CLAT Counselling 2025 is the crucial final step for candidates seeking admission to top National Law Universities (NLUs) in India. The counselling process ensures that seats are allocated based on merit, preferences, and category.
Starting shortly after the CLAT results, candidates must register, pay the CLAT counselling fee, and select their preferred NLUs. With the CLAT counselling dates 2025 begin from 11 December 2024 and lasting till 20 December 2024, aspirants should be ready to complete registration and document submission.
This guide covers everything from the CLAT counselling schedule and process to the fee structure and key instructions for securing your seat at an NLU.
What is CLAT Counselling?
CLAT counselling is the process through which candidates who qualify the CLAT exam are allotted seats in NLUs based on their rank, preferences, and category.
For CLAT 2025 counselling, candidates must register online, pay a counselling fee, and choose their preferred NLUs and courses. The process involves multiple rounds of seat allotment, where students can accept, upgrade, or withdraw their seats.
It ensures a fair and transparent allocation of available seats, helping students secure admission to top law schools.
CLAT Counselling 2025: Overview
Below is the overview of CLAT 2025 counselling:
| Aspect | Details |
| Purpose | Seat allocation for UG and PG programs at NLUs based on merit, preferences, and category |
| CLAT Results Announcement | 10 December 2024 |
| CLAT Counselling Start Date | 11 December 2024 |
| CLAT Counselling Duration | 11 Dec to 20 Dec 2024 |
| Rounds of CLAT Counselling | Five rounds with options to Freeze, Float, or Exit during seat allocation. |
| CLAT Counselling Fee | ₹30,000 (General Category) ₹20,000 (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD Categories). |
| Refund Policy | Fee refundable under specific conditions, as per the Consortium’s guidelines. |
| Registration Requirement | Candidates must register online, pay the counselling fee, and select NLUs as per preference. |
| Documents Required | Scanned copies of academic records, CLAT 2025 scorecard, category and domicile certificates. |
| Seat Confirmation | Finalized after payment of university fees and document verification at the allotted NLU. |
Important Resources After CLAT Exam:
| NLSIU Bangalore Fee Structure | CLAT 2025 Toppers |
| CLAT Answer Key 2025 | CLAT 2025 Question Paper |
| CLAT Cut Off 2025 | CLAT results 2025 |
| CLAT Marks vs Rank 2025 | CLAT Rank Predictor |
CLAT Counselling Dates 2025 (Schedule)
The Consortium of NLUs announced the official date for CLAT Counselling 2025.
The counselling will be conducted in five rounds. Find the specific dates for each round below:
| Event | Date | Description |
| CLAT 2025 Examination | December 1, 2024 | Test conducted across various CLAT exam centers. |
| Release of Provisional Answer Key | December 2, 2024 (4 PM) | Initial answer key made available for candidates to review. |
| Release of Final Answer Key | 9 December 2024 | Finalized CLAT answer key after considering objections and feedback. |
| Declaration of Results | 10 December 2024 | Announcement of CLAT 2025 results with individual scores and ranks. |
| CLAT Counselling Start | 11 December, 2024 | Commencement of online registration for the counselling process. |
| CLAT Counselling Registration End | 20 December, 2024 | Deadline for candidates to register and pay the counselling fee. |
| 1st Allotment List | December 26, 2024 | Publication of the first list of seat allotments based on merit and preferences. |
| Payment of Confirmation Fee (1st Round) | December 26, 2024 – January 4, 2025 | Window for candidates allotted seats in the first round to confirm their acceptance by paying the requisite fee. |
| 2nd Allotment List | January 10, 2025 | Release of the second allotment list after considering withdrawals and available vacancies. |
| Payment of Confirmation Fee (2nd Round) | January 10 – 16, 2025 | Confirmation period for candidates allotted seats in the second round. |
| 3rd Allotment List | January 24, 2025 | Publication of the third list of seat allotments. |
| Payment of Confirmation Fee (3rd Round) | January 24 – 30, 2025 | Fee payment window for third-round allottees. |
| Payment of University Fee | May 14, 2025 | Pay NLU fee after adjusting for Confirmation Fee and Counselling Registration Fee (for all candidates who have chosen the Freeze Option in the counselling process for 1st, 2nd, 3rd Allotment Lists |
| 4th Allotment List | May 20, 2025 | Release of the fourth allotment list. |
| Payment of Confirmation Fee (4th Round) | May 20 – 24, 2025 | Fee payment period for candidates allotted seats in the fourth round. |
| 5th and Final Allotment List | May 29, 2025 | Publication of the final seat allotment list. |
| Payment of Confirmation Fee (5th Round) | May 29 – June 2, 2025 | Final fee payment window for candidates allotted seats in the fifth round. |
| Payment of University Fee | June 10, 2025 | Pay fee to concerned NLU. For all candidates who have chosen the Freeze Option in the counselling process of Fourth & Fifth Allotment Lists |
| CLAT Counselling Fee Refund Date | Expected within 2 months of CLAT counselling completion | – |
CLAT Counselling Process 2025
CLAT counselling process ensures a fair and transparent admission system based on merit and candidate preferences. Below is the step-by-step CLAT 2025 counselling process:
1. Result Declaration
The CLAT 2025 results are expected to be announced around a week after the exam date. Candidates can check their scores and All India Rank (AIR) on the official CLAT website.
