What is NLU?
The NLU (National Law University) refers to a group of specialized law universities across India that offer integrated law degrees such as BA LLB (5 years), BBA LLB (5 years), LLM (1–2 years), and PhD programs. These institutions provide a multidisciplinary curriculum combining legal theory, practical skills, and interdisciplinary knowledge. Admission to undergraduate courses at NLUs is mainly through the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) or other specific entrance exams conducted by individual NLUs.
The NLUs emphasize a rigorous curriculum, blending constitutional law, criminal law, corporate law, international law, human rights, and emerging areas such as intellectual property and cyber law. The goal is to prepare students not only as skilled lawyers but also as ethical, socially responsible advocates and policymakers.
NLU Course Overview
The National Law University (NLU) programs are premier integrated legal education courses designed to train future leaders in law, policy, and justice. These comprehensive undergraduate and postgraduate degrees aim to develop competent legal professionals equipped to meet the evolving challenges of the legal system in India and globally.
Vision for Legal Education
The establishment of NLUs reflects India’s commitment to elevate the standard of legal education and produce future-ready legal experts who can contribute effectively to the justice system, governance, and public policy. With a focus on quality research, experiential learning, and global best practices, NLUs aim to bridge gaps in legal knowledge and access to justice across the country.
These universities play a vital role in strengthening the legal framework and ensuring equitable legal services, while fostering academic excellence and leadership in law.
Inside the NLU Program: From Theory to Practice
NLU programs offer a well-structured and interdisciplinary syllabus covering core subjects such as Jurisprudence, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Contract Law, Administrative Law, and Environmental Law. Students also study allied disciplines, including economics, political science, sociology, and legal history, to build a holistic understanding of the law’s role in society.
Throughout the program, emphasis is placed on practical training through moot courts, internships, legal aid clinics, and workshops on negotiation and advocacy skills. This hands-on approach nurtures critical thinking, legal reasoning, and professional ethics, enabling graduates to function effectively in diverse legal settings.
Intensive Experiential Learning and Skill Development
From the initial semesters, NLU students participate in activities such as drafting legal documents, conducting research, client counselling, and participating in court visits. Moot court competitions, seminars, and debates foster a competitive spirit and sharpen advocacy skills.
Internships with law firms, NGOs, judicial offices, and corporate legal departments provide real-world exposure, preparing students for varied career paths including litigation, corporate law, academia, judiciary, and public service.
NLU Admission 2025–26: Complete Counselling and Admission Guidance
India’s National Law Universities (NLUs) are premier institutes for legal education, offering undergraduate (BA LLB), postgraduate, and doctoral programs with excellent academic infrastructure, experienced faculty, and strong placement records.
NLU Admission Process – Step by Step
Step 1: Check Eligibility
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | Class 12 (10+2) or equivalent from a recognized board |
| Minimum Marks | General/OBC: 45%; SC/ST: 40% |
| Age Limit | No upper age limit |
| Appearing Candidates | Eligible (must produce proof of passing at the time of admission) |
Step 2: Register for CLAT 2025
- Visit the official website: https://consortiumofnlus.ac.in
- Create a CLAT 2025 account
- Fill the application form with:
- Personal details
- Academic qualifications
- Preferred NLUs (in priority order)
- Upload documents (photo, signature, category certificate, etc.)
- Pay application fee:
- ₹4,000 (General/OBC/EWS)
- ₹3,500 (SC/ST/BPL)
- Download the confirmation page
Application Dates: Typically August–November
CLAT 2025 Exam Date: December
Step 3: Appear for the CLAT 2025 Exam
- Offline, Pen-and-Paper Mode
- 120 MCQs (1 mark each), negative marking of 0.25 for each wrong answer
- Subjects: English, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Current Affairs, Quantitative Techniques
- Duration: 2 hours
Step 4: Check Result & Rank
- Log in to the CLAT portal
- Download your scorecard and All India Rank (AIR)
- Cutoffs vary by NLU, category, and domicile
Step 5: Participate in CLAT Counselling
Only those who registered for counselling (after results) are eligible.
