NLUs in India

Some major reasons why NLUs stand out among the competition include:

• Every reputable organization visits NLUs to recruit students, therefore placement is among the best.
• NLU graduates are frequently given preference at law firms. NLU's brand recognition alone is enough to land a position at a prominent law firm.
• NLU students have very strong networks that might be advantageous in terms of networking and professional success.

In this article, we'll discuss the top NLUs in the country, recognized by students and our experts, with details like curriculum, degrees offered, fees, and more.

Top 10 NLUs In India 2025 with NIRF Ranking

List of Other NLUs In India

There are many NLUs other than the top 10 ones that provide top-notch education, and many students choose them to pursue their law programs. You can choose from the list provided below:

Law programs offered in NLUs

The NLUs of India offer a wide variety of UG and PG courses in law. A list of all the law programs is given below.

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CLAT and AILET Exam Pattern

Both CLAT and AILET have different exam patterns. Candidates must be well versed in the number of questions, sections in the exam, total time, etc to perform well in the exam. The exam pattern for both entrance exams is given below.

Here are a few factors that you must consider while doing so:

Eligibility Criteria for NLU Admissions

The eligibility criteria for NLU admission for both UG and PG courses are given below.

Eligibility Criteria for UG admission

• Candidates who have passed or are in  Class 12 qualifying exams are eligible to apply for NLU admissions. Provided they show their certificate at the time of admission.
• General/OBC/PWD/NRI/PIO/OCI category candidates must get at least 45 percent in the qualifying examination.
• SC/ST category candidates are allowed a 5% reduction in the minimum qualifying marks, requiring them to acquire at least 40% in the Class 12 qualifying test.

Eligibility Criteria for PG admission

• Candidates seeking admission to LLM programs at NLUs must hold an LLB degree or its equivalent from a recognized legal institution or university.
• General/OBC/PWD/NRI/PIO/OCI category candidates must have at least 50% in their qualifying law degree.
• SC/ST category candidates must have at least 45% or an equivalent grade in their law degree.
• Candidates in the last year of their legal degrees can also apply.

NLUs Admission Process

Admission to any National Law University is done via the Common Law Admission Test i.e. CLAT. However, NLU Delhi does not accept the CLAT score rather it accepts AILET (All India Law Entrance Test) ranks to offer seats in law programs offered by it.

The step-wise admission process of these institutions is given below:

• Take CLAT/AILET
• Students are shortlisted for NLUs based on their test score/rank and the merit list of the specific institute. Several merit lists are made public.
• Once the results (ranks) are out, and the students have opted for their desired NLU, the counseling process begins, followed by the first semester in college.

Note:

CLAT 2027 is expected to be conducted on December 6, 2026 (Sunday). Registration is expected to open in August 2026. The official notification will be released on consortiumofnlus.ac.in.

AILET 2027 exam date has not been officially announced yet. Candidates are advised to keep checking the official NLU Delhi website at nationallawuniversitydelhi.in for updates.

Now let’s look at the top six of the NLUs one by one.

1. NLSIU Bangalore

NLSIU Bangalore was founded in 1986 as a result of a collaboration between the Bar Council of India, Bangalore University, the Government of Karnataka, The Karnataka Bar Council, and the Judiciary, and is credited for ushering in a new age of legal education in India.

A National Entrance Test was used to select the first class of students in 1988. Beginning in 2008, NLSIU Bangalore began accepting applications based on the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), the first edition of which was held in 2008 by NLSIU (the first NLU).

NLSIU Bangalore is also commonly referred to as the “Harvard of the East”.

NLSIU Bangalore Programs Offered:

Below are the programs offered by NLSIU Bangalore

NLSIU Bangalore Placements

Placements in both UG and PG courses are provided by NLSIU Bangalore.

Top Law Firms

Top Companies

Click here to read detailed information about NLSIU Bangalore.

2. NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad

The National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) University of Law, founded in 1998, is India's second National Law University. NALSAR is regarded as one of the top National Law Universities in India, with students admitted from all around the country through CLAT. 

It is consistently ranked as one of the top two National Law Universities in any legal school rankings including NIRF. Until 2012, NALSAR was driven by mandated courses; however, following a re-evaluation in June 2012, it transitioned to a credit-based system in which a student must obtain 200 credit points to get their degree.

NALSAR Courses Offered

Here are the UG and PG courses offered by NALSAR.

NALSAR Placements

Top-tier law firms and specialized companies - both Indian and international; corporate houses, Public Sector Undertakings, and regulatory authorities have consistently recruited from NALSAR. As per NIRF 2025 data, a total of 167 students were placed during the 2024 placement cycle (108 BA LLB + 59 LLM students). 

The median placement package for UG 5-year students was INR 17.5 LPA, while for PG students it was INR 7.8 LPA. Some of the top recruiters include AZB & Partners, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Khaitan & Co, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, and Trilegal.

Click here to see detailed information on NALSAR Hyderabad.

