Law careers are one of the most lucrative fields for students in the field of humanities. Even so, applying to law school can be a daunting task, especially as there are plenty of colleges with their respective law entrances and admission procedures.
Here’s a comprehensive guide on the process of applying to law schools in India and abroad:
1. Types of Law Degrees
1.1 Undergraduate Law Degree
There are a variety of options to choose from, like integrated five-year courses of BA LLB, BBA LLB, and BCom LLB for undergraduates. If one has already graduated in other fields, they can apply for a three-year LLB degree to start their law career.
1.2 Postgraduate Law Degree
For post-undergraduate law degrees, Master of Law Courses like LLM or LLD are preferable.
1.3 Diploma or Certificate Law Course
Candidates can apply for a diploma or certificate course at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Usually, such courses range from a period of one to three years.
2. Mode of Education
One can choose the mode of classes, such as full-time, part-time, or online classroom programs. However, please note that most law schools in India offer full-time courses. Nevertheless, many law schools also provide online law courses to interested candidates who can pursue the program according to their own pace.
3. Application Criteria
· Candidate should be of Indian origin.
· You must secure a minimum of 45% marks in your 12th boards to be eligible for the CLAT UG exam.
· For CLAT PG, one must have completed the LLB degree with a minimum of 55% from a recognized college or university. However, candidates in their final year of LLB can also appear for CLAT.
4. Law School Entrance Exam
4.1 CLAT
The Common Law Entrance Test (CLAT) caters to all National Law Universities across the country, except NLU Delhi. Also, CLAT is usually held in the last month of the year, and results are announced by January of next year.
4.2 AILET
The All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) is the entrance exam held by NLU Delhi for admission to its institute. Indeed, it is the only NLU in India to have its entrance, unlike other NLUs that only accept CLAT scores.
5. Start Preparing for Law School
Whether you go for private tutoring or prefer self-study, make sure you set aside at least two to three months for preparation. In addition to this, strictly adhere to the exam pattern as well as thoroughly practice past-year papers.
Exams will be held offline in pen-paper format. Note that it will have 120 multiple-choice questions as per the latest guidelines and will be held for a total of two hours.
6. Applying to Private Law Schools
Many private institutes organize their law entrances aside from accepting CLAT scores. Besides, they are held mostly before CLAT in the months of July and August. Nonetheless, candidates must not ignore these entrances as these can be safe options if one does not get their preferred college in CLAT counseling.
7. Result Declaration
CLAT results are announced online one month after the conclusion of the exam. The result is shown via a merit list based on the marks obtained by the candidate. Please note that only candidates whose names appear on the merit list are considered for counseling.
8. Cut-Off
Usually, the cut-off is released following the declaration of the result. The cut-off for a participating law school is the minimum rank one needs to secure for admission to the institute. Hence, candidates who manage to obtain a rank equivalent to the CLAT cut-off will be admitted into that round.
Despite this, if a candidate fails to meet the cut-off for the final round of seat allotment, they are unlikely to secure admission. Thus, those who are missing out may be considered in subsequent rounds.
9. Selection Process
The candidate will be required to appear for counseling as per the rank obtained in the entrance exam. Accordingly, they are to attend the counseling on the date as prescribed by the authority. Thereafter, in the counseling session, the candidate has to select the choice of colleges and courses as per their preferences.
The final admission will be made based on the candidate’s ranks and availability of seats. Subsequently, the candidates can report to the allotted college for slot confirmation.
10. Obtain the Necessary Documents
Keep scanned copies of all the documents listed below during your counseling session:
A. 10th & 12th class mark sheets and passing certificates
B. Graduation passing certificate (if applicable)
C. Admit Card of CLAT
D. Rank Card of CLAT
E. Passport-size photographs
11. After Law School: Careers
The judiciary is not the only field to end up in after finishing your law degree. There is a plethora of careers in the banking, corporate, government, and education sectors. Some of the most lucrative legal careers include Corporate Lawyer, Legal Advisor, Immigration Lawyer, Paralegal, Law Professor, etc.
12. US Law Schools
An international law degree can be quite heavy on the pocket. Yet it can be worth the expense as it grants one useful international exposure that may not be possible while studying in India.
12.1 Eligibility
To be eligible for the LSAT, candidates must have secured above 70% in their 12th boards. Not to forget most law schools in the US require a preliminary UG law degree to further study law abroad. Lastly, a good score on English language proficiency tests like IELTS or TOEFL is compulsory.
12.2 Application Procedure
First, register on the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) portal to upload all required documents. This is important because most law schools accept applications through CAS. Following this, apply to law schools on the portal, keeping in mind factors like location, faculty, etc. Next, on the LSAC website, apply for the LSAT (the US equivalent of CLAT) online.
13. Final Note
To sum up, whether you opt to pursue your legal education in India or the States, a law degree can go a long way in the future. What’s more, it enhances one’s chances in the job market while boosting one’s knowledge of basic legal rights as well!
