Top Ranked Law Colleges in India

NIRF rankings are issued by the Ministry of Education, Government of India every year. In the Law category, NIRF evaluates teaching & learning, research, graduation outcomes, outreach & inclusivity, and perception. Policymakers, universities, and students use these rankings to benchmark quality.

That said, not every college participates, and even among participants, only a limited number make the published list. So NIRF’s Law table is helpful, but it doesn’t cover all the quality options students actually choose. If you want a longer list (like “Top 200”), you’ll inevitably combine:

1. NIRF-ranked institutions (official), and

2. Other well-regarded colleges (unranked by NIRF in 2024 Law, or not in the top band), assessed by reputation, faculty depth, mooting culture, alumni outcomes, clinics, internships, and facilities.  

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Section A — NIRF Law Rankings 2024: Top Colleges (Official)

Below are the official NIRF 2024 Law results. (If you want to verify, see the NIRF Law 2024 page and its methodology.)

1. National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru — Rank 1.
2. National Law University, Delhi — Rank 2.
3. NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad — Rank 3.
4. The WB National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata — Rank 4.
5. Symbiosis Law School, Pune — Rank 5.
6. Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi — Rank 6.
7. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur (RGSOIPL), Kharagpur — Rank 7.
8. Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar — Rank 8.
9. Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA), Bhubaneswar — Rank 9.
10. Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow — Rank 10.
11. Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar — Rank 11.
12. Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh — Rank 12.
13. Saveetha Institute of Medical & Technical Sciences, Chennai — Rank 13.
14. SASTRA (Deemed to be University), Thanjavur — Rank 14.
15. Christ (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru — Rank 15.
16. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar College of Law, Visakhapatnam — Rank 16.
17. Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), New Delhi — Rank 17.
18. Alliance University, Bengaluru — Rank 18.
19. Lovely Professional University (LPU), Phagwara — Rank 19.
20. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow — Rank 20.
21. National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal — Rank 21.
22. National University of Study & Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi — Rank 22.
23. University of Lucknow, Lucknow — Rank 23.
24. Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala — Rank 24.
25. Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi — Rank 25.
26. National Law University Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack — Rank 26.
27. National Law University & Judicial Academy (NLUJA), Assam — Rank 27.
28. UPES School of Law, Dehradun — Rank 28.
29. Manipal University, Jaipur — Rank 29.
30. Army Institute of Law, Mohali — Rank 30.
31 (tie). Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai — Rank 31.
31 (tie). Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna — Rank 31.
33. Amity University, Haryana (Gurugram) — Rank 33.
34. Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Nagpur — Rank 34.
35. Indian Law Institute (ILI), New Delhi — Rank 35.
36. ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (IFHE), Hyderabad — Rank 36.
37. Gandhi Institute of Technology & Management (GITAM), Visakhapatnam — Rank 37.
38. National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi — Rank 38.
39 (tie). Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), Visakhapatnam — Rank 39.
39 (tie). Amity University, North 24 Parganas (Kolkata) — Rank 39.

Source & verification: NIRF India Rankings 2024 (Law).

What this tells you:

• NLUs (NLSIU, NLU Delhi, NALSAR, WBNUJS, GNLU, RMLNLU, NLIU, NUSRL, RGNUL, NLUO, NLUJA, MNLU Mumbai, MNLU Nagpur, DSNLU) form the spine of the top list.

• Select central/state universities (Jamia, AMU, BHU, University of Lucknow, BBAU) also perform strongly.

• Private universities/schools (Symbiosis, Christ, Alliance, UPES, Manipal Jaipur, LPU, Amity campuses, Saveetha, SASTRA, IFHE, GITAM) continue to occupy meaningful slots.

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How to read these ranks (and choose smartly)

1. Don’t treat ranks as the only truth. Fit matters: curriculum design, clinics, internships, moots, journals, specialisations (IP/corporate/tech/ADR), and city exposure (courts, law firms, policy think-tanks).

2. Check exam gateways: CLAT (most NLUs), AILET (NLU Delhi), LSAT–India (several private schools), MH CET Law, AP/TS/Other state LAWCETs, DU/BHU/AMU entrance tests, university-specific processes.

3. Look at outcomes: internships, placement cells, litigation mentoring, clerkships, alumni network, bar exam success, judiciary exam prep, research assistantships.

4. Budget, scholarships & ROI: Government colleges and state universities can be very affordable; private schools may offer better infrastructure and international tie-ups.

