the All India Bar Examination (AIBE). If you pass the exam, you can begin advocating for clients. Candidates can also apply for openings in the civil service and judiciary. Taking the CLAT could help a candidate launch a successful legal career.
With all these advantages, it is clear why the CLAT test is regarded as one of the best law exams in India.
CLAT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
A candidate must meet a set of requirements known as CLAT Eligibility Criteria to be admitted through CLAT. To be eligible for CLAT 2024, you must fulfil all criteria. You must therefore be quite familiar with the CLAT eligibility criteria.
| CLAT 2024 Eligibility Criteria | (UG) CLAT Eligibility Criteria | (PG) CLAT Eligibility Criteria |
| Educational Qualification | 12 Standard or an equivalent examination/degree from a recognized board. | An LL.B Degree or an equivalent degree/ examination from a recognized university. |
| Qualifying Marks | 45% marks for General/OBC/NRI/PIO/OCI candidates.
40% marks for SC/ST candidates |
50% marks or equivalent grades for General/OBC/NRI/PIO/OCI candidates.
45% marks or equal for SC/ST candidates. |
| Age Limit | NA | NA |
CLAT EXAM PATTERN: OVERVIEW
The CLAT exam pattern discloses essential details about the CLAT question format. The details include the number of sections, questions per section, mark distribution per section, total question count and much more. These details are essential as they give the candidates a clearer picture of the CLAT exam.
| Important Details | CLAT 2024 UG | CLAT 2024 PG |
| Maximum Marks | 150 Marks | 120 Marks |
| Mode of Examination | Pen and Paper Mode | Pen and Paper Mode |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours (120 minutes) | 2 hours (120 minutes) |
| Question types | MCQ Type | MCQ Type |
| Medium | English | English |
| Total Questions | 150 Questions | 120 Questions |
| Marking scheme | 1 mark is awarded for every correct response,
Deduction of 0.25 for every incorrect answer. |
1 mark is awarded for every correct response,
Deduction of 0.25 for every incorrect answer. |
| No. of Sections | 5 Sections
|
2 Sections
|
CLAT EXAM PATTERN: DIFFICULTY LEVEL
The topics or skills included in the CLAT exam can lead to the emergence of a wide variety of questions. To limit the range, Consortium prescribes the difficulty level of each section. Difficulty level informs the candidates about how much they must prepare for a section.
Difficulty Level CLAT UG Exam
| S.No. | Section | Difficulty Level |
| 1. | Current affairs including General Knowledge | 12th Grade |
| 2. | English Language | 12th Grade |
| 3. | Logical Reasoning | 12th Grade |
| 4. | Legal Reasoning | 12th Grade |
| 5. | Quantitative Techniques | 10th Grade |
Difficulty Level CLAT PG Exam
The CLAT PG exam covers many concepts from the applicant’s undergraduate legal studies. Thus, the candidate must prepare for the CLAT PG examination up to the undergraduate level.
