Open Letter to CLAT Consortium for Challenges of Legal Passages

Dear CLAT Consortium,

We hope this letter finds you well. We are writing to express some concerns that many aspiring law students and their families have regarding the difficulty level of certain sections in the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). While we understand that CLAT is designed to assess the aptitude and potential of students aiming to pursue law, it has come to our attention that the inclusion of highly technical legal passages might inadvertently create obstacles for candidates, especially those who have just completed their 12th grade.

The aspiration to become a lawyer is a noble one, and we appreciate the efforts made by the CLAT Consortium in maintaining the high standards of legal education across National Law Universities. However, it is essential to strike a balance between challenging candidates and ensuring that the examination accurately evaluates their potential. The inclusion of legal passages under the legal reasoning section, which delve deep into intricate legal concepts and detailed aspects of the law, has raised concerns about accessibility and fairness.

The requirement to comprehend complex legal principles and apply them within a limited time frame of two hours can put undue pressure on candidates. It's worth acknowledging that most students who appear for CLAT have recently completed their 12th grade and might not have had extensive exposure to such advanced legal intricacies. The result is that many talented and motivated students, who could otherwise excel in a legal career, find themselves compelled to seek coaching from specialized institutes. These institutes often charge exorbitant fees, which can put additional financial burdens on students and their families.

The legal profession thrives on a deep understanding of the law and its nuances, and we agree that assessing this understanding is essential in the admission process. However, it's worth considering the feasibility of such an assessment within the constraints of a two-hour examination. Not only are students required to tackle these technical legal passages, but they are also expected to perform well in other sections such as mathematics, critical reasoning, general knowledge, and English. This extensive range of topics further divides the attention and preparation time of the candidates.

Last year's instance of a highly technical concept like 'Res Judicata' being included as a passage highlights the challenge faced by students. While the inclusion of advanced legal concepts is not inherently problematic, the depth and complexity of these passages might need to be reevaluated to ensure that they remain fair and accessible to a diverse pool of candidates.

We recognize the importance of maintaining the integrity and rigor of the CLAT examination. However, we urge the CLAT Consortium to consider revisiting the design of the legal reasoning section to strike a more equitable balance between assessing legal aptitude and evaluating a student's potential to excel in the field of law. By doing so, you can not only provide a more level playing field for all candidates but also encourage a more diverse and inclusive legal profession.

Thank you for your time and consideration. We hope that together, we can work towards an examination that truly reflects the potential of all aspiring law students.

Sincerely,

Concerned CLAT Students (ones who reported it to The Philox)

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