National Law University, abbreviated as NLU is an educational institution designated as autonomous law school, for imparting legal education as directed by Bar Council of India (BCI). The autonomous law schools/NLUs were established after Legal Education Committee of the BCI considered and approved various proposals that demanded modernizing legal education. The NLUs were established with aims to improve legal education throughout India, revitalize legal profession by transforming law as a professional degree. Thereby in the late 80’s, the concept of offering five-year integrated law programs took birth and so were the law schools. These law schools are conferred either a ‘Deemed University’ or ‘University’ status by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The first such autonomous law school was National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore established in 1987. At present there are a total of 18 NLUs which offer the five-year integrated law programs, of which DSNLU, TNNLS and MNLU (Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai) are the latest ones to be included in the premier institutes’ list.
Different pathways to National Law Universities (NLUs)
Though being under a union status of National Law University, there are different pathways to secure admissions in them. Below are the different gateways to NLUs:
CLAT is the most sought after law entrance exam conducted by an NLU among the 16 members committee by rotation in the order of year of establishment. The 16 NLUs who are members of the CLAT committee are as follows –
- National Law School of India University, Bangalore
- National Academy of Legal Studies and Research, Hyderabad
- National Law Institute University, Bhopal
- West Bengal National University of Judicial Sciences, Kolkata
- National Law University, Jodhpur
- Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur
- Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar
- Ram Manohar Lohiya National law University, Lucknow
- Rajiv Gandhi National Law University, Patiala
- Chanakya National Law University, Patna
- National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi
- National Law University Odisha, Cuttack
- National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi
- National Law University and Judicial Academy, Guwahati
- Tamil Nadu National Law School, Trichy
- Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, Vishakhapatnam
Through AILET – The All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) is yet another coveted law entrance exam, conducted by National Law University Delhi (NLU-D). NLU Delhi intakes admissions based on the merit list of AILET.
Through MNLUAT – Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai offers admissions through an admission test, Maharashtra National Law University Admission Test (MNLUAT). Those who qualify the admission test are offered to participate in the counselling process of Mumbai NLU Admissions.
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