AILET Preparation Guide 2025
All India Law Entrance Test — National Law University Delhi
Class 12 students (or passed) targeting NLU Delhi's 5-year BA LLB (Hons); LLM aspirants targeting NLU Delhi's postgraduate programme; CLAT aspirants who want NLU Delhi as a primary target.
Exam at a Glance
Conducted By
National Law University Delhi (NLU Delhi) — independent, not Consortium of NLUs
Accepting Colleges
NLU Delhi (National Law University Delhi) exclusively
Vacancies / Seats
~80 seats BA LLB (Hons); ~30 seats LLM; ~10 seats Ph.D (separate process)
Age Limit
No upper age limit for BA LLB; Graduation required for LLM
Eligibility
Class 12 with 45% aggregate (general); 40% for SC/ST; any stream
Frequency
Once per year (typically June, before CLAT results)
Total Applicants
~50,000 per year
Section-Wise Breakdown
Strategy: AILET English is more grammar-focused than CLAT's pure comprehension format. Vocabulary building (1,000+ high-frequency legal and academic words) pays dividends across multiple question types. Read Wren & Martin grammar basics + The Hindu editorials daily. Aim for 28+/35.
Strategy: AILET GK is more static-heavy than CLAT — legal static GK (constitutional provisions, fundamental rights milestones, landmark SC cases from history) forms 30–40% of GK marks. Read The Hindu daily + current legal events from Bar & Bench or LiveLaw. Maintain a monthly GK digest. Target 25+/35.
Strategy: AILET Reasoning is more analytical (puzzle/arrangement) than CLAT's argument-analysis focus. Practice RS Aggarwal's Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning + 15 AILET previous papers for pattern familiarity. Speed is critical — 35 questions in 35 minutes. Target 26+/35.
Strategy: AILET Legal Aptitude mixes principle-fact reasoning (like CLAT) with direct legal GK questions (unlike CLAT). Memorise key constitutional Articles, landmark Supreme Court cases, and common legal maxims. Read Bare Acts of IPC, CrPC, CPC for legal GK. Target 26+/35.
Strategy: CLAT abolished Maths in 2020; AILET retains it. The 10-question Maths section is Class 10 level — manageable with 3–4 weeks of focused revision from RS Aggarwal's Quantitative Aptitude (basic chapters only). Aim for 8+/10. Do not spend disproportionate preparation time here.
Top Colleges Accepting CLAT
| College | Location | NIRF Rank | CLAT Cutoff | Specialisation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Law University Delhi (NLU Delhi) | New Delhi | #2 | AIR 1–110 (general category closes around rank 75–90) | Corporate Law, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, International Law |
Preparation Timeline
Build shared law entrance base: English, Reasoning, Legal GK
- English: Wren & Martin grammar (chapters 1–40) + 10 Hindu editorials per week
- GK: Begin monthly current affairs notes from The Hindu + Bar & Bench legal news
- Legal GK: Constitution of India — Preamble, Fundamental Rights (Art 12–35), DPSPs, Schedules
- Reasoning: RS Aggarwal Verbal Reasoning (chapters 1–25) — seating, blood relations, syllogisms
- Maths: 30 min/day basic Quantitative Aptitude for 6 weeks (Class 10 level)
- Solve CLAT 2018–2022 papers to understand law entrance pattern
AILET-specific content: Legal GK, static GK, objective English, Maths
- Legal Aptitude: Memorise 100 landmark SC cases, 50 Latin legal maxims, fundamental rights landmark cases
- Solve AILET PYQ 2018–2024 (all sections) — pattern is distinct from CLAT, needs separate practice
- Static Legal GK: Court hierarchy, CPC, CrPC, IPC basics (Sections 302, 420, 376 and their applications)
- Vocabulary: Learn 1,000 high-frequency words with mnemonics (Barron's GRE word list — top 600)
- Maths: 2 complete mock rounds of elementary Maths (ensure 8+/10 before exam)
Full AILET mocks with 90-minute timing, section-wise error analysis
- Full AILET mock every 3 days (150 questions / 90 minutes — strict timing)
- Section-wise accuracy audit: identify if Legal Aptitude or Reasoning is below 75% accuracy
- Current Affairs sprint: last 6 months of legal news (LiveLaw, Bar & Bench daily)
- English grammar revision: common error types identified from mock analysis
- Target score: 120+/150 for general category admission to NLU Delhi (AIR under 90)
Career Paths After Law School
Corporate Lawyer
₹15–25 LPA starting (Tier 1 firms); ₹8–12 LPA (Tier 2 firms)NLU Delhi has the strongest corporate law placement record among all NLUs. Tier 1 law firms (AZB & Partners, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Trilegal, Shardul Amarchand) recruit heavily from NLU Delhi campus. Corporate transactional, M&A, and capital markets practices are the primary placement verticals.
Entry route: NLU Delhi BA LLB → top law firm associate (Tier 1 firms prefer NLU Delhi heavily)
Litigation / Supreme Court Practice
₹1–3 LPA initial (junior); ₹50–200 LPA at senior level (10+ years)NLU Delhi's location in New Delhi provides direct proximity to the Supreme Court of India. NLU Delhi alumni have a strong presence in the Supreme Court bar. Students interested in constitutional litigation find NLU Delhi's institutional network invaluable for internships and first placements.