2. Counselling Registration
Post-result declaration, eligible candidates will be invited to register for the counselling process of CLAT 2025.
This involves:
- Online Registration: Logging into the CLAT portal to confirm participation.
- Counselling Fee Payment: Paying counselling fee (₹30,000 for General and ₹20,000 for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD).
- Preference Selection: Listing preferred NLUs in order of priority.
3. Seat Allotment Rounds
The CLAT 2025 counselling process comprises five rounds of seat allotment:
- First Allotment List: Based on merit and preferences, the first provisional allotment list of CLAT is published.
- Acceptance of Allotment: Candidates can choose to ‘Freeze’ (accept the allotted seat) or ‘Float’ (accept the seat while waiting for a higher preference in subsequent rounds).
- Payment of Confirmation Fee: Those accepting the allotment must pay a confirmation fee to secure the seat.
- Subsequent Rounds: Similar procedures follow for the second, third, fourth, and fifth allotment lists, with adjustments based on seat availability and candidate preferences.
4. Document Verification
Candidates who have accepted a seat must upload scanned copies of the required documents for verification.
5. Final Admission
Upon successful document verification, candidates must:
- Pay the Remaining University Fees: Complete the payment as per the respective NLU’s fee structure.
- Report to the Allotted NLU: Adhere to the reporting schedule for orientation and commencement of classes.
Free CLAT Study Material for You:
| CLAT Previous Year Papers PDF | CLAT Sample Papers |
| CLAT Syllabus PDF | Free CLAT Coaching |
| CLAT Current Affairs | CLAT Topper Interviews |
| CLAT Videos | CLAT Mock Tests |
CLAT Counselling Fee 2025
Check the latest CLAT counselling fees:
| Category | Fee Amount |
| General Category | ₹30,000 |
| SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD | ₹20,000 |
Refund Policy for CLAT Counselling Fees 2025
Check whether you can get refund for CLAT counselling fee, and the policies:
1. Full Refund Eligibility
- Candidates who are not allotted a seat in any of the counselling rounds.
- Candidates who exit the counselling process before the specified deadline.
2. Partial Refund Eligibility
₹5,000 will be deducted if a candidate exits or fails to confirm admission after the specified deadline (e.g., by May 23, 2025, for certain rounds).
3. No Refund
- If a candidate does not complete the admission process after choosing the ‘Freeze’ or ‘Float’ option.
- If the candidate is found ineligible due to incorrect documentation during verification.
4. Refund Process
- Refunds are processed to the same account used for the counselling fee payment.
- No requests for refunds to alternative accounts will be entertained.
