What Are The Different Law Entrance Examinations In India?

In India there are several law entrance examinations conducted at the national and state levels for admission to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate law programs. Here are most popular law entrance examination-

Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MH CET): MH CET Law or Maharashtra Common Entrance Test for Law is a state-level exam conducted by the State CET Cell every year to shortlist the candidates for Law admission in the colleges in Maharashtra.  MH CET is compulsory for admission to 3-year or 5-year LLM programmes by participating institutes based in Maharashtra.The candidates who will clear the cutoffs can attend the final selection round CAP.The MH CET law exam is conducted in an online mode, computer-based mode, and is of two hours duration. The question paper contains 150 multiple-choice questions. Through the entrance exam, law aspirants are shortlisted for admissions to 10,920 seats for the 5-year LLB program and around 16,420 seats for the 3-year LLB courses programmes. 

There are 5 sections in MH CET Law Entrance Exam, including Legal Aptitude & Legal Reasoning, English, GK, Logical & Analytical Reasoning and Mathematical Aptitude. The total number of questions asked in MH CET Law is 150 and the total exam duration is 2 hours

Candidates who wish to appear in MH CET law must meet the eligibility criteria for the law programmes prescribed by the Directorate of Higher Education, Maharashtra. The MH CET law 2023 eligibility criteria for 3-year LLB and MH CET 5-year LLB is different in terms of educational qualifications. 

The eligibility conditions for the 3 year LLB law degree is mentioned below:

• Candidates should hold a 3-year graduation degree in any faculty from any University in Maharashtra recognised by UGC with minimum 45% marks (minimum 40% marks for candidates belonging to SC & ST category/ minimum 42% marks for candidates belonging to VJNT, SBC and OBC, category).

• The candidates should have a 10+2+3 education pattern to appear in MH CET Law 3 year law degree i.e. 10th +12th + 3 year graduation and or 2/3 year post graduation.

• Candidates who have passed 10th (SSC), 12th (HSC), 3-year graduate examination or 2-year post graduate examination or equivalent qualifying examination through regular mode, distance mode, or open mode are eligible for MH CET law examination.

The eligibility conditions for the 5 year LLB law degree is mentioned below:

• Candidates who have passed 10th and 12th standard examinations in regular mode, distance mode, open schooling, or open mode are eligible for LLB 5-year MH CET examination.

• The minimum marks obtained in the qualifying exam should be 45% marks in aggregate (40% marks for candidates belonging to SC & ST category and 42% marks for candidates belonging to VJNT, SBC and OBC category) to be eligible for MH CET 5-year law 2023.

• The education pattern should be (10+2) i.e.10th +12th passed. The gap between 10th standard and 12th standard should not be less than two years.

Age criteria for appearing in the MH CET law exam: The Directorate of Higher Education, Maharashtra has not prescribed any upper age limit for admission to 3-year or 5-year LLB programmes. 

Following are some of the Colleges in Maharashtra that are offering 3 year and 5 Year LLB courses:

1. Bharatratna Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar Law College,Bhiwandi B.N.N College Campus Dhamankar Naka ,Bhiwandi
2. Adhia College Of Law N.S.Road No.6, J.V.P.D Scheme, Next To Jamnabai School Gate No 4 , Vile Parle 
3. Adv Bhagwan Keni Charitable Trust Jai Bhagwan College Of Law Opp H.P.Petrol Pump, Near Octroi Naka , Surya Nagar, Vitawa Kalwa Thane.
4. Adv. Balasaheb Apte College Of Law Prin. N. M. Kale Marg, Off Gokhale Road (S), Dadar(W), Mumbai 400028
5. Agnel School Of Law Father Agnel Technical Education Complex, Sector - 9A, Vashi, Navi Mumbai
6. Asmita College Of Law Asmita College Chowk Kannamwar Nagar No 2 Vikhroli East Mumbai 
7. Balasaheb Thackeray Law College Sector- 08, Taloja Phase I
8. Bhagubai Changu Thakur College Of Law New Panvel, Sector 11, Khanda Colony, Panvel, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra 410206
9. Dr Bapuji Salunkhe Law College Osmanabad Tambri Vibhag
10. Dr. Ambedkar College Of Law Nagsenvan Aurangabad Ms Nagsenvan Aurangabad
11. Guruvarya R G Shinde Law College, Osmanabad Vikas Nagar, Midc Road, Tq And Dist Osmanabad
12. Late M.L.C. Vasantraoji Kale Law College Aurangabad
13.  Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial College Of Law, Dhule, Deopur Dhule
14. Godavari Foundations Dr. Ulhas Patil Law College Jalgaon. Plot No P-62 M-Sector Dr Ulhas Patil Nagar Addl, Midc
15. Khandesh College Education Societys S.S.Maniyar Law College Jalgaon,Imr Campus  Jalgaon
16. Khandesh College Education Societys S.S.Maniyar Law College Jalgao, Imr Campus Jalgaon

