CLAT Counselling 2025

CLAT Counselling 2025: Fee, Process, Documents, All Details

CLAT Counselling 2025 is the crucial final step for candidates seeking admission to top National Law Universities (NLUs) in India. The counselling process ensures that seats are allocated based on merit, preferences, and category.

Starting shortly after the CLAT results, candidates must register, pay the CLAT counselling fee, and select their preferred NLUs. With the CLAT counselling dates 2025 begin from 9 December 2024, aspirants should be ready to complete registration and document submission. 

This guide covers everything from the CLAT counselling schedule and process to the fee structure and key instructions for securing your seat at an NLU.

CLAT counselling is the process through which candidates who qualify the CLAT exam are allotted seats in NLUs based on their rank, preferences, and category. 

For CLAT 2025 counselling, candidates must register online, pay a counselling fee, and choose their preferred NLUs and courses. The process involves multiple rounds of seat allotment, where students can accept, upgrade, or withdraw their seats. 

It ensures a fair and transparent allocation of available seats, helping students secure admission to top law schools. 

Below is the overview of CLAT 2025 counselling:

AspectDetails
PurposeSeat allocation for UG and PG programs at NLUs based on merit, preferences, and category
CLAT Results Announcement7 December 2024 (out now)
CLAT Counselling Start Date9 December 2024 (4:00 PM)
CLAT Counselling Duration20 December 2024 (10:00 PM)
Rounds of CLAT CounsellingFive rounds with options to Freeze, Float, or Exit during seat allocation.
CLAT Counselling Fee₹30,000 (General Category) 

₹20,000 (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD Categories).
Refund PolicyFee refundable under specific conditions, as per the Consortium’s guidelines.
Registration RequirementCandidates must register online, pay the counselling fee, and select NLUs as per preference.
Documents RequiredScanned copies of academic records, CLAT 2025 scorecard, category and domicile certificates.
Seat ConfirmationFinalized after payment of university fees and document verification at the allotted NLU.

Important Resources After CLAT Exam:

CLAT Result 2025CLAT 2025 Toppers
CLAT Answer Key 2025CLAT 2025 Question Paper 
CLAT Cut Off 2025NLSIU Bangalore Fee Structure
NLSIU Bangalore Cut Off 2025CLAT Allotment List 2025
CLAT Marks vs Rank 2025CLAT Rank Predictor

The Consortium of NLUs announced the official date for CLAT Counselling 2025.

The counselling will be conducted in five rounds. Find the specific dates for each round below:

EventDateDescription
CLAT 2025 ExaminationDecember 1, 2024 Test conducted across various CLAT exam centers.
Release of Provisional Answer KeyDecember 2, 2024 (4 PM)Initial answer key made available for candidates to review.
Release of Final Answer Key7 December 2024 Finalized CLAT answer key after considering objections and feedback.
Declaration of Results7 December 2024Announcement of CLAT 2025 results with individual scores and ranks.
CLAT Counselling Start9 December, 2024 Commencement of online registration for the counselling process.
CLAT Counselling Registration End20 December 2024 (10:00 PM)Deadline for candidates to register and pay the counselling fee.
1st Allotment ListDecember 26, 2024Publication of the first list of seat allotments based on merit and preferences.
Payment of Confirmation Fee (1st Round)December 26, 2024 – January 4, 2025Window for candidates allotted seats in the first round to confirm their acceptance by paying the requisite fee.
2nd Allotment ListJanuary 10, 2025Release of the second allotment list after considering withdrawals and available vacancies.
Payment of Confirmation Fee (2nd Round)January 10 – 16, 2025Confirmation period for candidates allotted seats in the second round.
3rd Allotment ListJanuary 24, 2025Publication of the third list of seat allotments.
Payment of Confirmation Fee (3rd Round)January 24 – 30, 2025Fee payment window for third-round allottees.
Payment of University FeeMay 14, 2025Pay NLU fee after adjusting for Confirmation Fee and Counselling Registration Fee (for all candidates who have chosen the
Freeze Option in the counselling process for 1st, 2nd, 3rd Allotment Lists
4th Allotment ListMay 20, 2025 Release of the fourth allotment list.
Payment of Confirmation Fee (4th Round)May 20 – 24, 2025Fee payment period for candidates allotted seats in the fourth round.
5th and Final Allotment ListMay 29, 2025Publication of the final seat allotment list.
Payment of Confirmation Fee (5th Round)May 29 – June 2, 2025 Final fee payment window for candidates allotted seats in the fifth round.
Payment of University FeeJune 10, 2025Pay fee to concerned NLU. For all candidates who have chosen the
Freeze Option in the counselling process of Fourth & Fifth
Allotment Lists
CLAT Counselling Fee Refund DateExpected within 2 months of CLAT counselling completion

