When most students think about getting into a top law school in India, one word dominates the conversation—CLAT. And while it’s true that CLAT unlocks doors to 24 NLUs, it’s not the only path to a great legal career.
India has an entire ecosystem of Other Law Entrance Tests (OLETs)—each with its own structure, focus areas, and affiliated colleges. If you’re serious about studying law, it’s time to treat these exams not as “Plan B” but as parallel highways, each leading to meaningful opportunities.
This blog breaks down those “other exams” in a simple, student-first way—so you know which ones suit you, what prep they need, and why they might be worth a serious shot.
Let’s bust a myth early: AILET, SLAT, LSAT—India, MH CET Law, CUET LAW, and others aren’t just “backup” options. Many of them are:
More competitive than you think (AILET has fewer seats than even CLAT)
Linked to prestigious institutions ( Symbiosis, BHU, AMU etc.)
Specialized in structure (like ULSAT for energy law)
What students miss is the strategic edge OLETs offer. These exams are staggered across the year, giving you multiple shots without betting everything on a single day like CLAT. Also, their syllabi often overlap—meaning you can prepare for 3–4 of them with just 10–20% extra effort.
Here’s a smart breakdown of the major OLETs—not just what they are, but what they mean for your legal career.
1. AILET – National Law University, Delhi
Seats: ~110 for BA LLB
Unique Feature: Only NLU that does not accept CLAT.
Ideal for: CLAT-level aspirants who want a second shot at a premier national law university.
AILET’s difficulty rivals CLAT—but with far fewer seats, it’s arguably even tougher. If you’re the kind of student who thrives in high-pressure, high-reward scenarios, AILET should be on your radar from Day 1.
2. SLAT – Symbiosis Law Admission Test
Institutions Covered: SLS Pune, Noida, Nagpur, Hyderabad
Mode: Online + Personal Interview (PI)
Ideal for: Students who want a balanced academic environment, and aren’t shy of personality-based evaluations.
SLAT’s pattern leans slightly easier than CLAT, with no negative marking. But don’t be fooled—the PI rounds demand strong communication and clarity of thought. SLAT suits aspirants who want a blend of academics, extracurriculars, and soft skill exposure.
3. LNAT—UK – Law National Aptitude Test
Accepted by: Jindal Global Law School (JGLS)
Pattern: Critical reasoning heavy, modeled after the international LNAT
Ideal for: Students strong in logic, reading, and abstract thinking
Starting from the 2025 batch, JGLS has adopted the LNAT—UK as its entrance test, replacing LSAT—India. This move aligns the institution with international standards and enhances its commitment to selecting students based on a globally recognized assessment.
4. MH CET Law – Maharashtra Common Entrance Test
Available for: 5-year and 3-year LLB
Colleges: GLC Mumbai, ILS Pune, and 100+ others in Maharashtra
Ideal for: Budget-conscious students wanting respected public colleges.
MH CET Law is underrated. The top 5-year colleges like GLC and ILS have produced alumni working at Tier-1 firms, judiciary, and civil services. If you can handle tight competition (low fees attract high volumes), this CET is a hidden gem.
5. KIITEE Law – Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology
For: 5-year integrated LLB aspirants
Colleges: KIIT Law School, Bhubaneswar
Ideal for: Students seeking a modern legal education with a focus on emerging fields.
KIIT Law School offers a dynamic curriculum encompassing B.A. LL.B., B.B.A. LL.B., and B.Sc. LL.B. programs. The KIITEE Law exam evaluates candidates across four sections: Mathematical Ability, Analytical & Logical Ability, Verbal Ability, and General Knowledge. The exam consists of 120 multiple-choice questions, totaling 480 marks, with a duration of 150 minutes.
6. CUET UG (2025)
For: 5-year LLB at BHU, AMU, and other central universities
Ideal for: Students seeking affordable legal education at top central universities.
CUET UG now covers LLB admissions for BHU and AMU, offering a mix of traditional legal philosophy and modern curriculum. The exam includes general aptitude and domain-specific sections.
7. Christ University Law Entrance
Institutions: Christ (Bangalore, NCR, Pune-Lavasa)
Pattern: Moderate difficulty, includes PI
Ideal for: Students looking for a structured, disciplined campus environment.
Christ has strict rules, but excellent infrastructure and decent placements. They favor well-rounded personalities in interviews, so show up with more than just bookish prep.
8. ULSAT – UPES Legal Studies Aptitude Test
Offered by: UPES Dehradun
Specializations: Energy Law, Tech Law, IPR
Ideal for: Students who already know they want to pursue niche law areas.
UPES is not mainstream, but it’s strategically smart for students who want to dive into fast-growing legal fields early. The programs are aligned with industry trends.
9. PU CET – Panjab University Law Entrance Test
Available for: 5-year BA/B.Com LLB (Hons.) and 3-year LLB
Colleges: Department of Laws, Panjab University, and affiliated colleges
Ideal for: Students seeking quality legal education in North India at an affordable cost.
PU CET is a state-level entrance exam conducted by Panjab University for admission to its law programs. The exam tests candidates on legal aptitude, general knowledge, and reasoning abilities. Panjab University has a strong legacy in legal education, with alumni serving in various high-profile legal positions.
10. NMIMS LAT – NMIMS Law Aptitude Test
Institutions Covered: Kirit P. Mehta School of Law, Mumbai, and other NMIMS campuses
Mode: Online
Ideal for: Students looking for a modern curriculum with global exposure.
NMIMS LAT is designed to assess a candidate's aptitude for law through sections on verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and logical reasoning. NMIMS offers a contemporary legal education with opportunities for international collaborations and internships.
So... Which OLET Is Right for You?
Choosing your OLETs shouldn’t feel like flipping a coin. Ask yourself:
Am I aiming for a public or private university?
Do I care more about ranking or environment?
Am I better at logic and reading, or GK and speed?
Do I want a big campus, a focused niche program, or city exposure?
How many attempts am I willing to take, and what’s my financial bandwidth?
These questions matter more than just syllabus and exam pattern.
Myth: OLETs = Lower Career Growth.
Fact: It’s All About Leverage.
A student from Symbiosis with a great internship record, writing credits, and solid networking can outperform a disengaged NLU graduate any day. Your college opens doors—but it’s your consistency, internships, projects, and communication that keep those doors open.
Whether it’s JGLS, GLC Mumbai, or SLS Pune, the legal world doesn’t care where you studied as much as what you did while there.
In short:
Law firms want skills.
Judges want clarity.
Clients want results.
And none of those are tied to your entrance test scorecard.
Strategic Timeline: How to Use OLETs as a Safety Net and Springboard
Time your prep to align with each exam’s schedule. With smart planning, you can ace multiple OLETs without burning out.
Final Words: It’s Not CLAT vs. Others. It’s CLAT and Others.
Law isn’t a one-road profession. It has alleys, highways, and hidden shortcuts—and these OLETs are your map to explore them.
In a field as vast as law—where you can go from litigation to policy to IP to diplomacy—your entrance exam is just Step One. So treat it like what it is: the start of a marathon, not the finish line.
Don’t just prepare harder. Prepare smarter. And prepare wider.
Because opportunity doesn’t always knock through CLAT. Sometimes, it slips in through the side door.
And remember, platforms like NLTI are here to guide you on this journey, offering personalized mentorship, curated resources, and expert-led mock tests to help you take on each OLET with confidence and strategy.