CLAT EXAM PATTERN: QUESTION COUNT
For CLAT 2024 UG exam
| S.No. | Subjects | Questions (approx.) |
| 1 | English including Comprehension | 28-32 Questions |
| 2 | General Knowledge and Current Affairs | 35-39 Questions |
| 3 | Legal Reasoning | 35-39 Questions |
| 4 | Logical Reasoning | 28-32 Questions |
| 5 | Quantitative Techniques | 13-17 Questions |
| TOTAL | 150 Questions |
For CLAT 2024 PG exam
| S.No. | Subjects | Questions
(approx.) |
|
|
Constitutional Law | 60 Questions |
|
|
Other Laws such as Jurisprudence, Criminal Law, Administrative Law, Law of Contract, Torts, Family Law, Property Law, Company Law, Environmental Law, Public International Law, Tax Law, and Labour & Industrial Law | 60 Questions |
| TOTAL | 120 Questions |
CLAT EXAM PATTERN: MARKS DISTRIBUTION AND WEIGHTAGE
For CLAT 2024 UG Exam
| S.No. | Subjects | CLAT Marks Distribution | Weightage |
| 1 | English including Comprehension | 28-32 Marks | 20% |
| 2 | General Knowledge and Current Affairs | 32-35 Marks | 25% |
| 3 | Legal Reasoning | 35-39 Marks | 25% |
| 4 | Logical Reasoning | 28-32 Marks | 20% |
| 5 | Quantitative Techniques | 13-17 Marks | 10% |
| TOTAL | 150 Marks | 100% |
For CLAT 2024 PG Exam
| S.No. | Subjects | CLAT Marks Distribution | Weightage |
|
|
Constitutional Law | 60 Marks | 50% |
|
|
Other Laws such as Jurisprudence, Criminal Law, Administrative Law, Law of Contract, Torts, Family Law, Property Law, Company Law, Environmental Law, Public International Law, Tax Law, and Labour & Industrial Law | 60 Marks | 50% |
| TOTAL | 120 Marks | 100% |
CLAT EXAM PATTERN: MARKING SCHEME
CLAT 2024 exam is expected to follow the marking trends of the previous years. Therefore, the candidates must expect a component of negative marking in the exam. The candidates are advised to avoid guessing the answers. It would be wise to only respond to questions you know the answer to.
| S.No. | Response/Question Type | CLAT 2024 UG Exam | CLAT 2024 PG Exam |
|
Unattempted Questions | No marks awarded or deducted | No marks awarded or deducted |
| 2. | Correct Response | 1 Mark Awarded | 1 Mark Awarded |
|
|
Incorrect Response | 0.25 mark deducted | 0.25 mark deducted |
Each year thousands of candidates aspire to get admission to various law programmes in India’s premier law schools and universities. However, only a few thousand get through the process. Most of the elimination happens during the entrance exam. Therefore, the candidates must perform well in the exam and clear it. The candidate must be well-versed with the topics and abilities tested through the CLAT exam to increase the chances of acing the exam. The CLAT exam focuses more on the skills and capabilities of the aspirants than their factual knowledge. To know these details about the exam, the candidate must go through the CLAT syllabus. The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) releases the CLAT syllabus through an official notification. The syllabus discloses various skills and abilities that will be assessed in each section.
The syllabus for CLAT UG and CLAT PG exams is posted separately. Both the exam’s syllabus is provided in terms of the section included in the exam.
CLAT Syllabus: For Undergraduate Programmes
English Language
- Comprehension of multiple viewpoints present in the passage.
- Drawing inferences and conclusions.
- Comparing and contrasting the various narratives and arguments laid out in the passage.
- To be able to make meaning of the words and phrases of the paragraph.
Current Affairs, including General Knowledge
- Current events of significance from India and the world;
- Arts and Culture;
- International affairs; and
- Historical occurrences of continuing importance.
Legal Reasoning
- Point out and infer the rules and principles set out in the passage;
- Application of rules and regulations to similar and varied scenarios; and
- To figure out how alterations in rules or principles may change how they are applied in different scenarios.
Logical Reasoning
- Comprehend the argument, its premises and conclusions.
- Read and identify the ideas set out in the passages.
- Critically analyze patterns of Reasoning and assess how decisions may depend on the set-out premises or evidence.
- Point out what follows from the passage and the application of these inferences to novel situations.
- Draw connections and analogies, identify contradictions and equivalence and assess the effectiveness of arguments.
Quantitative Techniques
- Derivation, inferencing and manipulating of numerical information given in the passages or the form of other representations; and
- Application of 10th-standard mathematical operations like ratios and proportions, introductory algebra, measurement and statistical estimation.
CLAT Syllabus: Postgraduate Programmes
- Ability to comprehend the issues discussed in the paragraphs, as well as any arguments and viewpoints set out in the passage;
- Awareness of the concern discussed in the paragraph, as well as of legal issues and facts associated with and emerging out of the passage and the judgment from which it is extracted;
- Passage Summarization and;
- Lastly, the ability to apply your knowledge of the fields of law discussed in the passage.
