ICFAI-LAW School BA-LLB / BBA-LLB Admissions 2025
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CLAT Application Date:01 Aug' 25 - 31 Oct' 25
National Law Universities (NLUs) are India’s top institutes for legal education. There are 24 NLUs in India, and most of them admit students through the CLAT entrance exam. While all NLUs offer 5-year integrated law programmes, a few also offer 3-year LLB, opening themselves up for graduate students interested in studying law.
The 3-year LLB course in NLUs is open to all students irrespective of their stream of graduation. The courses are designed to offer focused legal training and prepare the students for the legal profession.
Currently, four NLUs offer 3-year LLB programs. CNLU Patna is the latest in the list to add a 3-year LLB course in 2025. The mode of admission to these courses remains university-specific entrance exams.
National Law University | Entrance exam |
NLSIU, Bangalore | National Law School Admission Test (NLSAT-LLB) |
CNLU, Patna | CNLU Entrance Test (CNLU-ET) |
NLU, Odisha | NLUO 3-year LLB Entrance Test (NAIET) |
NLU, Visakhapatnam | DSNLU 3 Year LLB Entrance Test (DET) |
The 3-year LLB at NLUs is designed for graduates from various disciplines seeking entry into legal practice or academic specialisation. The curriculum emphasises analytical skills, legal reasoning, and practical training to prepare students for a variety of law careers.
Admission to the 3-year LLB course in the NLUs is through university-specific entrance exams. Each university maintains distinct admission criteria and exam patterns aligned with its academic standards.
The NLSAT is the exclusive entrance exam conducted by NLSIU Bangalore for admission to its 3-year LLB (Hons.) programme. The total intake for this course is 120 students. Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university with a minimum of 45% aggregate marks (40% for reserved candidates). Final year graduation students can also apply, provided they complete their degree by December.
The NLSAT consists of a single question paper divided into two parts: Part A and Part B, with a total duration of 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes). Part A contains 75 MCQs covering comprehension, current affairs, and critical reasoning, with negative marking for wrong or unanswered questions. Candidates scoring above zero in Part A qualify for Part B evaluation, which includes subjective questions that test legal aptitude and analytical ability. Final admissions are based on total score and reservation policies.
The CNLU Entrance Test (CNLU-ET) is the specific exam for admission to the 3-year LLB (Hons.) course at Chanakya National Law University, Patna. It is conducted offline once a year, usually in the months of May or June. Registration starts around March or April, and candidates must register online via the official CNLU website and pay the applicable application fees (₹3,000 for general and ₹2,500 for reserved categories).
Candidates applying for CNLU-ET must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university. The minimum marks required as per the category are 60% for general/BC/EBC/EWS/PWD and 55% for SC/ST.
The exam features 120 multiple-choice questions covering three main areas:
English (including reading comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary)
General awareness (aligning with UPSC Civil Services prelims level)
General & critical reasoning (logical, analytical puzzles and arguments)
Each question carries one mark; 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer. The selection is merit-based. The university conducts an online counselling session to shortlist the candidates in the last stage.
NLU Odisha offers admission to its 3-year LLB programme through the NLUO All India Entrance Test (NAIET). The total intake for this course is 60 students. It is an offline exam conducted once a year. Candidates must have scored a minimum of 45% aggregate marks (40% for SC/ST) in graduation to apply. Final-year students can also apply, but they must submit proof of passing before admission.
The NAIET question paper will have 120 multiple-choice questions to be completed within two hours. The syllabus includes the following subjects:
English (approx. 40-45 questions)
General awareness (approx. 30 questions)
Logical reasoning (approx. 40-50 questions).
Candidates will be awarded one mark for each correct answer, and there is no negative marking for incorrect or unattempted questions. Candidates must register online, complete fee payment, and appear on the exam date as announced on the official NLU Odisha website.
NLU Visakhapatnam conducts the DSNLU 3-Year LLB Entrance Test (DET) every year to admit graduates from any discipline. Application fees range from Rs. 1,800 for SC/ST to Rs. 2,500 for the general category.
The exam is offline (pen and paper-based) and includes 100 objective-type multiple-choice questions, each carrying 1 mark. The exam duration is 120 minutes, and there is no negative marking. Subjects covered are General Knowledge, Legal Aptitude, and Current Affairs.
Eligibility for DET requires a recognised bachelor’s degree with at least 45% aggregate marks for the general category, 42% for BC, and 40% for SC/ST candidates. Candidates with slightly lower percentages in graduation can qualify if they have higher marks in additional graduation or post-graduation degrees.
The total intake for the programme is 132 seats, including 12 supernumerary seats for foreign citizens, NRIs, and NRI-sponsored applicants. Admission is strictly based on DET scores. The qualifying mark for DET is 35%, with no minimum for SC/ST candidates.
National Law University | Annual fees (INR) |
NLSIU, Bangalore | ₹5,06,000 |
₹5,01,500 (SC/ST) | |
CNLU, Patna | ₹1,85,470 |
NLU, Odisha | ₹2,47,520 |
NLU, Visakhapatnam | ₹1,70,000 |
The annual fees for 3-year LLB programmes at National Law Universities vary significantly due to differences in infrastructure, facilities, and location. These fees include tuition, examination, development, and hostel and mess charges. Candidates should carefully evaluate the eligibility criteria, course details, entrance exams, and fee structures of NLSIU Bangalore, CNLU Patna, NLU Odisha, and NLU Visakhapatnam before registering for the courses.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
While NLUs are costly, you can still pursue government-funded law education through state-funded universities and their affiliated colleges that accept CLAT scores, such as institutes like Banaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim University.
I hope it will clear your query!!
It is always better to take the CLAT exam right after Class 12 if your goal is to build a career in law, because CLAT UG is specifically designed for admission into integrated five-year law programs like BA LLB, BCom LLB, or BBA LLB. Appearing after Class 12 saves you time, as you complete both graduation and law together in a single course. On the other hand, if you first complete graduation and then plan for law, you will not be eligible for CLAT UG but instead for CLAT PG, which is meant for admission into LLM programs. This path takes longer, because you first spend three or four years on graduation and then add another three years in an LLB program if you choose not to go for an integrated course. So, if you are already sure about pursuing law as your career, writing CLAT right after Class 12 is the smarter and time-saving option, while writing it after graduation makes sense only if you are considering higher studies in law or a shift in career later.
For CLAT, the most important topics are from Legal Reasoning, Current Affairs & GK, the Indian Constitution, English Language, Quantitative Techniques and Logical Reasoning. For a brief detail you can go through the following link: https://law.careers360.com/articles/clat-important-topics
Thank You.
Hi dear candidate,
Both the colleges Maharaja Agrasen (MAIMS) or Gitarattan (GIBS) are affiliated to IP University and allows admission either by CLAT or IPU CET Law. Without either of these exams, your admission is NOT accepted there. You can try looking for management quota seats in these colleges if you have got good marks in 12th class.
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Hi dear candidate,
You can easily register yourself for CLAT exam by visiting the Consortium of NLUs official website and follow these steps:
Know the complete process at:
CLAT Registration 2026 (Started): Documents Required, Application Fee, Link, Steps to Apply
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