CLAT 2022 Counselling Process: Dates (Out), Registration (Begins), Seat Allotment

CLAT 2022 Counselling (Registration Underway)

CLAT 2022 counselling dates are out along with the CLAT 2022 result. Last year, the NLU Consortium had reduced the counselling fees from Rs.50,000 to Rs.30,000 for candidates applying under the general category and Rs.20,000 for candidates applying under ST/ SC/ OBC/ BC/ EWS/ PWD and other reserved categories.  

CLAT 2022 Counselling began with the registration for counselling from June 25, 2022. It is held in an online mode. Through the CLAT examination, candidates get admission into integrated BA LLB and Master of Law - LLM programmes. Admission to law programmes will be conducted through centralised counselling, which will take place in 5 rounds.

The CLAT seat allotment will be done on the basis of category, ranks and the number of available seats. Just a few days after the announcement of the written test result, the merit list is released in which candidates must check their names. The candidates whose names appear in the merit list are called for CLAT counselling 2022.

It is mandatory for all the candidates to take part in the CLAT counselling 2022 process. The admission will be granted to the candidates only after the fee has been paid and document verification is done.

CLAT 2022 Counselling Dates

CLAT counselling 2022 dates are yet to be announced by the conducting body. Counselling is expected to begin tentatively in July 2022 but the dates will be updated shortly once they are released officially.

CLAT 2022 Counselling - Events and Details Overview

Counselling registration

To attend the CLAT counselling 2022, applicants will have to pay the CLAT counselling charges. Candidates should fill a minimum of five preferences. 

Publication of first allotment list

The CLAT office will post the first university-wise list online. It will be published on the grounds of merit-cum-preference. The list will be accessible via the CLAT website. Only students who have enrolled for CLAT counselling 2022 will be taken into account. 

Such students should use their options - 

• They must accept or lock the seat, submit documents, and pay the NLU fees. 
• Or else, they can apply for an upgrade, attach documents, and pay the NLU fees.
• They also have the option to leave the admission process.
• NLUs will ascertain the certificates and accept the applicant after receiving the fee.

Publication of second allotment list

In this round also, the process will be similar for the shortlisted candidates - 

• Those candidates who endorse the allocated seat must share documents before paying the NLU fee. 
• They also can apply for a choice upgrade, submit documents, and pay the NLU fee.
• In case they are not satisfied, they can exit the admissions process.
• Following that, aspirants who acknowledge the seat or want to apply for an upgrade must submit documents and fees to the designated NLU.
• NLUs will conduct document verification and update candidates' admission status.

Publication of the third list

• Candidates can exercise their seat options like in previous rounds.
• NLUs must verify candidates' documents, accept the fees, and update their admission status.

In many cases, the CLAT counselling 2022 process runs up to more than the third list. Candidates who have been conditionally allotted seats will be free to withdraw their seats within the time frame specified. The authority will deduct a nominal fee from the paid counselling fees. There will be no withdrawal from the admissions process after the deadline. The authority will issue the fourth list of candidates who have paid their fees and reserved their seats. The names of aspirants who paid the CLAT counselling fee against the first, second, and third lists ( or fourth lists) are included in the comprehensive list.

Publication of final round

In the final round, the candidate can accept the seat or withdraw from the process.

CLAT 2022 Counselling Step by Step Process - Complete details

Registration for Counselling Process:

After the announcement of the first list, candidates will have to apply for the CLAT counselling 2022 process. Students whose names are mentioned in the list will have to pay the CLAT counselling fee to be eligible for seat allotment process.

• Those who fail to deposit the fees in the stipulated time may lose their allotted NLU seat, admission opportunity to NLU. After the payment of fees, the authorities will issue the second indicative seat allotment list. This indicative list will be for the CLAT Counselling Round 2.

CLAT 2022 Counselling Fees Payment

• Aspirants must pay a CLAT counselling fee of Rs 30,000 (approx) for unreserved candidates and Rs 20,000 (approx) for SC/ST candidates.
• CLAT Counselling 2022 fees can be paid online via net banking, credit card, or debit card. The payment gateway will be accessible from the CLAT registration portal.
• CLAT 2022 counselling fees must be submitted by the deadline. Applicants who do not pay the CLAT counselling 2022 fee will not be considered for seat allocation.
• The CLAT counselling fee 2022 will then be adjusted with the admission fees. 
• Candidates must pay the course fee after adjusting the counselling registration fee.

Locking of Choices:

In this option, candidates will have to submit their course and college preferences. After locking the choices, candidates will not be allowed to shift from one university to another during the further counselling process. The Lock option confirms the candidate’s final choice for the particular NLU. 

