Reader's Digest: If you're thinking about pursuing an LLM in India, this article is a must-read. It breaks down the top 10 entrance exams and eligibility requirements, making your decision-making process a whole lot easier. Don't miss out!

Are you considering pursuing a Master of Laws (LLM) in India? The path to this esteemed degree can be through various routes, with nationwide opportunities waiting for aspiring legal minds like you. Some choose to go through demanding entrance examinations, while others have the option to secure their spot based on their merit.

Beginning on this pursuit of higher studies, the most common prerequisite is an LLB degree, and the LLM program typically spans a rewarding two-year duration. During this time, you'll learn about the intricacies of law, conducting substantial research in areas such as International Law, Corporate Law, Business Law, Criminal Law, and more.

But how do you choose the right entrance exam for your LLM aspirations? Let's explore the different pathways that lead to a fulfilling legal career in India!

Below you'll find hand-curated study material that will help you make it through any LLM entrance exam in 2024!

Download Here: FREE LLM Entrance Study Material By LegalEdge After College!📚

 What are the Entrance Examinations for Pursuing LLM? 

There are several LLM entrance examinations conducted. However, let's check the top 10 LLM entrance exam names and their eligibility requirements for each of these exams. 

1 - CLAT PG Examination

• The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) PG Examination is one of the most prestigious LLM entrance exams in India, sought after by those who wish to study at the esteemed National Law Universities (NLUs) across the country.
• Eligibility Requirements for CLAT PG:
  • You must possess an undergraduate law degree or its equivalent, ensuring a foundational understanding of legal principles.
  • The minimum marks required vary based on your category:
    • General, OBC, PWD, NRI, PIO, and OCI categories: A minimum of 50% marks is necessary.
    • SC/ST categories: A slightly lower threshold of 45% marks is acceptable.
  • It's worth noting that even if you are in the final stages of your undergraduate law degree and anticipate completing it in April/May 2023, you are still eligible to apply. This accommodates the aspirations of final-year students.
  • Notably, there is no upper age limit for appearing in the CLAT PG Examination, making it an inclusive opportunity for candidates of all age groups.

Read Details: CLAT PG

2 - AILET PG Examination

• The All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) PG Examination is a crucial LLM entrance exam, designed for individuals who aspire to join the LLM program at the prestigious National Law University.
• Eligibility Requirements for AILET PG:
  • To be eligible for this examination, you must have successfully completed your LL.B or an equivalent degree from a recognized university. This prerequisite ensures that candidates have a solid foundation in legal education.
  • A minimum aggregate of 50% marks is required for most applicants. However, candidates belonging to the SC/ST or Persons with Disability categories can meet this requirement with 45% marks.
  • These criteria underscore the importance of prior legal education and the need to meet specific academic standards before attempting the AILET PG Examination.
  • These requirements are in place to ensure that students who enter the LLM program at National Law University have a strong legal foundation and the academic prowess to succeed in advanced legal studies.

Read Details: AILET PG exam

3 - CUET LLM Examination

• If you dream of pursuing an LLM and choose from numerous central, state and private universities across India, you should take the CUET LLM examination.
• This examination is typically held in September, and in 2022, it was scheduled for September 6th.
• To meet the eligibility requirements for the CUET LLM exam, you should hold a three-year or five-year LL.B. degree from a recognized Indian or foreign university. Your academic performance is crucial, and you need a minimum of 50% marks or an equivalent grade in the aggregate.
• There's some flexibility for candidates from specific categories. If you belong to SC/ST/PWD/OBC/Non-Creamy Layer categories, you can apply with a 5% relaxation in marks, which means you need 45% marks to qualify for the exam.

Read Details: CUET LLM examination

4 - SLS AIAT

• The SLS AIAT entrance test is conducted for admission to both the 3-year LLB program and the 1-year LLM program offered at Symbiosis Law School All India.
• To be eligible for this exam, you must have a three or five-year LL.B. degree from any Indian or Foreign University recognized by the UGC. Academic performance is critical, and you need at least 50% marks or an equivalent grade. For SC/ST candidates, the acceptable mark is 45%.
• An interesting feature is that even if you are in the final year of your LL.B. program, you can still apply for this examination. This means that final-year students can make use of this opportunity to secure their place in the LLM program.
• Additionally, it's worth noting that while these exams are essential for many universities, some colleges offer LLM admission without the need for an entrance exam. It provides students with different pathways to pursue their LLM based on their preferences and qualifications.

Check: Upcoming Law PG Exams in India

5 - AIBE Exam

• The AIBE (All India Bar Examination) is a unique exam designed to assess a candidate's capacity to practice law as a legal professional in India.
• Let's explore the eligibility requirements for the AIBE exam:

1. Indian Citizenship: To appear for the AIBE exam, you must be an Indian citizen, meaning you should be from India.

2. No Age Limit: One interesting aspect of the AIBE exam is that there's no upper age limit, making it accessible to candidates of all ages.

3. LLB Degree: You need to have a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree, which could be either a 3-year or 5-year program. This demonstrates the educational requirement for the exam.

4. Registered Advocate: It's crucial that you're a registered advocate professional with any state's bar council. This is a mandatory requirement to qualify for the AIBE exam. Essentially, you need to be a practicing lawyer or advocate to take this exam.

5. Documentation: If you plan to take the AIBE Exam 2023, you must provide the necessary documentation as proof of your enrollment as an advocate, as per Section 24 of the Advocates Act 1961.

Read Details: AIBE Exam

6 - State-level Entrance Examinations 

State-level entrance examinations help students pursue LLM programs in their preferred states. Here, we'll explore some key state-level entrance exams and their common eligibility criteria.

