AICLET vs CLAT: Major Differences, Similarities, and Important Things for Applicants to Know

The All India Common Law Entrance Test (AICLET) and the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) are two major national-level entrance examinations for law aspirants in India. Both entrance examinations open doors to illustrious law schools, albeit different in scope, bodies conducting them, and institutes they cater to, respectively. To keep yourself up to date with your preparations and decisions, here is a clear-cut comparison for the candidates.  

What is AICLET?

AICLET is a national-level online law entrance exam for students seeking admission to a variety of law programs in top private law institutes in India, including 3-year LLB, 5-year integrated law courses (like BCom LLB), and LLM.

• Conducting Body: Organized by Edinbox
• Accepted By: Various law institutes in India and not bound by any NLU.
• Programs Covered: LLB, 5 years integrated law, LLM, and more.

What is CLAT?

CLAT is a centralized admission examination for UG and PG Law courses.

• Conducting Body: Organized by Consortium of National Law Universities.
• Accepted By: Accepted by 24 National Law Universities for UG and 21 NLUs for PG along with some private law schools.
• Programs Covered: For NLUs 5-year integrated LLB and LLM.

 

Key Differences at a Glance

Feature	AICLET	CLAT
Organizing Body	Edinbox	Consortium of NLUs
Scope	LLB, 5-year integrated law, LLM at diverse law institutes	5-year LLB & LLM at NLUs and select private law schools
Institutes Covered	Multiple law colleges across India	24 NLUs (UG), 21 NLUs (PG), some private law schools
Exam Pattern	1hr Online exam; syllabus Varies by year and program (see aiclet.org for latest info)	Pen & paper, 2 hours, 120 MCQs, 5 sections
Sections	English, GK/Current Affairs, Logical Reasoning (see official notice)	English, GK/Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques
Acceptance	Many law colleges nationwide	NLUs and a few private law schools

Key Points for Aspirants

• AICLET is suitable if you’re targeting a broad range of law colleges and want more options beyond NLUs.
• CLAT is essential if your goal is to study at the prestigious National Law Universities.
• The syllabus and exam pattern for CLAT is well-defined and includes Legal Reasoning and Quantitative Techniques, while AICLET’s pattern may vary and is best checked on the official website for the latest updates.
• Both exams are highly competitive-early and focused preparation is crucial.

AICLET and CLAT are gateways to legal education in India, but your choice has to be based on target institutions, career aspirations, and exam mode. CLAT gets you into NLUs, while AICLET provides broader exposure to law programs in different institutes. For more updated and detailed information about the two exams check the official AICLET website (aiclet.org) and Consortium of NLUs for CLAT.

Tip: Keep visiting respective official websites for any update regarding eligibility, exam pattern, and important dates. Best of luck!