CLAT, also termed as the Common Law Admission Test, is one of the most sought-after and respected examinations in the country, which allows candidates to pursue their legal careers in their selected National Law Universities. The Common Law Admission Test includes multiple-choice questions, of which legal reasoning is one, carrying 25% of the overall marks alone. The Legal Reasoning section assesses the candidate’s ability to analyse legal passages, identify the embedded principles within them, and apply these principles accurately. This section is unlike any other section, as it tests the candidate’s logical thinking skills and critical analysis of the legal scenarios. In this blog, we’ll discover the elements of CLAT Legal Reasoning, including syllabus, questions, preparation strategies and much more.Â
What is CLAT Legal Reasoning ?
The Common Law Admission Test comprises multiple sections, of which Legal Reasoning is one. The Legal Reasoning section analyses the candidates on their reading skills and analyses the patterns in the passages. The Legal Reasoning section comprises comprehension of a provided legal passage where candidates are required to identify the legal rules, maxims and principles hidden within it. After identifying the same candidates are required to apply those principles to hypothetical fact situations. This section also requires the candidates to apply analytical thinking and evaluate the subtle language changes in the passages.
CLAT Legal Reasoning Examination Pattern
The Common Law Admission Test comprises multiple sections, of which legal reasoning is one of them. As this section comprises 25% weightage of the actual paper, candidates must effectively prepare for the same to score well in the examination. The legal reasoning section examination pattern has been mentioned below:
| Parameters | Details |
| Number of Passages | 4-6 Passages |
| Passage Length | The passage length is approximately 400-500 words |
| Questions Per Passage | 4-6 Questions to be answered from each passage |
| Total Number of Questions | 29-32 questions (Approximately 25% of the total CLAT paper) |
| Marking Scheme | +1 for correct answers and -0.25 for incorrect answers |
| Primary Skills Tested | This section basically tests the candidates on their reading skills, analytical skills, logical thinking and legal application skills. |
Topics To Be Covered in Legal Reasoning
The Common Law Admission Test Legal Reasoning section requires the candidate to prepare from multiple topics. Before preparing for all the topics, the candidates must know all the topics. The topics that are included in the Common Law Admission Test Legal Reasoning section are listed below:
- Constitutional Law, including fundamental rights and the separation of powers.
- Criminal Law
- Contract Law (formation, validity, breach)
- Tort Law (liability, defences)
- Family Law, including marriage and divorce
- International/Intellectual Property Law
- Legal Maxims and Doctrines
Preparation Strategies
Candidates must follow the tips and tricks given below to score well in the CLAT exam:
- The candidates must practice time management effectively during the exam. They should allocate specific time for each passage and question. In order to simulate exam conditions, the candidates must use a timer during practice.
- Regular practice is the key to success. The candidates must practice with a variety of questions and passages to build proficiency and confidence. They should set aside special time for legal reasoning practice each day.
- After practicing the candidates must analyse their mistakes to understand where they went wrong and how to avoid similar errors ahead. They should keep a record of all the mistakes and revisit them regularly.
- Aspirants must stay calm and focused and read each passage carefully, and avoid skimming through the answers. They should practice relaxation techniques to manage stress.
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FAQs
No, Candidates do not require any prior knowledge to solve the questions from the Legal Reasoning section. The legal passages provide all the necessary rules to solve the question. If possible, candidates can learn about various legal terms to solve the questions.
The Common Law Admission Test Legal Reasoning section approximately weighs 25% of the entire CLAT paper, which is near to around 28-32 questions in the actual examination paper.
The Common Law Admission Test frequently asks questions from topics such as Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Contract Law, Family Law and other similar topics. Candidates can prepare from these sections to score better in the CLAT Legal Reasoning section.
Candidates must learn about time management. This can be done by practising mock papers with timers, revising the legal terminology, and learning about the recent legal developments.
Candidates should only answer the questions that they feel confident about. Avoid any doubt-based guesses and move on to the next question. Manage your time at the same time to revisit the questions.
