Careers360 Logo
ask-icon
share
    CLAT, AILET, SLAT, LNAT UK: Registration Fees alone can cost a Whopping INR 23000+
    • Law Exams
    • CLAT Exam
    • CLAT, AILET, SLAT, LNAT UK: Registration Fees alone can cost a Whopping INR 23000+

    CLAT, AILET, SLAT, LNAT UK: Registration Fees alone can cost a Whopping INR 23000+

    Sansar Singh ChhikaraUpdated on 26 Aug 2025, 04:31 PM IST

    Legal education in India is on an upward trend with an increasing number of students enrolling for this promising career path each year. Talking of legal education in India, the National Law Universities (NLUs) take up the top spot in most charts, with NLSIU Bengaluru leading the way. After the NLUs come other private law schools like Symbiosis Law Schools, Jindal Law School etc. Just like engineering, medical and other education streams, law admissions also majorly come through entrance exams. CLAT, AILET, SLAT, LNAT UK - these are counted as some of the top law entrance exams in India. While there is so much to talk about these entrance exams, one thing that differentiates these LETs (Law Entrance Exams) from other entrance exams is the exorbitantly high registration fees.

    CLAT, AILET, SLAT, LNAT UK: Registration Fees alone can cost a Whopping INR 23000+
    CLAT, AILET, SLAT, LNAT UK: Registration Fees alone can cost a Whopping INR 23000+

    Shockingly, just signing up for these top law entrance tests — CLAT, AILET, SLAT, and the UK’s LNAT can drain over ₹23,000 from a student’s pocket. This is just the application fee, expenses like coaching, study material, and other preparations come on top of this. It doesn’t end here, the tuition fee of NLUs, and private law schools like SLS and JGLS have been very high. In this article, we discuss in detail the high application fee for top law schools, comparison with other LETs, tuition fees and other details.

    NLUs Student Bodies Demand Urgent CLAT Fee Reforms

    Student Bar Associations and Marginalised Empowerment Clinics from National Law Universities (NLUs) across India recently started a petition demanding urgent reforms in CLAT fee structure. This pertained to the over the top counselling registration and application fee. These student bodies also started an e-petition to garner support from the student community. In 2024, avitribai Intersectional Study Circle at NALSAR (SISC), NALSAR Student Bar Council, NLS Savitri Phule Ambedkar Caravan (SPAC), NLS Student Bar Association, DSNLU Student Bar Association, DNLU Student Council Association, and NLIU Bhopal Savitri Phule Ambedkar Caravan (SPAC) had made a formal representation to the Consortium of NLUs regarding the unreasonable counselling registration fee. However, no action was taken by the Consortium in this matter.

    Jindal Global Law School Admissions 2026

    Ranked #1 Law School in India & South Asia by QS- World University Rankings | Merit cum means scholarships | Applications Closing Soon

    Amity University-Noida Law Admissions 2026

    Among top 100 Universities Globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026

    CLAT, AILET, SLAT, LNAT UK application fee vs OLETs

    There is a stark difference between the application fees of these big four law entrance exams and state level and other law entrance exams. The below-given table shows a comparison between CLAT, AILET, SLAT, LNAT UK and other law entrance exams like MH CET Law, TS LAWCET, AP LAWCET

    Comparison of fee - Big 4 vs OLETs

    Big 4 Law Exams

    OLETs

    • CLAT - General Category - Rs 4000, SC/ST/PwD - 3500
    • AILET - General Category - Rs 3000, SC/ST/PwD - Rs 1000
    • SLAT - Rs 2250 (Additional Rs 1000 for each programme)
    • LNAT UK - 120 GBP OR 14,200+ INR
    • MH CET Law - General Category - Rs 1000 SC/ST/PwD - Rs 800
    • AP LAWCET - General Category - Rs 900, BC - 850, SC/ST - Rs 800
    • TS LAWCET - General Category - Rs 900, SC/ST/PH - Rs 600
    • KLEE - General/SEBC Category - Rs 900, SC/ST - Rs 450
    • Lucknow University BA LLB - General Category - Rs 800, SC/ST/PwD - Rs 400

    Law Entrance Exam Fees vs Other National Level Entrance Exams

    To get a clearer picture of the high registration fee of law entrance exams it is important to pitch it against big national level entrance exams like JEE, NEET etc. The CLAT registration fee is four times that of JEE Main - the biggest engineering exam in the country. The registration fee of JEE Mains is Rs 1000 for General category, whereas the fee for CLAT exam for the same category is Rs 4000. Coming to NEET exam, the registration fee is 50% less than that of CLAT exam. The below-given table draws comparison between major law entrance exams and other national level entrance exams like JEE Main, NEET etc.

