Odisha is known as the “Temple State of India” and the "land of Lord Jagannath has some best government law colleges which are renowned for their quality legal education, experienced faculty, and strong placement opportunities. Odisha comprises 11 government law colleges, which include NLU Odisha, which is one of the prestigious national law universities located in Cuttack city. The best government law colleges in Odisha are NLU Odisha, Berhampur University, Bhadrak Autonomous College, BJB Autonomous College, Bhubaneswar, FM University Balasore, Madhusudan Law University, Cuttack, ULC Bhubaneswar and others. Among the top government law colleges in Odisha, National Law University, Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack, stands out as a premier institution offering both 3-year LLB and 5-year integrated BA LLB programmes. It is consistently ranked among the top 10 government law colleges in Odisha and attracts students from across the country through CLAT-based admission.
These public law institutes in Odisha provide excellent infrastructure, research opportunities, and practical training to prepare students for diverse legal careers. The top government law colleges in Odisha with fees maintain affordable tuition while ensuring high academic standards. Other government law colleges in Odisha are gradually gaining recognition for their curriculum, faculty, and placements. Aspiring lawyers seeking quality education and career prospects rely on these institutions for comprehensive law admission in Odisha, making them the preferred choice for legal studies in the state. Top government law colleges in Odisha offer strong placement opportunities through campus drives and internships. Students secure roles in law firms, corporate legal departments, and government organisations. Many also receive pre-placement offers, reflecting excellent industry connections.
Particulars | Details |
Total number of law colleges | 11 |
Courses offered | |
Eligibility criteria |
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Accepted Entrance Exams | CLAT, CLAT PG and CUET Law |
NLUs | 1 |
According to the NIRF ranking, several top government law colleges in Odisha have gained national recognition for their academic excellence and research output. The National Law University, Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack, consistently ranks among the leading law colleges in India, reflecting its strong academic framework, experienced faculty, and impressive placement performance. NLU Odisha has maintained a notable position in the NIRF Law category, highlighting its focus on quality legal education, infrastructure, and student outcomes. Apart from NLUO, other government law colleges in Odisha are gradually improving their standards to feature in national rankings, providing students with access to affordable and high-quality legal education in the state.
College Name | NIRF 2025 Ranking |
NLU Odisha - National Law University, Cuttack | 15 |
College Name | Careers360 Ranking |
14 | |
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Admission to top government law colleges in Odisha, such as NLUO Cuttack, is primarily based on CLAT scores, academic merit, and counselling, ensuring a transparent and merit-based selection process for law programmes.
Various entrance exams offer admission to top government law colleges in Odisha. The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is conducted for admissions to 24 participating national law universities in India. NLU Odisha accepts admissions to BA LLB, BBA LLB and LLM courses through the CLAT exam. Candidates interested in admission at NLU Cuttack will be required to participate in CLAT counselling. The institute conducts a separate entrance exam for NLU Odisha 3-year LLB admissions.
CLAT: The Common Law Admission Test is one of the biggest entrance exams for law admissions in India. The CLAT exam is conducted for admissions to 5-year LLB and LLM courses in the participating NLUs. The CLAT exam is conducted by the Consortium of NLUs. The exam consists of different sections such as English, general knowledge and current affairs, legal reasoning, logical reasoning and Quantitative techniques. The duration of the exam is 2 hours.
CUET Law: CUET is also one of the important exams through which students get admission in the best law colleges in Odisha. NTA conducts separate CUET law exams for admission into 5-year integrated law, 3-year LLB and LLM programmes in online mode. The 5-year LLB comes under CUET UG, the 3-year LLB and LLM exams come under CUET PG.
Direct admission to top government law colleges in Odisha, such as National Law University, Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack, is generally not permitted. These colleges strictly follow a merit-based admission process to ensure transparency and equal opportunity for all applicants. For undergraduate programmes like the 5-year integrated BA LLB or 3-year LLB, candidates must appear for CLAT and secure the required rank. Admission is then finalised through counselling sessions, where seats are allotted based on rank, category, and preferences.
For postgraduate programmes like LLM, candidates also need a valid CLAT PG score along with their LLB degree. This structured process ensures that only qualified and deserving candidates secure admission, maintaining the high academic standards of government law colleges in Odisha. Therefore, students seeking direct admission without appearing in CLAT cannot gain entry into these top government law colleges in Odisha.
To gain admission to top government law colleges in Odisha, candidates must meet academic requirements, including completing 10+2 for 5-year integrated LLB or holding an LLB degree for LLM programmes, and qualify through CLAT or CLAT PG exams. The detailed eligibility criteria for admission to government law colleges in Odisha are given below.
5-year LLB Programme
Candidates should have completed Class 12th from a recognised board with aggregate marks of 45% for the general category and 40% for the reserved categories.
3-year LLB Programme
Completed their graduation from a recognised university with aggregate marks of 45% for the general category and 40% for the reserved categories.
LLM Programme
Bachelor's degree in law from a recognised university with aggregate marks of 55% for the general category and 50% for the reserved categories.
PhD Programme
Master’s degree in law from a recognised university with at least 55% aggregate marks.
The top government law colleges in Odisha, especially NLUO Cuttack, offer strong placement opportunities through campus drives and internships. Students secure positions in reputed law firms, corporate legal departments, and government organisations, with pre-placement offers and final placements reflecting the college’s robust industry connections and commitment to career development. According to the NLU Odisha NIRF report 2025, the median package offered to UG 5-year and PG 1-year students during placements 2024 stood at Rs. 14 LPA and Rs. 6 LPA, respectively. The top recruiters at leading government law colleges in Odisha, such as NLUO Cuttack, include reputed law firms like Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Khaitan & Co., corporate houses such as Reliance, Tata Group, government organisations, judicial clerkships, and NGOs, offering diverse career opportunities in litigation, corporate law, and public policy.
Graduation Year | Students Graduated | Number of Students Placed | Median Salary (per annum) | Students for Higher Studies |
2021-22 | 172 | 47 | Rs. 9,00,000 | 17 |
2022-23 | 177 | 87 | Rs. 14,50,000 | 11 |
2023-24 | 158 | 77 | Rs. 14,00,000 | 10 |
Graduation Year | Students Graduated | Number of Students Placed | Median Salary (per annum) | Students for Higher Studies |
2021-22 | 38 | 28 | Rs. 6,00,000 | 2 |
2022-23 | 42 | 27 | Rs. 7,00,000 | 6 |
2023-24 | 43 | 32 | Rs. 6,00,000 | 7 |
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NIRF Ranking:
15Careers360
: 14