CLAT counselling process ensures a fair and transparent admission system based on merit and candidate preferences. Below is the step-by-step CLAT 2025 counselling process:

1. Result Declaration

The CLAT 2025 results have been announced a week after the exam date. Candidates can check their scores and All India Rank (AIR) on the official CLAT website.

2. Counselling Registration 

Post-result declaration, eligible candidates will be invited to register for the counselling process of CLAT 2025. 

This involves:

  • Online Registration: Logging into the CLAT portal to confirm participation.
  • Counselling Fee Payment: Paying counselling fee (₹30,000 for General and ₹20,000 for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD).
  • Preference Selection: Listing preferred NLUs in order of priority.

3. Seat Allotment Rounds 

The CLAT 2025 counselling process comprises five rounds of seat allotment:

  • First Allotment List: Based on merit and preferences, the first provisional allotment list of CLAT is published.
  • Acceptance of Allotment: Candidates can choose to ‘Freeze’ (accept the allotted seat) or ‘Float’ (accept the seat while waiting for a higher preference in subsequent rounds).
  • Payment of Confirmation Fee: Those accepting the allotment must pay a confirmation fee to secure the seat.
  • Subsequent Rounds: Similar procedures follow for the second, third, fourth, and fifth allotment lists, with adjustments based on seat availability and candidate preferences.

4. Document Verification

Candidates who have accepted a seat must upload scanned copies of the required documents for verification. 

5. Final Admission 

Upon successful document verification, candidates must:

  • Pay the Remaining University Fees: Complete the payment as per the respective NLU’s fee structure.
  • Report to the Allotted NLU: Adhere to the reporting schedule for orientation and commencement of classes.

Free CLAT Study Material for You:

CLAT Previous Year Papers PDFCLAT Sample Papers
CLAT Syllabus PDFFree CLAT Coaching
CLAT Current AffairsCLAT Topper Interviews
CLAT VideosCLAT Mock Tests

Check the latest CLAT counselling fees:

CategoryFee Amount
General Category₹30,000
SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD₹20,000

Check whether you can get refund for CLAT counselling fee, and the policies:

1. Full Refund Eligibility

  • Candidates who are not allotted a seat in any of the counselling rounds.
  • Candidates who exit the counselling process before the specified deadline.

2. Partial Refund Eligibility

₹5,000 will be deducted if a candidate exits or fails to confirm admission after the specified deadline (e.g., by May 23, 2025, for certain rounds).

3. No Refund

  • If a candidate does not complete the admission process after choosing the ‘Freeze’ or ‘Float’ option.
  • If the candidate is found ineligible due to incorrect documentation during verification.

4. Refund Process

  • Refunds are processed to the same account used for the counselling fee payment.
  • No requests for refunds to alternative accounts will be entertained.

To participate in the counselling process, candidates must upload scanned copies of specific documents for verification. Below is a detailed list for each document required for CLAT 2025 counselling:

Sr. No.DocumentPurpose
1CLAT 2025 Admit CardProof of appearance in CLAT 2025 examination.
2CLAT 2025 ScorecardVerifies rank and score achieved in CLAT 2025.
3Class 10th MarksheetProof of date of birth and academic qualification.
4Class 12th MarksheetEvidence of qualifying higher secondary education.
6Character/Conduct CertificateAttests to the candidate’s behavior.
7Transfer/Migration CertificateIndicates transfer or migration from previous institution.
8Caste Certificate (if applicable)Proof of reserved category (SC, ST, OBC, etc.).
9PwD Certificate (if applicable)Proof of disability for PwD candidates.
10Domicile/Residence Certificate (if applicable)Proof of residency for domicile-based reservations.
11EWS Certificate (if applicable)Proof of economic status for EWS category.
12Wards of Serving/Retired Defence Personnel Certificate (if applicable)For defence personnel reservation claims.
13Passport-sized PhotographsRecent photographs for identification purposes.
14Any Additional Supporting DocumentsRelevant documents to support category claims.