    Law Entrance Exams vs National Level Entrance Exams

    Law Entrance Exams

    National Level Entrance Exams

    • CLAT - General Category - Rs 4000, SC/ST/PwD - 3500
    • AILET - General Category - Rs 3000, SC/ST/PwD - Rs 1000
    • SLAT - Rs 2250 (Additional Rs 1000 for each programme)
    • LNAT UK - 120 GBP OR 14,200+ INR

    • JEE Main - General Category - Rs 1000, Female/OBC/EWS - 800, SC/ST/PwD/Transgender
    • NEET - General Category - Rs 1700, EWS/OBC-NCL - Rs 1600, SC/ST/PwD/Third-Gender - 1000
    • VITEEE - Rs 1350
    • NIFT - General/OBC/EWS - Rs 3000, SC/ST/PwD Rs 1500
    • CUET UG - General Category - Rs 1000, OBC-NCL/EWS - RS 900, SC/ST/PwD - Rs 800
    • NCHMCT JEE - General Category/OBC-NCL - Rs 1000, EWS - 700, SC/ST/PwD/Transgender - Rs 450

    Is the CLAT counselling registration fee too high?

    It is not just the high registration fee of CLAT that is bothering candidates. Once the CLAT exam is over, candidates who are invited for counselling must pay an extortionate registration fee of Rs 30,000 just to sit in the admission process. ST/SC/OBC/BC/EWS/PWD candidates also need to pay Rs 20,000. The amount candidates need to pay without even a guarantee of seat confirmation may end up being too hefty. Earlier this year, the Delhi High Court also noted, “We expect that the aforesaid observations would be sufficient for the Consortium to take heed of and take appropriate steps to avoid such excessive fee in the next examinations, scheduled for the following years.” The Consortium of NLUs, however, has not made any amendments in its registration or counselling fee structure.

    If the Registration Fee Hurts, the NLU Tuition Might Break You

    CLAT registration is just the step one towards getting closer to securing a seat at your preferred law school. Students who are surprised by the registration fee might get further shocked after seeing the tuition fees of top NLUs. The top ranked National Law University in India - NLSIU Bengaluru will cost an astronomical amount of approximately Rs 22.75 lakhs for a 5-year LLB. Similarly, pursuing BA LLB at SLS Pune will amount to Rs 23.65 lakhs just in tuition fees. The below-give table lists down the most expensive NLUs in India:

    Most Expensive NLUs (UG – BA LLB) by Full 5-Year Cost

    NLU Name

    Annual Fee (₹ lakh)

    Total 5-Year Fee (₹ lakh)

    NLSIU Bengaluru

    4.55

    22.75

    RPNLU Prayagraj

    4.53

    22.65

    MNLU Nagpur

    3.85

    19.25

    NLU Delhi

    3.83

    19.15

    MNLU Mumbai (All India)

    3.62

    18.10

    WBNUJS Kolkata (BA LLB)

    3.55

    17.75

    DNLU Jabalpur

    3.51

    17.55

    NUSRL Ranchi

    3.39

    16.95

    MNLU Aurangabad (All India)

    3.22

    16.10




    The Price of Prestige: Are NLUs, SLSs, and JGLS Worth the Cost?

    The dream of studying at the top law schools in India comes at a high cost starting from the registration fee, subtly moving to the counselling fee and eventually ending at tuition fee. It is an undeniable fact that the above-discussed law schools come with great prestige and unmatched opportunities. For students coming from mediocre to weaker financial backgrounds, it is not just about clearing the entrance exams but also managing the significant financial cost incurred during the entire process. Eventually, cost becomes a barrier for many deserving students from weaker financial backgrounds. In the end, it all falls on the student to carefully weigh their options, get an idea of the financial after-effects and then choose a wise and well-suited option. It is indeed worth asking if these costs are truly justifiable or these law schools and exam-conducting bodies should slash down the costs to make legal education accessible in India.

    Articles
    |
    Upcoming Law Exams
    Ongoing Dates
    BITS LAT Application Date

    27 Aug'25 - 28 Apr'26 (Online)

    Ongoing Dates
    NLSAT Application Date

    15 Nov'25 - 23 Mar'26 (Online)

    Certifications By Top Providers
    Study from Still Life
    Via Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
    Political Ideologies
    Via Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune
    Introduction to History of Architecture in India
    Via Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Pune
    Introduction to Peace and Conflict Management BGP-001
    Via Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi
    Home Science-Extension and Communication Management Level-2
    Via English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad
    Education for Sustainable Development
    Via Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
    Swayam
     162 courses
    Edx
     129 courses
    Futurelearn
     74 courses
    NPTEL
     74 courses
    Explore Top Universities Across Globe

    Questions related to CLAT

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to CLAT ?

    Hello Santosh,

    Domicile cut-offs are unpredictable. You can apply and get a seat only if the domicile category is selected. You can apply, but the chances of getting either of them are rare.

    CLAT is an entrance examination conducted for admissions into law colleges. The qualifying marks vary with the colleges. You should check the details on the website to get a clear idea regarding cut offs for the colleges. You will also get the exam pattern through the article shared.

    The exact number for students appeared for CLAT has not been revealed yet. About 88,657 students appeared Nationwide for CLAT examination.

    Hello, it is highly unlikely to get admission to the GGSIPU Main Campus or VIPS. However, you can target other colleges affiliated with GGSIPU through the counselling process.

    Most law colleges require entrance exams like CLAT or state-level law entrance tests. Some private universities may offer direct admission. Visit the official website of the college, fill out the application form, upload required documents, pay the fee, and complete counselling if required.