Top Law Colleges in India and Mumbai, and the Exam for Each

Top Law Colleges in India and Mumbai, and the Exam for Each

By Adv. Aaditya Vikram Parmar, LL.M.

The right question is not which college is best, but which college you can reach through which exam. This guide groups the leading law colleges by their entrance test, so your college list and your exam list match.

National Law Universities (through CLAT)

There are more than 25 National Law Universities. NLSIU Bengaluru, NLU Delhi and NALSAR Hyderabad hold the top three places in the NIRF law rankings. NLU Delhi admits through AILET; the others through CLAT.

• National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru
• NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad
• West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata
• National Law University, Jodhpur
• Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar
• National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal
• Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai
• MNLU Nagpur and MNLU Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Colleges with their own exams

Mumbai and Maharashtra (through MH CET Law)

• Government Law College (GLC), Mumbai: the oldest law college in Asia and the first choice of most Mumbai aspirants.
• ILS Law College, Pune.
• University-affiliated law colleges across Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Pune.
• Admission is through the CET Cell’s centralised admission process, on your MH CET Law score.

Maharashtra offers roughly 11,500 seats in the 5-year LLB and 16,400 in the 3-year LLB through MH CET Law.

How to choose a law college

• Decide your goal first. Corporate law firms recruit mainly from the top NLUs. For litigation and judiciary, a strong local college in the city where you will practise often serves you better.
• Compare total cost, not just tuition. NLU fees plus hostel can be several times a government college’s fees.
• Look at the city. Courts, law firms and internships are concentrated in metros.
• Check moot court, legal aid and internship support, not just the brochure ranking.
• Verify Bar Council of India approval for the current year.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best law college in Mumbai?

Government Law College, Mumbai is the most sought after through MH CET Law. MNLU Mumbai is the National Law University option through CLAT.

Do I need CLAT for Mumbai law colleges?

Only for MNLU Mumbai. Most other Mumbai colleges admit through MH CET Law.

Is a 5-year LLB better than a 3-year LLB?

Both lead to the same LLB and the same right to practise. The 5-year course saves a year for students who decide on law after Class 12.

Classroom batches run at our Andheri, Borivali, Vasai, Virar and Chembur centres. Call 9022092506 for batch timings and a counselling session.