Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Tips to crack the Common Law Admission Test

May 12, 2009 14:00 IST

Will you be taking the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) this year?

Are you prepared for the changed pattern of the test?

What are the best law colleges to apply to?

To answer these and many other related questions, Senthil Kumar, National Marketing Head, LST, Career Launcher, hosted a chat with GA readers on May 11, 2009. For those of you who missed the chat, here's the unedited transcript:  


kl asked, sir, any tips for GK

Senthil Kumar answers, Dear Kl, GK is broadly divided into Current & Static GK I would advise you to concentrate on more current affairs related to legal gk


Duminy asked, how to prepare?

Senthil Kumar answers, Dear Duminy, Prepareation for CLAT is broadly put in 5 subjects which includes English, Maths, Logic, GK and Leagal Knowledge.


vdgarg asked, MY daughter is studying B.Com I st year and appearing in CLAT 2009. Kindly give her some tips . Is there any reservation for female candidates in CLAT.

Senthil Kumar answers, Dear vdgarg, Last yr CLAT was taken more girls than boys (close to 10% higher) Sure most of the law school follows 30% horizondal reservation for girls.


Puneet asked, what is the full form CLAT?

Senthil Kumar answers, CLAT stands for Common Law Admission test (CLAT) for 11 National Law university which offers 5 yr LLB right after class 12th.


Gabbar asked, How is this year's CLAT different from last year?

Senthil Kumar answers, CLAT sure differeent from last yr to this year a) Legal reason section is converted to Leagl GK or Knowledge segment b) Declared 200 questions


vdf asked, sir, i am plannin on giving clat... wat sections are there?

Senthil Kumar answers, There are 5 sections English Maths GK Logic(Analtical & critical) Leagl Knowledge.


james asked, any tips for last 1 week preparation? what topics to lay stress on..

Senthil Kumar answers, Please stick to your basic strong area and weak area, Please do past yr papers of NLS and NALSAR in specific. Last but not least work on Current affairs and Gk section.


Puneet asked, What are the names of 11 National Law university for which the entrance test CLAT is conducted

Senthil Kumar answers, 11 NLU are NLS Bangalore NALSAR Hyd NUJS Kol NLU Jod NLIU Bhopal GNLU Guj HNLU Raipur RMLNUL Lko CNLU Patna RGNUL Patiala NUALS Cochin It is entrance exam for 5 yr law course.


yuki asked, are there any good books for prep?

Senthil Kumar answers, Please dont pull up books in last one week for CLAT, rather subscribe past yr papers.


raj asked, what is clat

Senthil Kumar answers, CLAT is Entrance exam for getting in top National Law university in the country like (IIT JEE or CAT)


Roneeta asked, from where does one prepare legal GK?

Senthil Kumar answers, Pay more attention to the Constitution of India, and the events happening around you. Important areas for the Constitution: • Judiciary • Elections • Parliament Current affairs dealing with law: In the domestic sector, Concentrate on all the happenings in the field of terrorism and the new laws to tackle it. Closely follow the legal issues associated with the Satyam scandal. One good way would be to look at all the commissions and committees set up, and the latest status regarding their functioning. International sector: • Wars and human rights, and environment- these are the crucial topics. • The measures taken to curb international terrorism are also important.


cai asked, i am mba in finance , cai i give clat and pursue career in the same??

Senthil Kumar answers, Sorry CLAT has Age criteria those who are less than age 20 can take CLAT


visu asked, Sir, Pls give the rankings of college. What is the ranking for AMITY,NOIDA

Senthil Kumar answers, Dear Visu, Lawentrance.com has own ranking system according to us Tier 1: NLSIU Bangalore NALSAR Hyderabad NUJS Kolkata Tier 2: NLIU Bhopal NLU Jodhpur Delhi Faculty of Law Tier 3: Christ College of Law ILS Pune Symbiosis Pune GNLU Gandhinagar GLC Mumbai HNLU Raipur UPES Dehradun NUALS Cochin Amity Law School (IP-University affiliate) Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune Tier 4: Faculty of Law, BHU ULC Bangalore Army Institute of Law, Mohali Kerala Law Academy KIIT Law school, Bhubaneshwar The New 'Juris Academia' (Law Schools): NUALS, Kochi CNLU, Patna RMLNLU, Lucknow RGNUL, Patiala Jindal Global Law School, Delhi MATS Law School, Raipur


Puneet asked, What is the earning per month that I can expect after doing this course for 5 years?

Senthil Kumar answers, One of the rescession proof industry is law Normally Law firm will pay around 60 to 70 K as take home after 5 yr in NLUs


visu asked, HOWMANY STUDENT ARE WRITING CLAT

Senthil Kumar answers, Around 14 to 15 thousand students are expect to take CLAT 2009


pktbabu asked, Do CLAT has negative maring system . If yes wahat is that.

Senthil Kumar answers, Good news is no Negative marking in CLAT 2009. Dont try leave any questions..


ARJUN asked, any negative marks for wrong answer for any subject

Senthil Kumar answers, No negative marking in CLAT 2009


cai asked, i come to chat often and the questions asked are tremendous. how come CLAT does not have popularity as the questions asked r v few. is it a good choice to pursue career in legal feild??

Senthil Kumar answers, Good question, Still parents and students have pre concivied notion that law equal to court room, But in reality it is not career in law is wise open(you can do any thing after law) What you build is excellent learning platform.


visu asked, I tnink amity is not part of amity. What about Amity ,Noida

Senthil Kumar answers, Amity runs 2 type of prog in same campus 1) Affliated with IP university 2) Amity university.


sen asked, what wud b the starting salary if i complete lawa nd work under a reputed lawyer??

