Best National Law Universities (NLUs)
National Law Universities (NLUs) represent the pinnacle of legal education in India, established to provide world-class legal training and foster academic excellence. These prestigious institutions have revolutionized legal education since the establishment of the first NLU - NLSIU Bangalore in 1987. Today, there are 26 NLUs across India, offering integrated five-year BA LLB programs, three-year LLB courses, LLM degrees, and doctoral programs.
The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), established by the Ministry of Education, annually evaluates and ranks these institutions based on parameters like teaching-learning resources, research and professional practice, graduation outcomes, outreach and inclusivity, and perception. These rankings serve as a crucial benchmark for students choosing their legal career path, with admission primarily through the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT).
The top NLUs consistently produce exceptional legal professionals who contribute significantly to India's judiciary, legal practice, corporate sector, and public service, making them highly competitive institutions with thousands of aspirants vying for limited seats each year.
Top NLUs in India - NIRF Rankings 2024
1. National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru
NIRF Rank 2024: 1st (7th consecutive year)
- Established: 1987
- Notable Features: Premier NLU, excellent faculty, strong alumni network
- Admission: NLSAT (separate entrance exam)
2. National Law University (NLU), Delhi
NIRF Rank 2024: 2nd
- Established: 2008
- NIRF Score: 77.48
- Notable Features: Located in the national capital, strong moot court tradition
- Admission: Separate entrance exam
3. NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad
NIRF Rank 2024: 3rd
- Established: 1998
- Notable Features: Strong corporate law programs, excellent placement record
- Admission: CLAT
4. West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata
NIRF Rank 2024: 4th
- Established: 1999
- Notable Features: Strong in constitutional law, active student community
- Admission: CLAT
5. Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar
NIRF Rank 2024: 5th
- Established: 2003
- Notable Features: Strong infrastructure, growing reputation
- Admission: CLAT
6. Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law (RGSOIPL), IIT Kharagpur
NIRF Rank 2024: 6th
- Established: 2006
- Notable Features: Specialized in intellectual property law
- Admission: CLAT
7. Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU), Tiruchirappalli
NIRF Rank 2024: 7th
- Established: 2012
- Notable Features: Growing reputation in South India
- Admission: CLAT
8. National Law University, Jodhpur (NLUJ)
NIRF Rank 2024: 8th
- Established: 2001
- Notable Features: Strong in criminal law, desert campus
- Admission: CLAT
9. Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur
NIRF Rank 2024: 9th
- Established: 2003
- Notable Features: Focus on tribal and environmental law
- Admission: CLAT
10. National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi
NIRF Rank 2024: 10th
- Established: 2005
- Notable Features: Strong in maritime law, coastal location
- Admission: CLAT
11. Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna
NIRF Rank 2024: 11th
- Established: 2006
- Notable Features: Focus on social justice and human rights
- Admission: CLAT
12. National Law University, Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack
NIRF Rank 2024: 12th
- Established: 2009
- Notable Features: Emerging NLU with modern facilities
- Admission: CLAT
13. Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), Visakhapatnam
NIRF Rank 2024: 13th
- Established: 2008
- Notable Features: Coastal location, growing academic reputation
- Admission: CLAT
14. National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi
NIRF Rank 2024: 14th
- Established: 2010
- Notable Features: Focus on tribal law and social justice
- Admission: CLAT
15. Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai
NIRF Rank 2024: 15th
- Established: 2014
- Notable Features: Located in commercial capital, strong corporate connections
- Admission: CLAT
16. Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla
NIRF Rank 2024: 16th
- Established: 2016
- Notable Features: Hill station location, focused on environmental law
- Admission: CLAT
Other Notable NLUs (Not in NIRF Top 16)
- National Law University, Assam (NLUA), Guwahati (Established: 2009)
- National Law University & Judicial Academy, Assam (NLUJAA), Guwahati (Established: 2017)
- Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow (Established: 2005)
- Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala (Established: 2006)
- National Law University, Tripura (NLUT), Tripura (Established: 2017)
- National Law University, Meghalaya (NLUM), Shillong (Established: 2018)
- Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU), Jabalpur (Established: 2018)
- Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University (BANU), Sonipat (Established: 2012)
- National Law University, Nagpur (NLUN), Nagpur (Established: 2014)
- Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (Law Faculty), Delhi
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