Law
Apr 9, 2026
CLAT 2027: Consortium of NLUs to Release Official Calendar in June; Exam Likely in December
V
Vikram Singh
Apr 9, 2026
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The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) is preparing to release the official notification and calendar for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2027. Following the trend established over the last few years, the exam is expected to be held in the first week of December 2026. By conducting the exam early, the Consortium aims to complete the admission process well before the start of the academic session in July 2027, allowing students to focus on their board exams in the spring without the pressure of entrance tests.
The CLAT 2027 notification, expected in June, will provide details regarding the application timeline, eligibility criteria, and the list of participating universities. Currently, 24 National Law Universities across India accept CLAT scores for their five-year integrated LL.B. and one-year LL.M. programs. Additionally, over 60 private law colleges and public sector undertakings use CLAT scores for admissions and recruitment, respectively. The exam is known for its heavy emphasis on reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and current affairs.
Experts suggest that the 2027 edition may see a slight increase in the number of seats as newer NLUs, such as the one in Tripura, expand their infrastructure and faculty strength. The exam format is expected to remain a 120-minute test with 120 questions, where each wrong answer incurs a negative marking of 0.25. The Legal Reasoning section continues to be the most crucial part of the paper, requiring students to apply legal principles to factual situations without necessarily having prior legal knowledge.
Preparation for CLAT has become a long-term commitment for many students, starting as early as Class 11. With the exam occurring in December, the window for intensive preparation is shortened for those in Class 12. Educators recommend a balanced approach, where students dedicate at least two hours daily to newspaper reading and logical puzzles. The Consortium is also expected to release a series of official sample papers in August and October to help candidates understand the level of difficulty and the types of passages to expect.
Last year, the cut-off for the top three NLUs (NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, and WBNUJS Kolkata) was exceptionally high, with the top rankers scoring above 100 out of 120. As law emerges as a highly sought-after career path beyond traditional litigation—including corporate law, international relations, and legal tech—the competition for the limited 3,000+ seats in NLUs is only expected to grow. Candidates are advised to keep their category and domicile certificates ready, as state-specific reservations play a significant role in the final seat allocation.
The CLAT 2027 notification, expected in June, will provide details regarding the application timeline, eligibility criteria, and the list of participating universities. Currently, 24 National Law Universities across India accept CLAT scores for their five-year integrated LL.B. and one-year LL.M. programs. Additionally, over 60 private law colleges and public sector undertakings use CLAT scores for admissions and recruitment, respectively. The exam is known for its heavy emphasis on reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and current affairs.
Experts suggest that the 2027 edition may see a slight increase in the number of seats as newer NLUs, such as the one in Tripura, expand their infrastructure and faculty strength. The exam format is expected to remain a 120-minute test with 120 questions, where each wrong answer incurs a negative marking of 0.25. The Legal Reasoning section continues to be the most crucial part of the paper, requiring students to apply legal principles to factual situations without necessarily having prior legal knowledge.
Preparation for CLAT has become a long-term commitment for many students, starting as early as Class 11. With the exam occurring in December, the window for intensive preparation is shortened for those in Class 12. Educators recommend a balanced approach, where students dedicate at least two hours daily to newspaper reading and logical puzzles. The Consortium is also expected to release a series of official sample papers in August and October to help candidates understand the level of difficulty and the types of passages to expect.
Last year, the cut-off for the top three NLUs (NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, and WBNUJS Kolkata) was exceptionally high, with the top rankers scoring above 100 out of 120. As law emerges as a highly sought-after career path beyond traditional litigation—including corporate law, international relations, and legal tech—the competition for the limited 3,000+ seats in NLUs is only expected to grow. Candidates are advised to keep their category and domicile certificates ready, as state-specific reservations play a significant role in the final seat allocation.