The Consortium of National Law Universities conducts the Common Law Admission Test for Post-Graduation (CLAT PG) for admission to LL.M programs across National Law Universities in India. The examination consists of a single objective paper containing 120 multiple-choice questions for 120 marks, conducted over 2 hours (120 minutes). Negative marking of 0.25 marks applies to each incorrect answer. CLAT PG scores also serve as the qualification benchmark for legal recruitment in prominent Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
The CLAT PG format differs from conventional judicial exams. The paper is entirely passage-based. Candidates are presented with extracts of 400 to 450 words drawn from landmark and recent judgments of the Supreme Court of India, significant statutory enactments, and international law developments. Each passage is followed by a series of objective questions evaluating both direct comprehension and underlying legal doctrines.
Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence form the core of CLAT PG, historically accounting for over 50% of the questions. Candidates are tested on evolving constitutional doctrines, including basic structure evolution, transformative constitutionalism, privacy jurisprudence, horizontal application of fundamental rights, and standards of judicial review. Jurisprudence questions assess foundational concepts: analytical positivism, natural law theory, theories of justice, ownership, possession, and legal personality. The remainder of the paper tests Criminal Law, Law of Contract, Torts, and Public International Law.
Succeeding in CLAT PG requires rapid reading comprehension and a thorough grasp of constitutional bench judgments from the past five years. Candidates should practice passage-based drills to quickly extract legal issues, identify concurring or dissenting opinions, and navigate the 0.25 negative marking penalty.