• The candidates whose names have been newly added to the second indicative counselling list of CLAT 2022 will have to pay the counselling fees by the prescribed time limit. However, those who have been upgraded/shifted need not re-deposit the fee.

Upgrading/Shifting:

The candidates choosing this option will be considered for further counselling rounds against any vacancies that will arise in NLUs. Only upward shifting will be permitted in accordance with the preference list given at the time of application.

• Note: Before releasing the third indicative list, the CLAT authorities will provide an option of withdrawal to all those candidates who have been allotted NLUs in the previous CLAT counselling 2022 rounds.

Withdrawal:

This option can be used by the candidates in two ways - If any candidate participating in the CLAT 2022 counselling fails to deposit the requisite amount of counselling fees, then he/ she will lose the chance to get admission in NLUs of his/ her choice as his/ her name will be dropped from the admission merit list and this is the first way to withdraw an NLU seat, it can be deliberately done or by mistake.

• Second way: This option will be given to the candidates before the final seat allotment list, during the third round of counselling. In such a case, candidates will be allowed to withdraw from the admissions and their deposited counselling fee will be transferred to their bank accounts after a deduction of Rs. 10,000 (approx) from deposited counselling fee.

Final Admission List:

Based on the vacant seats in institutes, a second, third and final list of shortlisted candidates may be published. In order to confirm the seats allotted to them, candidates will have to get their documents verified by the designated authority and pay the admission fees.

Check the detailed CLAT 2022 Counselling Process here.

CLAT 2022 Counselling - Important Documents

Here is the list of important documents for CLAT 2022 counselling - 

• CLAT Application Form 2022

• CLAT Admit Card 2022 

• CLAT Scorecard 2022

• 10th and 12th Marksheets

• Specially-abled certificate (If applicable)

• Caste certificate (If applicable)

• NRI Certificate (If applicable)

• Domicile Certificate (If applicable)

• Sponsored NRI Certificate (If applicable)

CLAT 2022 Counselling: Important Points

Here are a few points that the candidates must be aware of regarding the CLAT 2022 counselling process:

• CLAT 2022 counselling process will be conducted in an online mode by the CLAT conducting body

• The CLAT 2022 counselling process is expected to begin in the month of June / July 2022.

• All the original documents must be submitted by the candidates during the CLAT counselling 2022 process. The documents will be handed back to their respective holders after the verification of documents is over

• After the conclusion of the CLAT counselling process 2022, the eligible candidates will be issued with call letters from the officials.

CLAT 2022 Seat Allotment

Only those who have enrolled for CLAT counselling 2022 and paid the CLAT counselling fee will be regarded for seat allocation. The NLU Consortium will announce the CLAT 2022 seat allocation after considering the following factors.

• Rank and category of the candidate
• The candidate's college preference
• Seat availability in the candidate's preferred category

The CLAT 2022 seat allotment is revealed separately for each of the 22 national law universities. Students will be called to verify their allotment status by logging into their registered accounts.

Options after CLAT Seat Allotment 2022

1st Option - Accept CLAT allotment

Applicants who have no issues with their allotment can use this option. They must upload documents and pay the course fee to the designated law university. These aspirants will be unable to participate in the next round of selection. Applicants must pay the application fee and complete the admissions process after getting their documents verified.

2nd Option - Application for Upgrade

Candidates who want to participate in the next selection round can request an upgrade. Such candidates must also complete the admission process by submitting the documents and course fee to NLU that they received in the first round of allotment.

Such students will be assigned a seat at the university that received the previous allotment. A new allotment will be made only if a vacancy in the NLU exists that is preferred over the current allotment. Candidates who exercise the upgrade option will be allocated another seat in the next round of counselling, with the opportunity to accept, upgrade, or exit the process. 

3rd Option - Exit from CLAT Admission Process 2022

It is the final option for candidates who are uninterested in any NLUs and wish to withdraw from the admissions process. Candidates who choose the exit will not only forgo their current allotment but will also be disqualified from participating in any subsequent rounds.

Options after the final round of CLAT 2022 Seat Allotment

Applicants will have only two options after the final round of seat allocation. They can either accept the assigned seat, upload the required documents, and pay the NLU fee. The other option they have is to exit the admissions process. They do not have an option to upgrade after the final seat allotment round. Contenders who accept admission in this round will be admitted if they meet the university's eligibility criteria for the course.

CLAT 2022 Counselling Fee Refund

Applicants who did not receive an allotment or chose the exit option will be refunded their counselling fees. Candidates who did not receive an allotment in any rounds will receive a full refund. Candidates who use the exit option and reject their allotment will receive a refund after the authorities deduct a processing fee. Until last year, a deduction of Rs. 10,000 (approximate) was made in such a case.