Law Entrance Exams 2027
Five-year integrated law (BA LLB, BBA LLB) admissions run mainly through CLAT for the National Law Universities, AILET for NLU Delhi, and state tests like MH CET Law. CLAT and AILET both happen in December, a year before the course starts, so the 2027 cycle is already under way.
Updated
Law Exams Compared
| Exam | Exam date | Registration | Questions / Marks | Negative marking | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLATNational | 6 Dec 2026 | 3 Aug – 31 Oct 2026 | 120 / 120 | Yes, −0.25 per wrong answer | Official |
| AILETUniversity | 13 Dec 2026 | 7 Aug – 10 Nov 2026 | 150 / 150 | Yes, −0.25 per wrong answer | Official |
| MH CET LawState | 8 May 2027 | 10 Jan – 10 Mar 2027 | 150 / 150 | No | Expected |
“Expected” dates are projected from last year's official schedule; “Official” dates come from the conducting body's notice.
How Law Admissions Work in 2027
Law runs on a different calendar from every other stream. CLAT 2027 is on 6 December 2026 and AILET 2027 on 13 December 2026 — while you are still in Class 12 — so registration happens in August–November, months before engineering or medical forms open. If you're in Class 12 now and considering law, these are the first deadlines of your admission year.
CLAT is used by 24+ National Law Universities, including NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad and WBNUJS Kolkata, plus many private law schools and PSUs. NLU Delhi stays out of CLAT and admits only through AILET, which has no Quantitative section and gives Logical Reasoning nearly half the marks. Both papers are passage-based and reward reading speed, so the same preparation covers both.
MH CET Law (5-year) is held in May for Government Law College Mumbai, ILS Pune and 100+ Maharashtra colleges, with no negative marking. It's a useful third option because it comes after CLAT results, and the separate 3-year LLB CET is only for graduates. Note that LSAT India has been discontinued, so don't plan around it.
Which Law Exams Should I Take?
Aiming for the top NLUs
CLAT + AILET. Most serious aspirants write both — they're a week apart in December.
Want a Maharashtra law college
MH CET Law (5-year) in May, plus CLAT for the NLUs.
Considering law alongside another stream
CLAT in December doesn't clash with spring exams like CUET, IPMAT or NPAT, so you can keep management or humanities options open.
Law Exam Calendar & Clashes
Upcoming exam days by month, and the ones that collide with other exams.
Watch out for these clashes
- MH CET Law exam (5-year llb) (8 May 2027) overlaps with TS EAPCET engineering exam (6 – 9 May 2027) — Engineering.
- MH CET Law exam (5-year llb) (8 May 2027) is within two days of COMEDK UGET exam (9 May 2027) — Engineering.
- MH CET Law exam (5-year llb) (8 May 2027) is within two days of SET set test 2 (9 May 2027) — Management (UG).
Where an exam offers multiple slots, book one that leaves a gap. Testing windows longer than two weeks (such as CUET UG, NPAT and NATA) aren't listed because you get or choose a single slot within them. Dates marked expected may move when official notices are out.
Track Law Exams
CLAT 2027
Common Law Admission Test (UG)
Next up
Registration
3 Aug – 31 Oct 2026
AILET 2027
All India Law Entrance Test
Next up
Registration
7 Aug – 10 Nov 2026
MH CET Law 2027
Maharashtra Common Entrance Test for Law (5-Year LLB)
Next up
Registration
10 Jan – 10 Mar 2027
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between CLAT and AILET?
CLAT is conducted by the Consortium of NLUs and is used by 24+ National Law Universities. AILET is conducted separately by NLU Delhi, which does not take CLAT scores, so you need AILET specifically for NLU Delhi.
When should I start preparing for CLAT?
Most toppers start 8–12 months before the December exam, usually during Class 12. Since CLAT is reading-heavy, building a daily newspaper and editorial-reading habit early pays off the most.
Can I appear for CLAT while in Class 12?
Yes. Students appearing in their Class 12 board exams in March–April of the following year can write CLAT in December, provided they meet the minimum marks requirement at the time of admission.