The CLAT 2026 counselling process is expected to begin around December 14, 2025, soon after the CLAT 2026 results are announced on its official website, consortiumofnlus.ac.in. While the Consortium has not officially released the CLAT counselling dates 2026, the schedule is usually declared shortly after the result. The entire CLAT counselling 2026 procedure will be held online and includes steps like registration, choice filling, fee payment, and finally securing your seat in an NLU. Every candidate who has qualified for the exam must complete the registration to take part in the counselling round. Scroll down to know complete information about the CLAT Counselling 2026.
CLAT Counselling Overview
The Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) is a national-level entrance exam for admission to LLB and LLM programs at 25 National Law Universities (NLUs) in India. Many prestigious private law schools also recognise CLAT UG scores. There is a separate CLAT PG exam for admission to LLM programs.
| CLAT Counselling Overview | |
| Aspect | Details |
| Mode of Counselling | Online |
| Who Can Participate |
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| Registration Requirement | Mandatory online registration with document upload |
| Counselling Fee |
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| Seat Allotment Basis |
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| Seat Acceptance Options |
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| Documents Needed |
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| Refund Rules | Refund is allowed with possible deductions depending on the stage |
| Final Admission | Done directly at the allotted NLU after seat confirmation |
| Official Website | consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
CLAT 2026 Counselling Schedule
The CLAT counselling important dates have been provided in the table below so Candidates avoid missing any step of the admission process. Check the table given below for complete counselling schedule.
| CLAT Counselling Schedule 2026 | |
| Events | Important Dates |
| CLAT Exam | 7 December 2025 |
| Declaration of Results | Around 17 December 2025 |
| Counselling Window Opens | 19 December 2025 (expected) |
| Last Day to Register for Counselling | 30 December 2025 (expected) |
| Round 1 Seat Allocation | 1 January 2026 |
| Round 1 Confirmation Fee Deadline | 1 to 8 January 2026 |
| Round 2 Seat Allocation | 14 January 2026 |
| Round 2 Confirmation Fee Window | 14 to 20 January 2026 |
| Round 3 Seat Allocation | 28 January 2026 |
| Round 3 Confirmation Fee Window | 28 January to 4 February 2026 |
| University Fee Payment (General Deadline) | 14 May 2026 |
| Round 4 Allotment Release | 20 May 2026 |
| Round 4 Confirmation Fee Window | 20 to 24 May 2026 |
| Round 5 (Final) Allotment | 29 May 2026 |
| Round 5 Confirmation Fee Window | 29 May to 2 June 2026 |
| Final University Fee Deadline | 10 June 2026 |
| Refund Processing | Within two months after counselling concludes |
CLAT Counselling Fees 2026
Candidates are required to pay a non-refundable counselling fee to participate. While the exact amount for 2026 will be updated by the consortium, historically, it has been around INR 50,000 for General category candidates (may vary for reserved categories). This fee is usually paid online during registration.
CLAT 2026 Counselling Fees | |
| Counselling Fee | ₹30,000 (General category) ₹20,000 (SC, ST, OBC, EWS, PwD) |
| Payment Mode | Online payment (debit card, credit card, net banking, UPI) |
| Refund Rules |
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CLAT 2026 Counselling Rounds Explained
CLAT 2026 counselling rounds are the steps students follow to get a seat in a law college. There are in total 3 rounds in it. The process starts with online registration and document upload.These rounds help give seats in a fair way and allow students to aim for their preferred college
- In Round 1 seats are given based on rank and college choice Students can accept the seat or wait for a better one
- Round 2 offers seats that were left in Round 1 Students can accept the new seat or keep waiting
- Round 3 repeats the same steps with the seats still left Students must confirm the seat or leave the process
How to Apply for CLAT Counselling 2026
Applying for the CLAT Counselling is quite a simple process candidates should check the steps given below for a smooth experience.
- Visit the official CLAT counselling portal, consortiumofnlus.ac.in
- Register using your CLAT 2026 roll number and other credentials.
- Pay the counselling fee online.
- Fill in your preferred law colleges and courses in the choice filling section.
- Lock your choices before the deadline.
Documents Needed for CLAT 2026 Counselling
Candidates need to keep the important documents beforehand to be ready for the CLAT Counselling stages.
- CLAT 2026 scorecard
- 10th & 12th marksheets and certificates
- Birth certificate / proof of age
- Category certificate (if applicable)
- Passport-sized photographs
- Identity proof (Aadhaar / PAN / Passport)
CLAT 2026 Seat Allotment
Seat allotment in CLAT 2026 is done based on several important factors that determine which law college a candidate can get into.
- The candidate’s CLAT rank
- Reservation for different categories
- Preferences chosen during choice locking
- Availability of seats in the desired law colleges
How to Check CLAT 2026 Counselling and Seat Allotment Results
Aspirants need to check the simple steps to check the CLAT Counselling and seat allotment results.
- Visit the official NLU counselling portal, consortiumofnlus.ac.in
- Log in using your credentials.
- Click on the “Seat Allotment Result” tab.
- Download and print the allotment letter for future reference.
When Should You Choose Freeze, Float, or Exit in CLAT Counselling?
In CLAT counselling every candidate has three options to choose based on the college allotted to them. If you're happy with the college and course you've been given, you can choose Freeze. If you're okay with the current allotment but still hope for a better option in the next round, you can choose Float Lastly, if you don't want to accept the current allotment and wish to leave the counselling process altogether, you can choose Exit. This will remove you from the process and make you ineligible for any further rounds with no refund.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in CLAT 2026 Counselling
- Missing important deadlines for registration or choice locking
- Not keeping all the required documents ready on time
- Forgetting to pay the fees before the deadline
- Choosing colleges without looking at previous years’ cutoffs
- Not paying attention to rules that apply to specific categories
Top Colleges for CLAT 2026
Candidates can check the list of top colleges that offer admission on the basis of CLAT Score in the table given below.
| Best CLAT Colleges 2026 | |
| College Name | Location |
| NLSIU Bangalore | Bangalore |
| NLU Delhi | Delhi |
| NLU Mumbai | Mumbai |
| NLU Hyderabad | Hyderabad |
