CLAT Counselling 2026: Complete Process & Seat Allotment Guide

The CLAT 2026 Counselling has started from 17 December 2025 and will continue till 27 December 2025 on NLU’s official website consortiumofnlus.ac.in. The entire process of CLAT Counselling 2026 will be conducted online. The candidates eligible for counselling round must first register on the CLAT official portal and fill the preference list of NLU and pay the fees to secure a seat. The entire counselling process will be done in five rounds till May 2026. Scroll down to check the complete details about the Counselling procedure of CLAT.

What is CLAT Counselling?

CLAT counselling is the official process where seats in the 26 National Law Universities (NLUs) are given to candidates based on their CLAT 2026 rank. After the results are out, you need to register online, pay the counselling fee, and list your preferred NLUs. The Consortium will release five allotment lists. Based on the seat you get, you can choose to Freeze (accept the seat), Float (try for a better option), or Exit (leave counselling). CLAT counselling is a fair process to get a seat in the 26 National Law Universities. Your CLAT rank, category, and preferred NLUs decide which university you get. After seat allotment, you must verify your documents and pay the university fee to confirm your admission. Only then is your seat final.

Download CLAT Counselling Instructions 

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 recognize CLAT UG scores. There is a separate CLAT PG exam for admission to LLM programs.

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 Exam Analysis

CLAT Counselling Fees 2026

Candidates are required to pay a non refundable fee for the counselling procedure of CLAT in order to participate in the seat confirmation process. The amount to be paid is decided by the Consortium of NLUs and varies according to the category. The Counselling fee is usually paid online at the time of registration. Candidates must check the table given below to know the category wise fee details.

CLAT RESULT 2026

 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 5 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 the seats are allotted based on rank and NLU preferences. Students can Freeze the seat, Float to wait for a higher preference or Exit the counselling process.
• Round 2 offers seats that remain vacant after Round 1. Students can accept the newly allotted seat, continue with the Float option, or exit from the counselling process.
• Round 3 repeats the same process with seats that are still available after Round 2. Students must select an option within the given time or they will be removed from the counselling process.
• Round 4 and Round 5 are conducted to fill the remaining vacant seats. In the final round of counselling students must either Freeze the allotted seat or Exit, as no further rounds are conducted.

CLAT Answer KEY 2026 

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.

1. Visit the official CLAT counselling portal, consortiumofnlus.ac.in
2. Register using your CLAT 2026 roll number and other credentials.
3. Pay the counselling fee online.
4. Fill in your preferred law colleges and courses in the choice filling section.
5. 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.

1. Visit the official NLU counselling portal, consortiumofnlus.ac.in
2. Log in using your credentials.
3. Click on the “Seat Allotment Result” tab.
4. 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.