Admission to Law Colleges Despite Low Rank in CLAT

CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) is a national-level law entrance exam conducted every year for students who want to pursue law in government and private colleges in India. The CLAT 2026 exam will be conducted on December 7, 2026 across the country. After passing the CLAT, you can apply for 3-year or 5-year Integrated LLM and LLB programs. Every year, the 26 members of the CLAT Committee take the CLAT exam, administered by NLU (The National Law University). The leading law universities in India use CLAT scores to select students for various legal programs. The number of candidates appearing for CLAT is increasing every year but the seat intake remains more or less the same.

Also Read: What is a Good Score in CLAT 2026?

With such a high level of competition, it has become more difficult to secure a good CLAT Rank and get admission into the NLUs. However, there are plenty of law colleges that are willing to provide admission to candidates with a low CLAT rank and will provide them with an opportunity to build a successful career in law . To get admission in the top 3 NLUs, the candidates' score must be around 130-150. However, candidates with lower CLAT scores(below 100), on the other hand, can apply to the top law colleges in India that accept low CLAT scores. There are many popular non-NLUs in India that not only guarantee quality education but also provide ample employment opportunities. If you have a low CLAT rank and are conflicted over the thought of NLUs or non-NLUs , we have got you covered. Scroll through the page to check out the list of top law colleges that grant admission to deserving candidates regardless of their CLAT Rank.

Are you worried about not getting admission to the top NLUs ? If yes, you have landed on the right page. This article will take you through the top law colleges in which you can take admission despite having a low rank in CLAT.

Is Admission Possible in NLUs With a Low CLAT Rank?

The CLAT rank determines whether or not an aspirant will get an NLU. Listed below are the pointers explaining the idea in detail.

• Students getting a score in the range of 130-150 gets admission in their choice of preferred top NLUs.
• Aspirants with marks between 110 to 130 can still get admission to an NLU but due to the category-wise reservations, it is difficult to get the desired National Law University.
• Candidates who have secured marks in the range of 90 to 110 will have a slight chance to get admission to an NLU as the seats are very limited and most of them get filled with students obtaining marks from 110-150. Such individuals might get an NLU but if not, they can navigate through the list of Top 20 Law Universities in India Accepting CLAT Scores .
• Applicants who have scored less than 90 can register themselves in any of the top Private Colleges accepting CLAT scores .

What is a Good CLAT Score?

To get admission into the top NLUs, General category candidates must try to secure around 110 and above. Whereas, the Reserved category applicants must have a goal to score 90 and above in CLAT to get admission to one of the top NLUs. Candidates must take note that the score might increase or decrease depending on the CLAT question paper and cut-off factors for that particular year. For example, the CLAT exam pattern was completely changed in the year 2020. The maximum marks that a CLAT candidate can now secure is 150. In such a case, the target score also decreases. If the difficulty level of the exam is average, then the student can set a target of scoring between 100 - 120 to get one of the finest NLUs. But, when the difficulty level of the exam is high, then candidates with a score between 80 - 100 would easily get admission to an NLU.

List of Law Colleges for Admission with Low CLAT Rank

Some top-notch law colleges that accept CLAT scores and offer admission are specified below.

Also Read: Key Features to Be Considered Before Taking Admission in a Law School

Popular Law Exams in India

Students can enter prestigious law programs in India by taking entrance exams like CLAT, AILET, LSAT, AIBE, BVP CET, and MH CET. The following is a list of the most typical law entrance tests that applicants must pass:

Top Non-NLU Law Colleges

There are numerous options for the law aspirants who couldn’t score well in their CLAT exam. Not all successful law candidates emerge from NLUs, there are candidates from some of the top private law colleges in India like Symbiosis Law School, Christ College, Jindal Global Law School, etc. that have gained much more momentum in their law career as compared to their fellow NLU graduates. Success in the law career depends majorly on the law aspirants' hard work, dedication, and intellect. Some of the best private law schools that accept low CLAT scores in India are mentioned below:

• Symbiosis Law School, Pune
• KIIT School of Law (KSOL)
• School of Law, SASTRA
• LPU - Lovely Professional University
• School of Law, UPES
• Jindal Global Law School
• New Law College, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University
• M.S. Ramaiah College of Law (MSRCL)
• Amity Law School, Amity University
• ICFAI Law School, Hyderabad

Should you drop a year to re-attempt the CLAT exam?

In any case, skipping a year is not a good idea. Many people who choose a drop year come to regret it. The majority of them regret it since they wind up wasting their year by doing nothing while trying to use the year to study for the CLAT or even determine whether they want to pursue law as a career. Consider this: If I didn't do well on the exam, or even if I got a rank that wouldn't get me into a national law school, I'd be demotivated for a while and the whole process would seem pointless. Many people during this period who are experiencing sadness and anxiety sometimes turn to substance misuse and unsavory companies.

Even worse is when you manage to gain admission to an NLU while having a score below expectations but decide without attending to improve your preparation for the next year. What if despite your best efforts, the question paper is really difficult the following year, or if any errors prevented you from receiving an NLU this time around? The event cannot be undone at that point, and you are certain to regret your choice.

Few people complete a drop year with diligent study habits and good fortune. Otherwise, the scenario is generally unpredictable. Students have two choices in place of taking a drop year. Join a reputable non-NLU, which could be private or public, and pursue your studies there. Alternatively, enroll in a non-NLU and get ready for the CLAT the following year. If you succeed the second time, you can take it; otherwise, you have your non-NLU as a backup. But even so, good luck to you if you decide to forgo a year and work diligently to pass the CLAT.

CLAT Seat Intake- List of NLUs

Below is the list of NLUs that accept UG and PG students for admission into their law programs and the intake capacity.

Top Colleges Accepting CLAT Score: Location and Seat Matrix

After understanding the seat matrix for the 22 NLUs, let’s move toward the top law colleges that accept CLAT scores and the seat intake for those colleges.

List of Law Colleges for Direct Admission Without a CLAT Score

Some popular colleges in the nation also provide admission without a CLAT score. Enlisted below are the names of such institutes.

Also Read: Law Admission Without National-Level Entrance Exam Score

Other Top Colleges for Law Admissions

Provided below are some of the finest law universities and colleges in India that offer world-class education in law. Click on the links to explore your options.

For any law admission-related help or FREE counselling, just dial 1800-572-9877 (toll-free) or fill out the Common Application Form . Our admission experts will guide you through the entire process to make it smooth and hassle-free. Click on the links below to learn more about the CLAT exam. For any unresolved queries, write to us on the Q&A zone.

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