- Counselling Registration & Fee Payment
- Pay ₹30,000 (General/OBC) or ₹20,000 (SC/ST) as counselling fee
- Fill NLU preferences again (can be different from the original form)
- Seat Allotment Rounds (Round 1 to 5)
- Based on rank, category, and NLU preference
- You can:
- Accept: Confirm seat
- Freeze: Lock seat and exit counselling
- Float: Keep allotted seat and wait for a higher preference
- Exit: Withdraw from counselling
Step 6: Admission to Allotted NLU
Once a seat is accepted:
- Report to the NLU (physical/online)
- Submit:
- CLAT scorecard and allotment letter
- Class 10 & 12 mark sheets
- Category certificate (if applicable)
- Domicile certificate (if required)
- Identity proof, recent photographs
- Pay the 1st-semester admission fee (varies from ₹1.5–₹2.5 lakh)
Step 7: Waiting List / Upgradation
- If you selected Float, you may get upgraded to a better NLU in the next rounds
- If you are not allotted a seat in the early rounds, stay on the waiting list
Final Admission Confirmation
Once admitted to an NLU:
- You receive your NLU admission number
- Attend orientation, start academic classes, and access NLU student portals
Important Notes
- NLU Delhi conducts AILET, not CLAT.
- NRI/Foreign National seats: Apply directly to the university (CLAT score may or may not be needed).
- PwD, Women, Domicile quotas: Applied during counselling; check individual NLU policies.
NLU-Wise UG Law Updated Seat Matrix (2025-2026)
| Sl.No. | Name and Address of NLU | University Name | Management | Year of Inception | Annual Intake (UG Seats – BA/BBA LLB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Law School of India University, Bengaluru | NLSIU Bengaluru | Govt. | 1987 | 300 |
| 2 | NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad | NALSAR Hyderabad | Govt. | 1998 | 132 |
| 3 | The WB National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata | WBNUJS Kolkata | Govt. | 1999 | 132 |
| 4 | National Law University, Jodhpur | NLU Jodhpur | Govt. | 1999 | 120 |
| 5 | Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar | GNLU Gandhinagar | Govt. | 2003 | 172 |
| 6 | Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur | HNLU Raipur | Govt. | 2003 | 180 |
| 7 | Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow | RMLNLU Lucknow | Govt. | 2005 | 187 |
| 8 | Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab, Patiala | RGNUL Patiala | Govt. | 2006 | 180 |
| 9 | Chanakya National Law University, Patna | CNLU Patna | Govt. | 2006 | 138 |
| 10 | National Law University Odisha, Cuttack | NLUO Cuttack | Govt. | 2009 | 180 |
| 11 | National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi | NUALS Kochi | Govt. | 2005 | 120 |
| 12 | National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam | NLUJAA Assam | Govt. | 2011 | 120 |
| 13 | Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, Visakhapatnam | DSNLU Visakhapatnam | Govt. | 2008 | 138 |
| 14 | Tamil Nadu National Law University, Tiruchirappalli | TNNLU Tiruchirappalli | Govt. | 2012 | 120 |
| 15 | Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai | MNLU Mumbai | Govt. | 2014 | 150 |
| 16 | Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur | MNLU Nagpur | Govt. | 2016 | 240 |
| 17 | Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad | MNLU Aurangabad | Govt. | 2017 | 60 |
| 18 | Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur | DNLU Jabalpur | Govt. | 2018 | 120 |
| 19 | Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla | HPNLU Shimla | Govt. | 2016 | 180 |
| 20 | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonipat | DBRANLU Sonipat | Govt. | 2012 | 120 |
| 21 | National Law University, Tripura (New Entrant 2025)* | NLU Tripura | Govt. | 2022 | 60 |
| 22 | GNLU Silvassa Campus (GNLU Extension Campus) | GNLU Silvassa | Govt. | 2022 | 66 |
Seat Summary for NLUs (2025 – UG Programs)
| Management | No. of Colleges | Total UG Seats (BA/BBA LLB) |
|---|---|---|
| Government | 22 | 3,635 |
| Private / Society / Trust | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 22 | 3,635 |
Note: Seat numbers are approximate based on the latest official CLAT 2025 data and university announcements. Actual seat availability may vary slightly by category, domicile quota, and new approvals.
Let me know if you'd like a category-wise or NRI quota-wise seat breakdown for NLUs as well.