Entry route: NLU Delhi BA LLB → intern at Supreme Court → junior advocate at SC bar
Judiciary (Indian Judicial Service / HCS)
₹80,000–1,20,000/month (District Judge)The District Judge (Entry Level) exam and High Court Civil Judge exams are the primary judiciary paths. NLU Delhi's rigorous clinical legal education and moot court tradition build strong foundation for judicial service. Many NLU Delhi graduates combine corporate stints with judiciary preparation.
Entry route: NLU Delhi BA LLB → Judicial Service Exam (3 years post-enrollment) → District Judge
Government & Policy (ILS/Legal Advisor)
₹65,000–1,00,000/month (Government Legal Advisor)Indian Legal Service (Group A central government) and State Legal Services offer stable legal careers with government. NLU Delhi's constitutional law strength aligns perfectly with ILS and advisory roles in Ministries. Some NLU Delhi graduates also appear for UPSC Civil Services with Law optional.
Entry route: NLU Delhi BA LLB → UPSC IAS optional Law → Indian Legal Service
Reading Strategy — Sources & Frequency
The Hindu (national edition)
Daily (30 minutes)English vocabulary, comprehension practice, national current affairs, constitutional and legal events
Bar & Bench / LiveLaw
Daily (15 minutes)Supreme Court orders, High Court judgements, legal current affairs — highest yield for AILET Legal Aptitude GK
AILET Previous Year Papers (2018–2024)
Weekly full paperAILET-specific question pattern, pacing (90 min / 150 Qs = 36 sec per question)
RS Aggarwal Verbal Reasoning
3 sessions/weekAnalytical reasoning (seating, blood relations, series) which AILET tests more than CLAT
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Preparing AILET identically to CLAT — AILET has Elementary Mathematics (CLAT does not), more objective English grammar, more legal GK (not just principle reasoning), and a 90-minute time limit (not 120 minutes); candidates who use only CLAT preparation miss 25–30 marks in AILET
Underestimating static Legal GK — AILET Legal Aptitude includes direct legal GK questions (constitutional articles, IPC sections, legal maxims) that CLAT's Legal Reasoning does not; candidates who only practise principle-fact reasoning miss 30–40% of the Legal Aptitude section
Skipping the Maths section — 10 marks at Class 10 difficulty level; candidates who attempt AILET without Maths revision lose 6–8 marks that compete for seats; NLU Delhi's AIR cutoff margin is thin enough that these 8 marks are decisive
Reading speed inadequate for 90-minute pacing — 150 questions in 90 minutes = 36 seconds per question; candidates who are CLAT-paced (120Q in 120 min) will run out of time; AILET requires faster recall and skipping
Not analysing AILET PYQ patterns separately from CLAT — AILET repeats certain static Legal GK question types (legal maxims, landmark case principles, constitutional amendments) that become predictable with 5+ years of PYQ analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NLU Delhi better than NLSIU Bangalore?
Both are top-2 Indian law schools, roughly comparable in academic quality. NLSIU Bangalore (#1 NIRF) has a stronger reputation in litigation and constitutional law circles, particularly in the South Indian legal market. NLU Delhi (#2 NIRF) has a stronger corporate law placement record (proximity to Delhi NCR's top law firms) and Supreme Court access. For corporate law: NLU Delhi has a slight edge. For constitutional litigation and academic law: NLSIU Bangalore. Both are elite destinations — choose based on your preferred practice area.
Can I prepare for AILET and CLAT simultaneously?
Yes — 60–65% of preparation overlaps (Legal Aptitude, Current Affairs, English, Reasoning). AILET-specific additions are: Elementary Mathematics (3–4 weeks), static Legal GK (landmark cases, legal maxims, constitutional Articles by number), objective English grammar (not just comprehension), and AILET PYQ pattern practice. Most CLAT aspirants add AILET-specific preparation in the final 8–10 weeks. The return on investment is high — NLU Delhi is the only AILET-accepting institution, but it is one of India's top 2 law schools.
What is the AILET cutoff rank for admission?
AILET seats vary by year and reservation. General category closing rank is typically AIR 75–110 (varies by year). OBC closing rank: AIR 200–300. SC closing rank: AIR 600–800. ST: AIR 150–250 (smaller pool). NLU Delhi also offers LLM seats (30) via AILET LLM, where competition is less intense. A score of 115+/150 is generally safe for general category; 125+/150 for top-10 AIR.
How is AILET different from CLAT for LLM?
AILET LLM tests slightly different content from CLAT LLM — AILET LLM questions are based on NLU Delhi's specialisation areas (Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, IPR, International Law, Corporate Law). Graduates with strong academic record in Law (LLB/BA LLB) from recognised universities can appear. AILET LLM admits ~30 students; CLAT LLM admits across all participating NLUs (~400 seats total). AILET LLM is more competitive per seat but limited to NLU Delhi.
Other Law & Professional Exam Guides
Prepare for CLAT with a mentor who has cleared it
Legal reasoning approach, GK source curation, and reading speed targets are fastest to learn from someone who has already cracked CLAT — a mentor can show you exactly which question types to prioritise in each section.