Things You Must Know Before Starting CLAT Preparation

CLAT or Common-Law Admission Test is the most critical entrance examination if you are aspiring to build a future career in law. It will guarantee your position in the country’s best law institutions. So, understanding everything about the exam is the first step you need to take. Then, you need to make a proper strategy for CLAT preparation.

Before you start with the preparation, these are the essential things related to the CLAT exam you need to know.

Top Things to Know Before CLAT Exam Preparation

The education system is slowly changing for the better. In recent days, there has been more emphasis on application-based learning than rote learning. With this paradigm shift, there are upcoming changes in the syllabus, exam pattern, and, most importantly, question types for the CLAT exam. Candidates must stay updated and be aware of the type of questions they shall encounter. Here are 5 top things you must know before you start CLAT preparation.

• Law Courses in India

In India, there are two types of law courses. The first is a 5-year L.L.B program, and the second is a three-year L.L.B course. If you plan to take up law as a career right after class 12 (after high school), you shall have to appear for the five years integrated L.L.B course. On either hand, if you have already graduated in some specific field and now want to kick start your law career, you shall have to appear for the three years L.L.B course. Of course, colleges and universities do not conduct booth programs. So, before appearing, ensure you are clear about the course and its details.

• Law Institutions 

CLAT, as you may know, is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs), with multiple NLUs in India: NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, NUJS Kolkata, NLU Delhi, and a few more. Each of these institutes is state-run. Some private colleges are affiliated with the NLUs and are incredibly prestigious, for example, Jindal Global Law School. 

Before appearing for the CLAT exam, ensure that you have a list of institutes ready with you that you want to opt for. Consider the university ranking, fees, location, and faculty while making a list. It will help you during the counseling process. 

• Exam Pattern

Before you even decide whether you want a career in law or not, check out the exam pattern of CLAT. Also, gather some knowledge about the All-Indian Law Entrance Test (AILET). Have a clear idea about the sections included, the marks carried by each, and the topics under each section. Then, assess whether you are capable of encountering them. If you think you want some guidance, you can talk to someone who has already appeared for the exam. 

Some universities have individual law entrance examinations, such as – BLAT by BHU and AILET by NLU DU. Apart from CLAT, you can appear for these as well. They have a different pattern of exams that you can check out. 

• Does High School Stream Matter?

People will say that you cannot crack CLAT if you have not been in the humanities or commerce stream in Class 12. Some may even say that you could crack CLAT only if you have taken political science and History in Class 12. But restrain yourself from believing in these myths. Whatever your stream in Class 12, you can appear for CLAT, and with decent preparation, you can also crack it. Many students who had a science background in their high school opt for CLAT every year and also crack the exam.

Conclusion

Your performance in CLAT will be essential to determine the course of your law career. Thus, it is clear how important it is to focus on robust CLAT preparation. With suitable guidance to help you, you can perform better, understand concepts clearly and practice more to apply the learned concepts. 

A reputed CLAT coaching will help you ace the exam with valuable CLAT exam tips. By joining such a class, you can expect to receive personalized guidance, high-quality study material, video classes, and lectures that you can access at any time. They will also provide mock test series and previous year’s papers that you can practice regularly. With such a sure-fire strategy, your success in CLAT is ensured.