NLU-Wise Category-Wise Updated UG (BA/BBA LLB) Seat Matrix – CLAT 2025
| NLU | Total Seats | GEN | EWS | OBC | SC | ST | NRI / NRI Sponsored / Foreign |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bengaluru | 300 | 180 | 30 | 36 | 45 | 9 | 0 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 132 | 66 | 13 | 24 | 20 | 10 | 9 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | 132 | 74 | 13 | 12 | 19 | 9 | 5 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 120 | 93 | 6 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 12 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 172 | 92 | 17 | 31 | 24 | 8 | 18 |
| HNLU Raipur | 180 | 80 | 18 | 0 | 29 | 23 | 10 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | 187 | 94 | 18 | 50 | 39 | 4 | 12 |
| RGNUL Patiala | 180 | 96 | 18 | 0 | 27 | 13 | 10 |
| CNLU Patna | 138 | 69 | 14 | 0 | 22 | 13 | 10 |
| NLUO Cuttack | 180 | 89 | 18 | 0 | 28 | 13 | 10 |
| NUALS Kochi | 120 | 61 | 12 | 0 | 19 | 8 | 6 |
| NLUJAA Assam | 120 | 60 | 12 | 0 | 19 | 8 | 6 |
| DSNLU Visakhapatnam | 138 | 69 | 14 | 0 | 22 | 13 | 10 |
| TNNLU Tiruchirappalli | 120 | 60 | 12 | 0 | 19 | 8 | 6 |
| MNLU Mumbai | 150 | 69 | 15 | 41 | 15 | 8 | 12 |
| MNLU Nagpur | 240 | 122 | 24 | 60 | 26 | 8 | 18 |
| MNLU Aurangabad | 60 | 31 | 6 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 6 |
| DNLU Jabalpur | 120 | 60 | 12 | 0 | 19 | 8 | 6 |
| HPNLU Shimla | 180 | 80 | 18 | 0 | 29 | 23 | 10 |
| DBRANLU Sonipat | 120 | 60 | 12 | 0 | 19 | 8 | 6 |
| NLU Tripura | 60 | 30 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 6 | 5 |
| GNLU Silvassa | 66 | 30 | 6 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
Notes:
- GEN includes the unreserved/open category.
- EWS is for Economically Weaker Sections (10% as per eligibility).
- OBC reservations apply only in state domicile quotas (e.g., GNLU, RMLNLU, MNLUs, etc.).
- SC/ST are as per the central/state norms and domicile.
- NRI/NRI Sponsored/Foreign seats are supernumerary (additional) in most NLUs and not filled via CLAT – require direct application to the university + CLAT scores.
- Some NLUs like NLU Delhi conduct AILET, not CLAT.
- Actual category seat distribution may vary annually based on state domicile norms and vertical/horizontal reservation splits (like PwD, Women, etc.).
Need Help with NLU Admission in 2025?
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We offer end-to-end expert counselling support for CLAT and AILET aspirants across All India, Domicile, Reserved, and Special category quotas.
What We Offer for NLU Admission 2025:
CLAT & AILET Rank Analysis
We assess your score, category, domicile status, and preferences to help shortlist the best-fit NLUs, including Top 5, Top 10, and Top 22 law schools.
Expert Counselling Guidance
From CLAT form filling to NLU admission reporting, we guide you through every stage of:
- CLAT 2025 Counselling by Consortium of NLUs
- AILET Counselling (for NLU Delhi)
- NRI/Foreign/NRI-Sponsored/Disability quota counselling
Strategic NLU Preference Filling
Get expert help in crafting a smart preference list — one that aligns with your rank, category, reservation, and NLU cutoff trends.
Real-Time Cutoff Insights
We track round-wise, category-wise NLU cutoffs from the last 5 years so you can make informed, data-backed decisions.
Admission Reporting & Upgrade Help
We simplify the reporting, document verification, and fee payment, and explain ‘float’ vs ‘freeze’ options during counselling rounds.
Why Expert Guidance Matters for NLU Admission?
With only 3,000–3,200 UG law seats across NLUs and nearly 1 lakh+ aspirants, each counselling step is critical. NLUs offer:
- India’s top-ranked legal education
- Low tuition fees (₹1.5–₹2.5 L/year)
- Placements with top law firms, UPSC prep support, and judicial coaching
We Help You:
✅ Choose the right NLU track (CLAT or AILET)
✅ Avoid errors in choice filling, rank locking, and category claims
✅ Maximize your rank’s potential across the Top 22 NLUs
✅ Understand seat matrix, domicile rules, and gender reservations
✅ Plan NLU vs Private Law School comparisons if needed
Don’t Let Small Mistakes Cost You an NLU Seat!
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Let Admission Anytime Guide You:
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