3. NLU Delhi

NLU Delhi was founded following the passage of the National Law University, Delhi Act, 2007 (Delhi Act 1 of 2008). The University's principal goal is to develop and deliver comprehensive and multidisciplinary legal education that is socially relevant.

NLU Delhi strives to promote legal and ethical ideals, as well as the rule of law and the purposes established in the Indian Constitution, through this education.

NLU Delhi: Programs Offered

Listed below are the various programs offered by NLU Delhi. The programs offered by the university are affiliated with UGC(University Grants Commission) and BCI (Bar Council India).

NLU Delhi Placements

NLU Delhi attracts top law firms, corporate houses, PSUs, and government organizations to its campus recruitment process. Some of the top recruiters at NLU Delhi include Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, Trilegal, Khaitan & Co, AZB & Partners, L&L Partners, Saraf & Partners, ICICI Bank, BHEL, IOC, SAIL, NTPC, SEBI, and ONGC.

NLU Delhi graduates also pursue careers in academia, civil services, judicial services, and entrepreneurship.

Click here to read more about NLU Delhi.

4. The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata (WBNUJS)

The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS) was founded in 1999 under the WBNUJS Act (West Bengal Act IX of 1999) and has been assigned an NIRF rank of 4 for 2025. The Chancellor of the University and Chairman of the General Council is the Chief Justice of India.

 NUJS offers an extensive library with books and journals spanning a wide range of subjects, including law, social sciences, and humanities. The University also includes a Legal Aid Clinic, which provides legal aid to persons who would otherwise be unable to access the legal system through different ways, as well as clinical education for students.

Programs Offered by WBNUJS

Below are the programs offered by WBNUJS.

WBNUJS Placements

WBNUJS is one of the top law schools in India, and its placements are consistently among the best in the country. As per NIRF 2025 data, a total of 197 students were placed during the 2024 placement cycle. The median salary for UG students was INR 20 LPA (highest among all NLUs) and INR 10 LPA for LLM students.

Some of the top recruiters at WBNUJS include Trilegal, Khaitan & Co, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, AZB & Partners, Saraf & Partners, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, and PRS Legislative Research.

Click here to see detailed information about WBNUJS.

5. NLU Jodhpur

NLU Jodhpur is a premier national law university located in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. It was established in 1999 by the Government of Rajasthan as a residential university for legal studies and research. The university is accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with an 'A' grade and is ranked among the top law schools in India.

NLU Jodhpur has a well-equipped library with a vast collection of books, journals, and other resources. The university also has a state-of-the-art moot court hall and a legal aid clinic. The university provides its students with a wide range of extracurricular activities, including sports, cultural programs, and student clubs.

It has produced many distinguished alumni who are now working as lawyers, judges, bureaucrats, and academicians. The university has a strong alumni network that provides support and guidance to its students and graduates.

NLU Jodhpur Courses Offered

Below are the programs offered by NLU Jodhpur.

NLU Jodhpur Placements

As per the latest placement data, during the 2025 Day Zero placements, 27 offers were received by students, out of which 20 were accepted from 13 participating law firms. The average package for UG graduates is INR 14.5 LPA. Some of the top recruiters include Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, AZB & Partners, Khaitan & Co, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, and Trilegal.

Click here to see detailed information about NLU Jodhpur.

6. GNLU Gujarat

The Gujarat National Law University Act of 2003 established GNLU Gujarat in 2003. The university offers a large library with over 35,000 books and legal reports, as well as a subscription to 150 current periodicals, newspapers, reference books, and e-books. 

It includes extensive resources in the field of law as well as other related topics such as Management, Sociology, Science and Technology, History, Economics, and English Literature. GNLU provides a forum for activities such as mooting (which is highly strenuous), article writing, research paper writing and presentation at conferences, and client counseling.

GNLU Gujarat Courses Offered

Below are the programs offered by GNLU Gujarat.

GNLU Gujarat Placements

Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) has consistently delivered impressive placement results. As per NIRF 2025 data, a total of 218 students were placed during the 2024 placement cycle - 175 UG and 43 LLM students. The median salary for UG students was INR 18 LPA (up from INR 16 LPA in 2023), and INR 6.2 LPA for LLM students. GNLU recorded 100% placements for the third consecutive year. Some of the leading recruiters at GNLU include Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, AZB & Partners, Khaitan & Co., Trilegal, IndusLaw, and Argus Partners.

Click here to see detailed information about GNLU Gujarat.

Key Takeaways

• 25 NLUs now participate in CLAT 2027, including the newly added RPNLU Prayagraj.
• NLSIU Bangalore, NLU Delhi, and NALSAR Hyderabad are the top 3 NLUs as per NIRF 2025.
• CLAT 2027 is expected to be conducted on December 6, 2026. Registration opens in August 2026.
• NLU Delhi conducts its own entrance test, AILET, and does not accept CLAT scores.
• Minimum eligibility for UG admission is 45% in Class 12 (40% for SC/ST).
• Minimum eligibility for PG admission is 50% in LLB (45% for SC/ST).

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