Discover everything about NLUs (National Law Universities) in India. Explore admission processes, courses offered, career prospects, and more in our comprehensive guide. Get insights into preparing for CLAT and understand why NLUs are pivotal in legal education.
Currently, there are 25 NLUs in India, out of which 24 NLUs take admission through the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), and NLU Delhi has its entrance exam called the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET).
NLUs were created in the same pattern as IIMs and IITs. They have revolutionized legal education in India and have made the admission process standardized and accessible. This ensures equal opportunities for all law aspirants.
The first NLU was the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore, and was established in 1986.
After the establishment of the first NLU in Bangalore, the second was established after more than ten years, in 1998, in Hyderabad. After that, different states established NLUs.
Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a national-level entrance test conducted by a consortium of NLU.To get admitted to the undergraduate and postgraduate programs offered at various NLUs, you need to undertake CLAT.
For those belonging to the General/OBC/PWD/NRI/PIO/OC categories, you must secure at least 45% marks in the 10+2 Board Examination.
For those belonging to SC/ST categories, you must secure at least 40% marks in the 10+2 Board Examination.
For those belonging to the General/OBC/PWD/NRI/PIO/OC categories, you must secure at least 50% marks in LLB or equivalent degree.
For those belonging to SC/ST categories, you must secure at least 45% marks in LLB or equivalent degree.
Event |
Dates |
CLAT 2025 application form release date |
First week of July |
Last date of CLAT 2025 Application Process |
First week of November |
CLAT 2025 Application Correction Window |
Second week of November |
CLAT 2025 Admit Card date |
Last week of November |
CLAT 2025 exam day |
01-Dec-2024 |
CLAT 2025 Answer Key Date |
01-Dec-2024 |
Release of CLAT final answer key 2025 |
First week of December |
Declaration of CLAT 2025 results |
Second week of December |
CLAT UG
The CLAT UG exam has 120 objective-type questions of one mark each. There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer. The duration of the exam is 120 minutes. The paper has five sections -
22-26 MCQ Questions
28-32 MCQ Questions
28-32 MCQ Questions
22-26 MCQ Questions
22-26 MCQ Questions
The CLAT PG exam has 120 objective-type questions of one mark each. There is a negative
marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer. The duration of the exam is 120 minutes. The examination has two sections -
NLSIU Bangalore was founded in 1986. It was the first National Law University in India and has pioneered legal education. It was also the first institute to introduce the five-year integrated law degree at the undergraduate level.
NALSAR Hyderabad was founded in 1998. It was the second National Law University in India. It is committed to the creation of an ethical, legal culture. It offers many degree programs and diploma programs.
NLU, Delhi, was founded in 2008. The aim of NLU, Delhi is to generate professionally proficient lawyers, who are socially relevant and efficient to meet the various difficulties of the changing society.
NLUs offer a wide range of specializations in law for postgraduate students. You can apply for these specializations by appearing for CLAT and AILET (for NLU Delhi).
National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), Hyderabad:
National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore:
The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata:
National Law University, Delhi (NLU Delhi):
National Law University, Jodhpur (NLU Jodhpur):
The National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi:
National Law University, Odisha (NLU Odisha):
National Law University, Mumbai (NLU Mumbai):
Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala:
National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi:
National Law University and Judicial Academy (NLUJA), Assam:
National Law University Meghalaya (NLU Meghalaya):
Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur:
Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar:
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow:
Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), Visakhapatnam:
Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU), Tiruchirappalli:
Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai:
Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Nagpur:
Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Aurangabad:
Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla:
Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU), Jabalpur:
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University (DBRANLU), Sonipat:
National Law University and Judicial Academy (NLUJA), Guwahati:
NLUs have in-house research centers to facilitate legal research. Each NLU has contributed to legal research and publications.
Events such as national and international moot court competitions, legal conferences, and legal aid clinics are regularly conducted to develop public speaking and practical legal skills in the students.
The campus infrastructure includes well-maintained modern classrooms, a library, a gymnasium, a sports field, a cafeteria, hostels, seminar rooms, moot court halls, a bank, and a medical center.
NLUs have residential facilities for the students. The hostels are well-maintained and provide a comfortable living experience for the students.
NLUs have modern libraries that offer a vast collection of legal texts, journals, and online databases that facilitate research and better understanding.
NLUs organize a range of extracurricular activities like debates, moot courts, cultural events, and sports meets. The student organization comprises students from various cultural, social, and regional backgrounds and offers a safe space for students to connect.
As per the NIRF data for the year 2022-23, in NLUs, the highest package recorded was INR
16.50 Lakh per annum, and the lowest package recorded was INR 6.5 Lakh per annum.
NLUs have a dedicated Campus Recruitment Committee to provide internship opportunities to students. The opportunities include internships at NGOs, Trial Court/ Tribunals/ other lower courts, and High Court/Supreme Court/Law Firms/Corporate House.
Each NLU has its alumni association to help you in your post-academic life and career. It aims at providing long-term benefits to the university and students.
NLUs |
Scholarships |
Details |
NLSIU Bangalore |
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NLU Delhi |
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These scholarships are based on past performance and family income |
NALSAR Hyderabad |
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Both are for students whose annual family income is under Rs 8 Lakh; for the Means cum Merit Scholarship, the student must have a decent CGPA |
NUJS Kolkata |
NUJS Merit-cum-Means Scholarship |
For students with annual family income less than Rs. 6 lakh. It is means-based in the first year; from second year, merit is also considered |
GNLU Gandhinagar |
GNLU Academic Star Scholarship |
It is offered to those who do well in CLAT. For UG programmes, top 20 students get 100% tuition fee waiver; the next 20 get 50% waiver |
RMLNLU Lucknow |
Merit-Cum-Means Scholarship |
10 students from BA LLB and one from LLM are selected for Rs 50,000 per annum |
NLU Odisha, Cuttack |
University Merit-Cum-Means of NLUO |
Scholarship amount up to Rs 1 lakh per annum, adjusted against the tuition fee and other expenses. Renewal subject to student maintaining at least GPA 5 in previous two semesters |
NLU Assam, Guwahati |
University Merit-Cum-Means Scholarship |
Offered from second year of graduation. The annual family income must be less than Rs 8 lakh |
NLIU Bhopal |
Late Justice JS Verma Merit-cum-Means scholarships NLIU Bhopal merit cum means scholarships |
For the first year, students are selected based on CLAT rank. It covers full tuition fee waiver for the entire course |
NLU Trichy |
TNNLU Financial Assistance Scheme |
Full or partial waiver of the fees. Students are selected solely based on the financial ability of their families. |
Apart from scholarships, some NLUs also run financial aid programs to offer assistance in the form of grants such as loans, fee waivers, exemptions, loan interest payments, and stipends to cover living expenses.
NLUs are premier law institutions in India. They were established to modernize legal education and transform law into a professional degree. They aim at providing quality legal education and producing the finest legal professionals in the country. NLSIU, Bangalore was the first law school, and currently, there are 26 NLUs all over India.
NLUs provide modern classrooms, libraries, hostels, sports complexes, cafeterias, banks, moot courtrooms, and a positive learning environment.
No, it is not possible to transfer from one NLU to another.
NLUs offer courses such as -
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