5. Campus visits & student testimony: Attend open days, speak to current students and alumni, check moot records and journal publication opportunities.

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Section B — Extended Directory of Good Law Colleges (Beyond the NIRF Top List)

Since there is no official NIRF “Top 200” list for Law, this section curates many more credible options—central/state university faculties, historic government law colleges, prominent private universities and standalone schools. These are presented alphabetically within broad categories. Unless noted otherwise, treat them as “Not ranked in NIRF Law 2024” (some participated but did not appear in the top band; participation lists are public). 

Tip: Use this directory to shortlist, then deep-dive into each college’s entrance route, fee structure, specialisations, and outcomes.

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More National Law Universities & Public Law Schools (not in NIRF Law 2024 top band)

• Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur

• National Law University, Jodhpur (NLUJ)

• National Law University, Tripura (NLUT)

• Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Aurangabad

• Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla

• Tamil Nadu National Law School (TNNLS), Tiruchirappalli

• Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU), Jabalpur

• Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Law University (DBRANLU), Sonipat

• Sikkim National Law University (SNLU), Gangtok

• Rajendra Prasad National Law University (RPNLU), Prayagraj

• National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi (ranked this year; listed again for completeness with peers)

• NLU Tamil Nadu (TNNLS) & state-NLU satellites (e.g., GNLU Silvassa campus)

(Why include them? NLUs generally share similar five-year integrated BA/BBA/B.Sc./B.Com LL.B. frameworks, strong moots, and public reputations. Participation and ranks can vary year to year.*)

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Central & State University Law Faculties (strong academic base)

• Faculty of Law, University of Delhi (DU) — CLC/LC1/LC2 tradition; competitive DU LL.B.

• University of Calcutta, Department of Law

• Osmania University, University College of Law (Hyderabad)

• University of Mumbai, Faculty/Department of Law

• Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Dept. of Law

• University of Madras, Dept. of Legal Studies

• Andhra University, College of Law (Visakhapatnam) (separate from “Dr. B. R. Ambedkar College of Law” listing above)

• Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli — Department of Law

• University of Rajasthan, Jaipur — Law Faculty

• Utkal University, Bhubaneswar — Law

• Dibrugarh University, Law College

• Calicut University Law College; Government Law College, Kozhikode / Thrissur / Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala)

• Lucknow University, Faculty of Law (ranked this year; included here for category completeness)

• Guru Ghasidas University, Bilaspur — Law

• Kurukshetra University — Institute of Law

• Dr. Harisingh Gour University (Sagar) — Law

• North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) — Law (Shillong)

• Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak — Law

• Jiwaji University (Gwalior) — Law

• Ranchi University — Law

• Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar — Law

• Pondicherry University — Law

• Mangalore University — Law

(Why include them? Historic and public universities often produce strong litigators, academicians, and judicial officers. Many have affordable fees and tight links with nearby courts.*)

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Historic Government Law Colleges (strong litigation culture, value for money)

• Government Law College (GLC), Mumbai

• Dr. Ambedkar Government Law College, Chennai

• Government Law College, Ernakulam (Kochi)

• Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram

• Government Law College, Nagpur

• Government Law College, Indore/Jabalpur (state variants)

• Bihar Government Law College, Patna (Patna Law College)

• Ajmer / Udaipur Government Law Colleges (Rajasthan)

• Gwalior/Bhopal state law colleges (MP)

(Why include them? These colleges have deep ties to local bars and benches and are excellent for litigation careers and judicial service prep.)

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Prominent Private University Law Schools (modern infrastructure, industry links)

• Jindal Global Law School (O.P. Jindal Global University), Sonipat

• Symbiosis Law School (SLS) Noida & SLS Hyderabad (SLS Pune is NIRF-ranked)

• Kirit P. Mehta School of Law (NMIMS), Mumbai

• School of Law, Christ University — NCR/Lavasa campuses (Bengaluru is ranked)

• School of Law, Bennett University

• ICFAI Law School campuses (Hyderabad is in the NIRF list; Dehradun/Jaipur etc. are notable)

• UPES School of Law, Dehradun (ranked; listed here with peers)

• Alliance University, Bengaluru (ranked; listed with peers)

• Amity Law Schools (Noida, Jaipur, Lucknow, Mumbai) (Haryana and Kolkata campuses appear in 2024 list; others noted here)

• REVA University School of Legal Studies, Bengaluru

• Presidency University School of Law, Bengaluru

• BML Munjal University — School of Law

• GD Goenka University — School of Law

• SRM School of Law (Chennai / Ghaziabad)