Documents Required for CLAT Counselling 2025
To participate in the counselling process, candidates must upload scanned copies of specific documents for verification. Below is a detailed list for each document required for CLAT 2025 counselling:
| Sr. No. | Document | Purpose |
| 1 | CLAT 2025 Admit Card | Proof of appearance in CLAT 2025 examination. |
| 2 | CLAT 2025 Scorecard | Verifies rank and score achieved in CLAT 2025. |
| 3 | Class 10th Marksheet | Proof of date of birth and academic qualification. |
| 4 | Class 12th Marksheet | Evidence of qualifying higher secondary education. |
| 6 | Character/Conduct Certificate | Attests to the candidate’s behavior. |
| 7 | Transfer/Migration Certificate | Indicates transfer or migration from previous institution. |
| 8 | Caste Certificate (if applicable) | Proof of reserved category (SC, ST, OBC, etc.). |
| 9 | PwD Certificate (if applicable) | Proof of disability for PwD candidates. |
| 10 | Domicile/Residence Certificate (if applicable) | Proof of residency for domicile-based reservations. |
| 11 | EWS Certificate (if applicable) | Proof of economic status for EWS category. |
| 12 | Wards of Serving/Retired Defence Personnel Certificate (if applicable) | For defence personnel reservation claims. |
| 13 | Passport-sized Photographs | Recent photographs for identification purposes. |
| 14 | Any Additional Supporting Documents | Relevant documents to support category claims. |
CLAT Counselling Rounds 2025
The CLAT counselling process involves five rounds, ensuring fair seat allocation across all participating NLUs. Each round follows a structured approach, allowing candidates to make decisions based on their preferences and seat availability.
| Round | Process |
| Round 1 | – First seat allotment list is published based on rank, preferences, and category. |
| – Candidates choose between Freeze, Float, or Exit options. | |
| – Payment of the confirmation fee is mandatory for those selecting Freeze or Float. | |
| Round 2 | – Vacant seats from Round 1 are allocated to eligible candidates. |
| – Candidates opting for Float may be upgraded to higher preferences. | |
| – Newly allotted candidates must confirm their seats by paying the confirmation fee. | |
| Round 3 | – Remaining vacancies are filled through this round. |
| – Candidates choosing Freeze finalize their seats; Float option continues for further upgrades. | |
| – Non-confirming candidates lose their allotted seats and are removed from the process. | |
| Round 4 | – Candidates who haven’t secured admission are allocated seats based on available vacancies. |
| – Float option ends after this round; candidates must either Freeze or Exit. | |
| – Any remaining university fees must be paid by candidates choosing Freeze. | |
| Round 5 | – Final seat allotment round ensures all available seats are allocated. |
| – Candidates must confirm their seats by paying the remaining fees and completing the admission process. |
Decision Options During Rounds of CLAT Counselling
1. Freeze:
Accept the allotted seat and exit the counselling process. Pay the remaining university fees to finalize admission.
2. Float:
Accept the current seat but stay open for higher preference allocation in subsequent rounds.
3. Exit:
Withdraw from the counselling process of CLAT 2025, forfeiting the confirmation fee if applicable.
Download Official PDF of CLAT Counselling Instructions
Click on the button below to download CLAT counselling process instructions PDF, as released by Consortium of NLUs:
Must Know for Every CLAT Aspirant:
| CLAT Eligibility Criteria | CLAT Exam Pattern |
| CLAT Age Limit | CLAT Marking Scheme |
| How to Prepare for CLAT? | CLAT Preparation Books |
FAQs About CLAT Counselling 2025
In CLAT counselling, candidates register, pay a fee, choose NLUs, participate in seat allotment rounds, upload documents, and confirm admission.
Usually, 3 times the number of available seats are invited for CLAT counselling. For instance, if NLUs offer 3,000 seats, approximately 9,000 candidates are called.
Yes, the fee is refundable under specific conditions, such as if no seat is allotted or if the candidate exits before the deadline.
If the counselling fee is not paid, you will not be eligible for seat allotment.
CLAT counselling will start from 11 December 2024 and last till 20 December 2024.
The last date for registration is 20th December 2024.
In the 2nd round, seats vacated after the 1st round are reallocated. Candidates may be upgraded based on preferences.
You can select the Float option, and your application will be considered in subsequent rounds for higher preferences.
Log in to the CLAT portal, follow the upload instructions, and submit scanned copies of the required documents.
By selecting Freeze, you accept the allotted seat and exit further rounds of counselling.
The Float option allows you to accept the current seat while waiting for an upgrade to a higher-preference NLU in the next round.
Yes, you can withdraw at any stage. Refunds will be provided as per the Consortium’s refund policy.
The central counselling process closes, and remaining seats are filled by individual NLUs as per their policies.
Free Previous Year Papers of CLAT
| CLAT 2024 Question Paper | CLAT 2023 Question Paper |
| CLAT 2020 Question Paper | CLAT 2021 Question Paper |
| CLAT 2019 Question Paper | View All (Past 17 Years) |
Important CLAT Questions for Practice:
| CLAT Legal Reasoning Questions | CLAT Logical Reasoning Questions |
| CLAT English Questions | CLAT GK Questions |
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