The CLAT counselling process involves five rounds, ensuring fair seat allocation across all participating NLUs. Each round follows a structured approach, allowing candidates to make decisions based on their preferences and seat availability.

RoundProcess
Round 1– First seat allotment list is published based on rank, preferences, and category.
– Candidates choose between Freeze, Float, or Exit options.
– Payment of the confirmation fee is mandatory for those selecting Freeze or Float.
Round 2– Vacant seats from Round 1 are allocated to eligible candidates.
– Candidates opting for Float may be upgraded to higher preferences.
– Newly allotted candidates must confirm their seats by paying the confirmation fee.
Round 3– Remaining vacancies are filled through this round.
– Candidates choosing Freeze finalize their seats; Float option continues for further upgrades.
– Non-confirming candidates lose their allotted seats and are removed from the process.
Round 4– Candidates who haven’t secured admission are allocated seats based on available vacancies.
– Float option ends after this round; candidates must either Freeze or Exit.
– Any remaining university fees must be paid by candidates choosing Freeze.
Round 5– Final seat allotment round ensures all available seats are allocated.
– Candidates must confirm their seats by paying the remaining fees and completing the admission process.

1. Freeze:

Accept the allotted seat and exit the counselling process. Pay the remaining university fees to finalize admission.

2. Float:

Accept the current seat but stay open for higher preference allocation in subsequent rounds.

3. Exit:

Withdraw from the counselling process of CLAT 2025, forfeiting the confirmation fee if applicable.

Click on the button below to download CLAT counselling process instructions PDF, as released by Consortium of NLUs:

Must Know for Every CLAT Aspirant:

CLAT Eligibility CriteriaCLAT Exam Pattern
CLAT Age LimitCLAT Marking Scheme
How to Prepare for CLAT?CLAT Preparation Books
What happens in CLAT counselling?

In CLAT counselling, candidates register, pay a fee, choose NLUs, participate in seat allotment rounds, upload documents, and confirm admission.

How many students are invited for CLAT counselling?

Usually, 3 times the number of available seats are invited for CLAT counselling. For instance, if NLUs offer 3,000 seats, approximately 9,000 candidates are called.

Is the CLAT counselling fee refundable?

Yes, the fee is refundable under specific conditions, such as if no seat is allotted or if the candidate exits before the deadline.

What happens if I don’t pay the counselling fee?

If the counselling fee is not paid, you will not be eligible for seat allotment.

When does CLAT counselling start?

CLAT counselling starts on 9 December 2024.

When is the last date for CLAT counselling 2025 registration?

The last date for registration is 20th December 2024.

What is the CLAT counselling 2nd round?

In the 2nd round, seats vacated after the 1st round are reallocated. Candidates may be upgraded based on preferences.

What happens if I don’t get my first preference?

You can select the Float option, and your application will be considered in subsequent rounds for higher preferences.

How to upload documents for CLAT counselling?

Log in to the CLAT portal, follow the upload instructions, and submit scanned copies of the required documents.

What is the Freeze option in CLAT counselling?

By selecting Freeze, you accept the allotted seat and exit further rounds of counselling.

What is the Float option in CLAT counselling?

The Float option allows you to accept the current seat while waiting for an upgrade to a higher-preference NLU in the next round.

Can I withdraw from CLAT counselling?

Yes, you can withdraw at any stage. Refunds will be provided as per the Consortium’s refund policy.

What happens after the fifth round of CLAT counselling?

The central counselling process closes, and remaining seats are filled by individual NLUs as per their policies.

Free Previous Year Papers of CLAT

CLAT 2024 Question PaperCLAT 2023 Question Paper
CLAT 2020 Question PaperCLAT 2021 Question Paper
CLAT 2019 Question PaperView All (Past 17 Years)

Important CLAT Questions for Practice:

CLAT Legal Reasoning QuestionsCLAT Logical Reasoning Questions
CLAT English QuestionsCLAT GK Questions

Law Colleges Information Related to CLAT:

List of NLUs in IndiaCLAT Colleges in India
CLAT Colleges in DelhiCLAT Colleges in Rajasthan
Top 5 NLUs in IndiaNLSIU Bangalore Seats
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