Each year, around 80,000 students join law programs, making India the world’s second largest legal sector with more than 600,000 lawyers. We believe that this trend is expected to grow in coming years, offering more career options beyond medicine and engineering.
After completing LLB, many students pursue higher studies like an LLM, a postgraduate law course. LLM opens doors to roles like teaching, legal associates, etc. So, to enter the law colleges with LLM Courses, students need to take specific entrance exams.
This article discusses the key LLM entrance exams in India, shedding light on these opportunities.
List of LLM Entrance Exams
Some of the most popular LLM entrance exams in India include:
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Common-Law Admission Test (CLAT)
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All India Law Entrance Test (AILET)
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Law School Admission Test (LSAT India)
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Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test (IPU CET)
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Delhi University LLM Entrance Test (DU LLM)
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TISS NET
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BHU PET
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AP LAWCET
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TS LAWCET
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CUSAT CET
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CUCET
Let’s discuss the most sought ones in detail:
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CLAT PG
CLAT is India’s most common law entrance exam which is conducted for admission to 26 NLUs. Every year thousands of students appear for CLAT to secure admission in UG or PG programmes. CLAT UG & PG 2024 is set to be conducted on 3rd December, 2023. Here’s a brief about the exam pattern for CLAT PG 2024:
Category
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Details
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Time duration
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2 hours
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Mode
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Offline mode (pen paper-based mode)
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Type of questions
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Objective-type questions
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Number of questions
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CLAT UG - 120 questions (as per the updated pattern)
CLAT PG- 120 questions
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Total marks
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CLAT PG- 120 marks
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CLAT PG marking scheme
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Correct answer - 1 mark
Incorrect answer - 0.25 marks deduction
Unattempted questions - No negative marking
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Language
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English
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Law School Admission Test (LSAT India)
Law School Admission Test or LSAT is another renowned entrance test, which is accepted by 76+ law colleges in India. This test is administered by Pearson VUE on behalf of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Some of the renowned colleges accepting LSAT are OP Jindal Global University, VIT school of law, Adamas University etc. Here’s a brief about the exam pattern for LSAT 2024:
Name of exam
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Law School Admission Test for India (LSAT India)
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Conducting body
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Pearson VUE
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Participating (or associated) colleges
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Private law colleges associated with LSAC Global Law Alliance
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Courses offered
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BA.LL.B, BBA.LL.B, B.Com.LL.B, BSc.LL.B, three-year LLB and LLM
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Test cities
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24
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Mode of exam
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Online, remote proctored mode
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Medium of test
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English
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Application window
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November to June 2023
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Exam date
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January 22, 2023 - First session
June 08-June 11, 2023 - Second session
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Delhi University LLM Entrance Test (DU LLM)
DULLM is conducted by the Delhi University to secure admission for LLM. The test is conducted by the National Testing Academy on behalf of DU. Students can secure admission into several postgraduate, undergraduate, and doctoral courses related to law. Here’s a brief about the exam pattern for DULLM 2023.
Particulars
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Details
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Exam duration
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2 hours
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Exam mode
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Online
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Language
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English
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Type of questions
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Multiple choice type questions (MCQs)
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Total marks
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400
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Number of questions
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100
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Marking scheme
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Four (+4) marks awarded for correct answer
One (-1) mark deducted for incorrect answer
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All India Law Entrance Test (AILET)
All India Law Entrance Test is conducted by NLU Delhi, which is a university-level exam for securing admission into NLU Delhi for the LLM program. 20,000+ students apply for this exam on an annual basis. Here’s a brief about the exam pattern for AILET 2023:
Name of Examination
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All India Law Entrance Examination (AILET)
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Conducting Body
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National Law University, Delhi
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Mode of Examination
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Offline
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Language options
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English
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Courses offered
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BA.LL.B and LLM
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Type of examination
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Undergraduate and postgraduate
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Frequency of the examination
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Annual
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Level of the examination
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National
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Number of seats offered through AILET
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BA.LL.B - 110
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LLM - 70
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Application window
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September 2023
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Exam date
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10th December, 2023
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5. TISS NET
TISSNET is conducted by the Tata Institute of social sciences for securing admissions into several undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral courses including the law. TISS offers LLM courses that are renowned across the country. Here’s a brief about the exam pattern:
Mode
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Computer-based online test
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Number of Sections
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3
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Areas of Testing
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General Awareness, Mathematics, Logical Reasoning, and English Proficiency
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Negative Marking
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No negative marking
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Duration
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1 hr 40 min (100 min)
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Number of questions
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100
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Question Type
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Objective questions with 4 or 5 options
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Section- Wise Division
Sections
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No. of Questions
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Total Marks
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General Awareness
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40
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40
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Mathematics and Logical Reasoning
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30
|
30
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English Proficiency
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30
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30
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Total
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100
|
100
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Read on to know whether you should pursue an LLM in 2024-25.
LLM Courses in India
Here are some of the top courses that you can apply for in LLM
Conclusion
To sum it up, LLM entrance exams in India offer exciting opportunities for those interested in advanced legal studies. With the legal profession being so important in India, there are several career options available like professors, judges, advocates, and more. As students prepare for these exams, they're not only building their careers but also contributing to the country's legal progress.
FAQs on LLM Entrance Exams
1. What is an LLM entrance exam?
An LLM entrance exam is a test which assesses a candidate's knowledge for pursuing a Master of Laws (LLM) degree.
2. Which institutions offer LLM programs in India?
There are several institutions that offer LLM programs, including National Law Universities (NLUs), central and state universities & autonomous institutions.
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National Law School of India University, Bangalore (NLSIU)
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National Academy of Legal Study and Research University of Law, Hyderabad (NALSAR)
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The National Law Institute University, Bhopal(NLIU)
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The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata (WBNUJS)
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National Law University, Jodhpur (NLUJ)
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Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur (HNLU)
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Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar (GNLU)
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Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow (RMLNLU)
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Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab (RGNUL)
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Chanakya National Law University, Patna (CNLU)
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The National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi (NUALS)
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National Law University Odisha, Cuttack (NLUO)
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National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi (NUSRL)
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National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam (NLUJAA)
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Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, Visakhapatnam (DSNLU)
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Tamil Nadu National Law School, Tiruchirappalli (TNNLS)
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Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai (MNLU)
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Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla
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Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur
3. What are the eligibility criteria for LLM entrance exams?
Eligibility criteria vary from one institution to another. However, in general, candidates must have completed their LLB (Bachelor of Laws) degree from a BCI-recognized or affiliated university.
4. What is the exam pattern for CLAT PG 2024?
Refer this article to know more about CLAT PG Exam.Click Here
5. What are some popular LLM entrance exams in India?
Most popular LLM entrance exams include:
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CLAT PG (Common Law Admission Test for Postgraduate)
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AILET PG (All India Law Entrance Test for Postgraduate)
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DU LLM Entrance Exam (University of Delhi)
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BHU LLM Entrance Exam (Banaras Hindu University)
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LSAT India PG (Law School Admission Test for Postgraduate)