Senthil Kumar answers, Its is completely based on the senior counsel whom you are prasticing... But once you start your owm practice then sky is the limit..


yuki asked, sir approx how much time do u need to properly prepare for CLAT?

Senthil Kumar answers, Foused preparation one time will help to get in NLS, If not you can take again as age limit is till 20


sdfasd asked, any thing equivalent to CLAT as i m a PG student can i go into the same sort of profession.

Senthil Kumar answers, If you plan to take law as career then you have to do proper residential course 3 yr llb


Madhurima asked, Sir, will Law of TORTS, CONTRACTS, CRIMINAL law come under legal GK ?

Senthil Kumar answers, Will come under Legal GK section.. But only Knowledge part not reasoning


visu asked, AFTER LLB,WHICH IS MOST BEST IE TO WORK UNDER ADVOVATES, OR LAW FIRM OR IN COMAPNIES

Senthil Kumar answers, Visu i would advise to take this call after your 5 yr degree, As law school will alow you to do around 12 to 13 internship. Please choose your career then not now. Listen to ur heart.. and Passsion


pktbabu asked, How is Jindal Global law School ? I have heard with that degree you can practice law at USA and UK ? Is it true ?

Senthil Kumar answers, Yes first time a law school has come in with international recog. even faculties will be visiting from Columbia and Yale for classes..


Whosen asked, there r more than 4 crore cases pending in different courts in the country

Senthil Kumar answers, Thats the whole point more national law school and comming in india. As india need more qualified and profession lawyers.. But still very less choose to Parctice after 5 yr law school..


Aashish asked, How many marks, out of 200 would help me fetch the creme-de-la-creme of NLU's ?

Senthil Kumar answers, last yr if you were around 115 to 120 aleast one law school will call you for admission, This it is based on no. of takers and how tough is the paper..


visu asked, SIR IN THE ADVT, AMITY LAW SCHOOL HAS GIVEN NO 1 IN TIMES OF INDIA RANKINGS. HOW IT IS DONE

Senthil Kumar answers, Visu each and every ranking is based on certain parameter.. as awared students you need to ask for parameters rather sticking to advs..


pktbabu asked, How is BA , LLB of Modi Institute of Technology , what is its ranking

Senthil Kumar answers, Currently out of ranking system..


Whosen asked, I agree with u pktbabu thats why common man doesnt want to enter court.

Senthil Kumar answers, We read Civics as boring subject as Chemistry.. but one should know basic constitution and rights etc.


dk asked, what is the cost of prepartion of clat..may i start with regualr studies in XII

Senthil Kumar answers, Sure loads of people prepare Class XII and CLAT... One should understand CLAT is Skill and Knowledge based test which chks students in Eng, Logic, Maths,GK and Legal. For more information on how to prepare and Law School in the country log on to www.lawentrance.com


ramesh asked, sir is it necessary to rem all those laws and law nos from that fat law books?

Senthil Kumar answers, No not required either for CLAT preparation and in the time practice. They dont ask questions in IPC and CPC's rather they want you to know about Important areas for the Constitution:like Judiciary Elections Parliament


sandy asked, Sir I am apostgraduate in Science and currently in Patents. I want to do a Law degree. Kindly suggest me whether to go for an LLB in India or a JD from US. My work mostly requires compliance issues of USFDA and legal aspects of US Patenting. Also, what will be the financial issues?

Senthil Kumar answers, Sandy i would like you to browse through a course which is offered by IIT Kharagpur(3 yr LLB in IPR)


anju asked, what is the average cut off mark for banglore/ hyderabad national law school?

Senthil Kumar answers, Thers is no cut off as such but one should aim aroun 145 to 150 to be in NLS or Nalsar


Writi asked, How do you rank the institutes under CLAT ? What marks may offer admission for first five ?

Senthil Kumar answers, Top five inst are NLS Bang, NALSAR, Hyd, NUJS, NLU JDR and NLIU Bhopal. Some one should be around 135 to 140 to get calls from any one of the top 5 law schools


anju asked, what are the areas to concentrate in legal reasoning

Senthil Kumar answers, Anju there is no Leagal reasoning only Leagl GK


anju asked, what are the areas to concentrate in legal reasoning

Senthil Kumar answers, Pay more attention to the Constitution of India, and the events happening around you. Important areas for the Constitution: • Judiciary • Elections • Parliament Current affairs dealing with law: In the domestic sector, Concentrate on all the happenings in the field of terrorism and the new laws to tackle it. Closely follow the legal issues associated with the Satyam scandal. One good way would be to look at all the commissions and committees set up, and the latest status regarding their functioning. International sector: • Wars and human rights, and environment- these are the crucial topics. • The measures taken to curb international terrorism are also important.


shekhar asked, can a student aspiring for cat appear for clat since the pattern of exmans seems to be the same

Senthil Kumar answers, NO age limit doesnt allow to sit for clat (one should be less than age 20) CAT doesnt chk on legal and Critical reasoning section where in CLAT gives more imp.


riya asked, whosen,i want to know good colleges for LAW in maharashtra

Senthil Kumar answers, last but not least ILS Pune and GLC Mumbai are decent option, which has no entrance but intake through 12 marks


Senthil Kumar says, All the best for CLAT 2009 !!!!