Best Government Law Colleges in Patna

Patna is gradually gaining popularity for legal education in eastern India. The city is home to reputed institutions like Chanakya National Law University (CNLU) and Patna Law College, which have contributed significantly to the field of law. There are a total of five government law colleges in Patna. The top government law colleges in Patna are known for providing quality legal education and strong career prospects. Among them, Chanakya National Law University (CNLU) stands out as one of the best government law colleges in Patna, offering both 3-year LLB and 5-year integrated BA LLB and BBA LLB programmes. It is among the Top 10 government law colleges in Patna and maintains affordable fee structures compared to private institutes, making it one of the top government law colleges in Patna with fees that suit most students.

Law admission in Patna to such prestigious colleges is primarily through national or state-level entrance exams like CLAT, CLAT PG and CUET Law. Apart from CNLU, Patna Law College, affiliated with Patna University, is another reputed name among government law colleges in Patna. Both these public law institutes in Bihar focus on academic excellence, research, and professional development, ensuring graduates secure rewarding opportunities in the legal field. The top government law colleges in Patna offer promising placement opportunities. Chanakya National Law University records around 81% placement each year. Leading law firms, corporate houses, and public sector organisations recruit students. Graduates also secure roles in the judiciary, research, and civil services.

Top Government Law Colleges in Patna - Highlights

Particulars	Details
Total number of law colleges	5
Courses offered	BA LLB, LLB, BBA LLB, BSc LLB, LLM, LLD and PhD
Eligibility criteria	Class 12th with aggregate marks of 45% for the general category and 40% for the reserved categories. Bachelor’s degree with aggregate marks of 45% for the general category and 40% for reserved categories like SC/ ST/ OBC-NCL, etc Passed the LLB degree with aggregate marks of 55% for the general category and 50% for the reserved categories. Master's in law from a recognised university with at least 55% aggregate marks.
Accepted Entrance Exams	CLAT, CLAT PG and CUET Law
NLUs	1

Top Government Law Colleges in Patna: NIRF Rankings

As per the NIRF law colleges rankings 2025, there is one government law college in Patna, ranked among the top 40 colleges in the country. The list of government law colleges in Patna, as per the NIRF ranking, is given below.

Best Government Law Colleges in Patna: NIRF Rankings

College Name	NIRF 2025 Ranking
CNLU Patna - Chanakya National Law University, Patna	17

Top Government Law Colleges in Patna: Careers360 Rankings

College Name	Careers360 Ranking
CNLU Patna - Chanakya National Law University, Patna	37
College of Commerce, Arts and Science, Patna	N/A
Patna Law College, Patna	N/A
Patna University - Patna University, Patna	N/A
School of Law and Governance, Central University of South Bihar, Patna	N/A

Top Government Law Colleges in Patna: Admission Criteria

Admission to top government law colleges in Patna, such as CNLU and Patna Law College, is based on merit and entrance exams. CNLU accepts CLAT scores for its 5-year integrated LLB and LLM programmes, while Patna Law College admits students to its 3-year LLB course based on graduation marks.

Entrance Exams for Best Government Law Colleges in Patna

The entrance exam for the best government law colleges in Patna, such as Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), is the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). It is a national-level exam assessing candidates’ aptitude in English, legal reasoning, and general knowledge for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programmes. Detailed information on the entrance exams accepted by the government law colleges in Patna is mentioned below:

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 Patna. 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 Admissions

Direct admission to top government law colleges in Patna is generally not available, as most follow merit or entrance-based criteria. CNLU admits students strictly through the CLAT exam, while Patna Law College offers admission based on marks obtained in graduation, following university or state-level selection procedures.

Top Government Law Colleges in Patna: Eligibility for admission

Eligibility for admission to top government law colleges in Patna varies by course. For CNLU’s 5-year integrated LLB, candidates must pass 10+2 with at least 45% marks (40% for SC/ST) and qualify CLAT. For Patna Law College’s 3-year LLB, a bachelor’s degree with minimum qualifying marks is required. The detailed eligibility criteria are given below:

5-year LLB course

Passed Class 12th with aggregate marks of 45% for the general category and 40% for the reserved categories from a recognised board.
There is no specific upper age limit to enrol in the programme.

3-year LLB course

Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university with aggregate marks of 45% for the general category and 40% for the reserved categories like SC, ST, OBC-NCL, etc.

LLM Programme

Passed the LLB or equivalent degree from a recognised university with aggregate marks of 55% for the general category and 50% for the reserved categories.
There is no age limit to enrol in the LLM programme.

PhD Programme

Master’s in law from a recognised university with at least 55% aggregate marks.

Placements in Top Government Law Colleges in Patna

Top government law colleges in Patna, especially Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), have shown impressive placement records in recent years. According to the NIRF 2025 report, CNLU secured around 81% placements for its five-year integrated law programme, with a median salary package of Rs. 10.80 LPA. For the one-year LLM course, the median salary stood at Rs. 7.20 LPA. Reputed law firms, corporate houses, and public sector undertakings regularly visit the campus for recruitment. Graduates also find opportunities in the judiciary, academia, and civil services. Overall, CNLU’s placement record reflects its growing national reputation and industry relevance in legal education.

CNLU Patna Placement Statistics for Law: UG (5 Years Programme)

Graduation Year	Students Graduated	Number of Students Placed	Median Salary (per annum)	Students for Higher Studies
2021-22	127	112	Rs. 10,10,000	15
2022-23	137	105	Rs. 10,40,000	16
2023-24	136	110	Rs. 10,80,000	26

CNLU Patna Placement Statistics for Law: PG (1 Year Programme)

Graduation Year	Students Graduated	Number of Students Placed	Median Salary (per annum)	Students for Higher Studies
2021-22	57	5	Rs. 9,00,000	10
2022-23	61	43	Rs. 4,80,000	14
2023-24	66	51	Rs. 7,20,000	15