Another Year, Another Twist came from the Consortium of NLUs; on 15th June 2023, when a notice was issued regarding a change in the paper pattern of CLAT-UG, reducing the total no. of questions from 150 to 120. However, the format of CLAT-PG remains unchanged. The Consortium stated, "The Consortium of NLUs shall make every effort to assist candidates in preparing for CLAT 2024, and extend any support it can to make CLAT 2024 a student-friendly and accessible examination"
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a highly competitive examination for admission into undergraduate law programs in prestigious institutions across India. This article focuses on one of the crucial sections in the CLAT UG examination is, Legal Reasoning.
This section assesses a candidate's ability to comprehend legal principles, apply them to specific situations, and draw logical conclusions. We will look into the essential subjects and chapters, key provisions, and previous years' analysis of the Legal Reasoning section, providing valuable insights for CLAT UG 2024 aspirants.
How to ace CLAT UG 2024 Legal Reasoning?
1. Legal reasoning is the most critical component of CLAT UG 2024, as it comprises 25% of the total paper. This section does not require you to be well-versed in legal jargon. However, it will be beneficial to understand the current legal and a fair idea of its application.
2. Questions now being passage-based, an individual's reading speed becomes crucial. Suppose one has a good hold of legal knowledge and jargon. In that case, this will serve as an upper edge over other students because then one can answer passage questions too just by skimming over the passage and saving a lot of time.
3. One can start inculcating the habit of reading at a very early age to get started. This habit is believed to be the first and foremost step in your quest to crack CLAT-UG 2024.
Important Subjects and Chapters under Legal Reasoning
1. Constitutional Law: As an ardent CLAT-UG 2024 aspirant, our main focus should be on fundamental rights, directive principles of state policy, and key provisions of the Indian Constitution, such as the right to equality, freedom of speech and expression, and right to life and personal liberty.
• Perhaps one of the most important subjects in the list because if we follow the paper pattern, most questions are often asked regarding fundamental rights and the case laws under it, mostly landmark judgements and rulings.
• It is also important for the aspirant to be well aware of what's buzzing in the legal fraternity, as this will also be beneficial for questions related to Legal GK. For e.g., One can ask, Which fundamental right of our constitution covers the petition filed for "Same-Sex Marriage"? Tell us in the comments section below.
• Some essential topics in this section are Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, Preamble, Important Amendments, Important Judgments, Recommendations & Chairpersons of law commissions.
2. Contract Law: Understand the essentials of a valid contract, types of contracts, breach of contract, and remedies available to the aggrieved party.
• Another important subject with respect to CLAT-UG 2024, topics like Validity of contract, Valid Agreement, Essentials of Section 10 of ICA, offeror & offeree, mistakes etc., are of great significance.
• Apart from these, Types of contracts and their execution are also some other important topics in this subject.
3. Criminal Law: Familiarise yourself with key concepts of criminal law, including the Indian Penal Code (IPC) provisions related to offences against the human body, property, and public order.
• IPC is considered the backbone of the legal system; hence, one expects you to have basic knowledge of the Law of Crimes.
Following are some of the important sections:
I. Section 415: Cheating
II. Section 378: Theft
III. Section 383: Extortion
IV. Section 498-A: Cruelty
V. Section 506: Punishment for criminal intimidation
VI. Section 302: Punishment for Murder
VII. Section 304: Punishment for Culpable Homicide not amounting to Murder
VIII. Section 354: Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty
IX. Section 376: Punishment for Rape
X. Section 377: Unnatural offences (pertaining to homosexuality)
4. Tort Law: Principles of negligence, vicarious liability, and strict liability, along with landmark cases, to grasp the fundamentals of tort law.
• Master the Language of Law: Acquire a solid grasp of commonly used legal maxims and terminology, as they frequently appear in legal reasoning questions, ensuring you have a firm command over the intricacies of legal language.
• Built a strong foundation of topics like negligence, vicarious liability, and strict liability and gained a comprehensive understanding through landmark cases.
• Prominent Maxims often form part of passage-based questions as they test your ability to comprehend and analyse legal scenarios with precision and clarity.
Key Provisions to Focus On Legal Reasoning Section
While studying various subjects, pay special attention to the following provisions that are frequently tested in the Legal Reasoning section:
1. Article 21 of the Indian Constitution: This provision guarantees the right to life and personal liberty and is often invoked in questions related to fundamental rights violations.
2. Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code: This provision deals with the offence of cruelty against married women and is commonly tested in questions pertaining to domestic violence.
3. Section 375 of the Indian Penal Code: Focus on the definition of rape, exceptions to rape, and consent-related provisions as they form the basis of questions related to sexual offences.
Previous Years' Analysis
Analysing previous years' question papers can provide valuable insights into the pattern and types of questions asked in the Legal Reasoning section. Here are some common question types that have appeared in CLAT UG examinations:
1. Legal Principle and Fact-Based Questions: These questions present a legal principle and a set of facts, requiring candidates to apply the principle to the given situation and identify the correct option. From the past few years, passages are often based on the recent trends in the Legal World. So keep an eye on what's happening in and around Legal World.
2. Legal Maxims and Terminology Questions: These questions test candidates' familiarity with legal maxims and terminology by providing a phrase or term and asking for its meaning or appropriate usage. Latin Maxims can be easily memorised using some tips and tricks.
3. Legal Reasoning and Analogical Reasoning Questions: These questions assess candidates' ability to draw logical conclusions and make analogies based on a given set of facts and legal principles.
Conclusion
Thus, a systematic and focused approach is crucial to excelling in the Legal Reasoning section of CLAT UG 2024. Study the essential subjects, understand key provisions, and practice previous years' question papers to gain confidence and familiarity with the exam pattern. Remember to carefully read questions, analyse options, and apply legal principles judiciously. With dedicated preparation and consistent practice, you can ace the Legal Reasoning section and pave your way towards a successful legal career.
Best of luck for CLAT UG- 2024😊