• VIT School of Law (Vellore/Chennai)

• SASTRA (Deemed), Thanjavur (ranked; category repeat)

• Manipal University Jaipur — School of Law (ranked; category repeat)

• LPU School of Law (Phagwara) (ranked; category repeat)

• Sharda University — School of Law

• Galgotias University — School of Law

• Jagran Lakecity University — School of Law (Bhopal)

• Sandip University — School of Law (Nashik)

• Chandigarh University — UILS

• Parul University — Faculty of Law (Vadodara)

• Navrachana University — Law (Vadodara)

• Mody University — Faculty of Law (Women’s)

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Well-known Private / Aided Colleges & Standalone Law Schools

• ILS Law College, Pune

• Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, New Law College (Pune)

• KLE Society’s Law College, Bengaluru

• Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies (VIPS), Delhi

• Lloyd Law College, Greater Noida

• IMS Law College / IMS Unison University (Dehradun)

• IIMT College of Law (Greater Noida)

• Asian Law College (Noida)

• Rizvi Law College (Mumbai)

• Dr. D.Y. Patil College of Law (Navi Mumbai/Pimpri)

• MIT-WPU School of Law, Pune

• Banasthali Vidyapith — Faculty of Law (Women’s)

• Apex University — School of Law (Jaipur)

• RNB Global University — School of Law (Bikaner)

• Chanakya Law College (Dehradun)

• Amrita School of Law (Coimbatore)

• Christ (Deemed) — Delhi NCR / Pune Lavasa law programs

• CMR University — School of Legal Studies (Bengaluru)

• Jain University — School of Law (Bengaluru)

• REVA University — School of Legal Studies (repeat for emphasis)

• SASTRA, Saveetha, GITAM (note: some are NIRF-ranked in 2024, but their broader networks/campuses deserve mention here for aspirants comparing options)

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How to build your own Top-200 shortlist (practical method)

1. Start with the NIRF 2024 Law list: This gives you the current official Top ~40. Confirm here: NIRF India Rankings 2024 — Law. 

2. Open the “Participated Institutes” page for Law (2024): This lists all institutions that submitted data (alphabetical). Use it to discover colleges beyond the published ranks and then research each college’s strengths. 

3. Add historic government colleges in your state: these are often affordable and litigation-centric with strong alumni in the local bar.

4. Layer in reputable private universities with modern infrastructure, clinics, international collaborations, research centres, and placement cells.

5. Check entrance routes you are targeting: CLAT/AILET/LSAT-India/MH CET Law/state LAWCETs/university tests.

6. Balance city & network access: Metro locations can help with internships (courts, firms, companies, think-tanks).

7. Visit campuses / talk to students: Evaluate faculty accessibility, moot court culture, legal aid clinics, journals, library depth, career services, and alumni mentorship.

8. Create your personal Top-200 by combining NIRF’s ranked 40 with ~160 more from the directories above (and the participant list). Your final shortlist should reflect your career goal (corporate law, litigation, policy, academia, compliance, IP/tech, ADR).

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Frequently asked questions

Q. Can I rely only on NIRF ranks to choose a college?
A. Use NIRF as a starting point. It’s rigorous, but not exhaustive, and participation varies. Go deeper: curriculum, clinics, faculty CVs, moots, journals, internships, city exposure, and alumni outcomes.

Q. Why are some big names missing from the NIRF 2024 Law top list?
A. Institutes may not participate in a given year, or may not place in the top band that NIRF publishes. That doesn’t automatically make them “bad”; just research carefully.

Q. Are private schools worth it vs government colleges?
A. Depends on your goals and budget. Private schools can offer slick infrastructure and international tie-ups, while government colleges may offer great value and a litigation-heavy ecosystem. The right internships and mentoring can tilt outcomes in your favour, in either track.

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Final word: how to pick your best law college

• Define your path: Corporate law / litigation / judiciary / policy / academia / legal tech.

• Shortlist by category: NIRF-ranked core, central/state universities, government law colleges, private universities.

• Check entrance fit: Don’t prepare for every exam; pick the few that align with your targets.

• Audit outcomes & culture: Moot wins, journals, internships, alumni, mentoring.

• Mind your budget: Factor fees, scholarships, living costs, and the probability of placements or funded clerkships.

• Decide early—and commit: Once you pick your exams and shortlist, focus on consistent preparation and targeted applications.