The results of Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) –2013 have been discussed and analysed in the past 24 hours. Two interesting trends have come to the forth.This exam is now seeing an increased participation from students outside the metro cities. Simultaneously, new models of preparation are being explored to succeed in the CLAT.
In one of the first attempts of such kind, TestCracker® (www.testcracker.in) – a Bangalore based organization, had launched a comprehensive and intensive 30-day online crash course for the CLAT 2013 examination. Now that the results are out, the judgment is also out on the feasibility of such training programs. TestCracker has managed to take more than 50% of its enrolled students to the esteemed corridors of the National Law Schools. That this could be made possible with just a month’s online training and tests is a sure enough indicator of the effectiveness of the online mode of preparation.
What makes the online mode work? Yashaswi, the co-founder of TestCrackersays, “It divides the cost of preparation to almost a tenth of the physical classes; it multiplies the number of revisions manifolds; it adds value through interactive content and tests and it subtracts distraction from the preparation. When you study online, you stay with the syllabus and you have complete visibility on the status of your preparation. In an exam like CLAT which tests multiple aspects, it is very important to work with a firm plan. If we provide good content through creative and engaging means, the student will not just learn, but also retain what she learns.”
Upon being asked about the future of the CLAT, he replies, “It will be more competitive in the coming years. More Law Schools will come up too. The graduates from the premier law schools will be getting even higher salary packages. This has just got to do with the laws of supply and demand. India is a litigation friendly country and there are more than 2 crore cases pending in the Indian courts. The supply has to rise to meet the demand.”
So, how should someone who is new to CLAT start? “Start early, study the syllabus, finalize a plan of action, choose your books or study partners and get going.”
When the CLAT itself is not online, would it make sense to prepare for it online? “Ad coelom” - comes the quick reply - “in legal parlanceit implies that whoever owns the land also owns the sky above it. I think that whoever prepares well online can surely crack any offline test too!”
Online mode of preparation has arrived for the CLAT. The coming years will test its sustainability. Appealing to the individuality of each CLAT taker and offering low prices, this mode will give a serious competition to the brick and mortar way of preparation. The appeal is understandable – with just an internet connection, a student gets access to the best teachers and an opportunity to compete with the students across the country.