Common Universities Entrance Test (CUET): This is a National Level Exam conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) for the purpose of admitting students in undergrad courses like BA LLB, BBA LLB, BCom LLB etc. 

The exam usually consists of 100 objective-type questions, including multiple-choice and short-answer questions. The exam is typically divided into sections covering topics such as the English language, General Knowledge, Legal Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, and Mathematics.This is the most popular entrance test which is accepted by various institutions throughout the country.

Notable institutions which accept the scores of this entrance are Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, University of Allahabad, Aligarh Muslim University, Delhi University etc. 

State-level Entrance Examinations: Several states in India conduct their own law entrance examinations for admission to law colleges within their respective states. Some examples include the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MH CET) for law, the Andhra Pradesh Law Common Entrance Test (AP LAWCET), & the Tamil Nadu Common Law Admission Test (TANCET). These examinations are generally conducted for 5-year LLB and 3-year LLB.

Law School Admission Test-India (LSAT-India): LSAT-India is a standardized test conducted in Online Mode by the Law School Admission Council for admission to various law colleges in India. This exam is conducted for granting admission to 5-year LLB programme, 3-year LLB, LLM. Some of the law colleges affiliated to this exam are University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun (UPES Dehradun), Jindal Global Law School, GD Goenka University KR Mangalam University, Asian Law College, Noida, Vellore Institute of Technology, ISBR Law College, Lloyd Law College, Mewar University, Alliance University, Vijaybhoomi School of Law,

Kirit P. Mehta School of Law, NMIMS,  MIT-WPU Faculty of Law, School of Law, UPES, Adamas University.

Symbiosis Law Admission Test (SLAT): SLAT is conducted by the Symbiosis International University for admission to its undergraduate law programs. The SLAT entrance exam is conducted for admission in BA LLB And BBA LLB program. Moreover, Symbiosis Law School All India Admission Test (SLS AIAT) is conducted by Symbiosis International University for admission to three-year LLB offered by SLS Pune and one-year LLM programmes offered by SLS Hyderabad, SLS Nagpur, SLS Noida, and SLS Pune. The entrance exam is being conducted in a Home-based Online Proctored mode. There are approximately 250 seats in the LLM course, and 60 seats in the LLB course. 

Christ University Law Entrance Exam (CULEE): Christ University, located in Bangalore, conducts its own entrance exam for admission to its undergraduate law programs. The test assesses candidates on subjects such as English Language, Comprehension Skills, General Knowledge, Reasoning, and Data Analysis. As well as its Kengeri and Bannerghatta road campuses in Bengaluru, Christ has three separate campuses across India in Lavasa, Pune and Delhi.Candidates by appearing in CULEE 2023 can get admission to BA LLB & BBA LLB degree courses.

AMU BA LLB: The university conducts the AMU BA LLB entrance exam in offline mode. Candidates who appear in the AMU BA LLB entrance exam and have their roll number in the merit list have to appear for counselling. The exam is conducted for admission in the BA LLB programme of Aligarh Muslim University.

ULSAT:  University of Petroleum and Energy Studies releases the application (UPES) form for ULSAT in online mode.This entrance exam is conducted for granting admission to BA LLB, B.Com LLB, Btech LLB, 3-year LLB, LLM courses. Eligible candidates can register online for ULSAT from the official website of the UPES - www.admission.upes.ac.in/apply .