State-level Entrance Examinations:

• MH CET Law Exam: If you want to study LLM in Maharashtra, you would need to take this Exam.

• RULET (Rajasthan University Law Entrance Test): Specifically for students aiming to study law in Rajasthan.

• LAWCET (Law Common Entrance Test): This exam is conducted for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

• PGLCET (Post Graduate Law Common Entrance Test): Also held in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, catering to postgraduate law aspirants.

• Kerala Law Entrance Exam: If you're interested in LLM programs in Kerala, this is the exam to keep an eye on.

• LFAT (Law Faculty Admission Test): Administered by the University of Allahabad.

• BHU PET Law (Banaras Hindu University Postgraduate Entrance Test for Law): Designed for LLM aspirants at Banaras Hindu University.

• PU LLM Law (Punjab University LLM Law Entrance Exam): Applicable for candidates looking to pursue LLM at Punjab University.

Common Eligibility Requirements:

• For state-level entrance exams, certain common eligibility criteria apply to most of these exams. These include:

  • Having a bachelor's degree in law.
  • The required minimum marks may vary from state to state.

  Example: In some states, you may need a minimum of 45% marks in your bachelor's degree, while in others, it could be 50%. These percentages can change based on the state you're applying to. Always check the specific requirements for the state you're interested in.

7 - TISS

Tata Institute of Social Sciences conducts the TISS exam for several programs, including the LLM program. 

Eligibility requirements:

To order to take the TISS exam, you must have valid scores in the LLB program with qualifying marks. 

8 - LSAT

The exam is conducted to offer a one-year LL.M. program, and students will be selected based on their performance in LSAT India. The eligibility requirement is to have valid scores in your LLB exams. 

9 - DU LLM 

Delhi university conducts the DU LLM exam to offer admission to the LLM program. Several candidates apply for this exam every year. 

• There is no age limit required. 
• You hold a three-year or five-year LLB integrated program. If you are in the final year of your UG degree, you are also eligible to apply for the examination.
• For EWS category students, you must pass the LLB degree with at least 50% marks. 
• For SC/ ST category students, then you should have scored at least 45% marks in the last qualifying degree. 

10 - PU LLM

The exam is conducted by the Punjab university to offer an LLM program to desiring and eligible aspirants. You must have cleared a 3-year LLB or 5 years integrated BA LLB or B.Com LLB with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/BC/PwD candidates) from this university or equivalent to be eligible to apply.

College-level LLM Entrance Examination

Some of the university-level entrance examinations are listed below: 

• UPES: UPES Law Studies Aptitude Test which is commonly known as ULSAT Exam. It is a university level law entrance exam organized by University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES) Dehradun.

• D.G.B. Dayanand Law College LLM Entrance Exam: D.G.B. Dayanand Law College, situated in Solapur, Maharashtra. Conducts its own independent LLM entrance exam.

• Dayanand College of Law LLM Entrance Exam: Dayanand College of Law, a renowned law college in Kanpur, has its unique entrance exam for LLM aspirants.

• Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya LLM Entrance Exam: Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya college in Indore, holds an entrance exam for their LLM program. 

• Chaudhary Charan Singh University LLM Entrance Exam: If you wish to pursue LLM at Chaudhary Charan Singh University in Meerut, you should prepare for this exam.

• Christ College of Law Entrance Test: Christ College of Law in Bengaluru requires applicants to take their specific entrance test for LLM.

• Acharya Nagarjuna University LLM Entrance Exam: Acharya Nagarjuna University in Andhra Pradesh conducts its own entrance examination for LLM programs.

• Aligarh Muslim University LLM Entrance Exam: Aligarh Muslim University in Aligarh has its entrance exam for LLM admissions.

• Allahabad University LLM Entrance Exam: Allahabad University administers its entrance exam for LLM candidates.

• HNLU Entrance Test: Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU) conducts its entrance test for LLM aspirants

• The Tamil Nadu Dr. Ambedkar Law University LLM Entrance Exam: This university in Tamil Nadu holds its entrance exam for LLM admissions

• The University of Burdwan LLM Entrance Exam: The University of Burdwan conducts its unique entrance exam for LLM programs

• The W.B. National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS) LLM Entrance Exam: NUJS conducts its own entrance exam for LLM aspirants

• University of Mumbai (Bombay) - Department of Law LLM Entrance: The Department of Law at the University of Mumbai conducts an entrance exam for LLM candidates.

Additional Information:

• Many other colleges and law schools offer LLM admission based on merit, so there are multiple paths to pursue an LLM degree in India.
• Example: Some students may opt for colleges offering LLM based on merit, depending on their academic performance.

 Key Takeaways 

1. Entrance Exams vs. Merit-Based Admission: Understand that there are options for both entrance exams and merit-based admission for LLM programs. Choose the path that suits your preferences and qualifications.

2. Eligibility Criteria: Make sure you meet the specific eligibility requirements for the entrance exams you intend to take. These often include having an LLB degree and meeting minimum marks criteria, which can vary based on your category.

3. Top Entrance Exams: The article has highlighted the top 10 LLM entrance exams in India, along with their eligibility requirements. This provides a clear roadmap for prospective LLM students.

4. State and College-Level Exams: State-level and college-level entrance exams offer additional choices. Be aware of these options and their eligibility criteria.

5. AIBE for Practicing Law: If you plan to practice law in India, the AIBE exam is a key step, but you must fulfill specific requirements.

6. No Age Limit: Many exams don't have an upper age limit, making LLM accessible for a wide range of individuals.

7. Explore Merit-Based Options: Don't forget to explore colleges offering LLM based on merit if you prefer this route. Many institutions have this alternative available.