The Consortium of National Law Universities is scheduled to release the CLAT 2026 second allotment list on January 22. Candidates participating in the centralized counseling must log in to their portals to check their admission status. Ensure all mandatory academic and category certificates are ready for the upcoming document verification phase.

The Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) is set to initiate the law-selection phase for the second round of the Common Law Admission Test (NLU-merit) 2026. As of today, January 20, 2026, the official portal is being prepared for the release of the second seat allotment list, scheduled for January 22. This round is particularly significant for aspirants who opted for the "Float" option in the first round or those who were waitlisted, as it marks the beginning of meaningful movement across the 24 participating national law schools. The counseling-dashboard will serve as the primary interface for candidates to confirm their updated status.

Second Allotment Timeline and Confirmation Steps

The NLU-merit authorities have established a strict window for candidates to respond to their second-round offers.

• Release Date: The second allotment list will be officially published on January 22, 2026, at 10:00 AM.
• Response Window: Candidates allotted a seat for the first time or those whose seats have been upgraded must choose their option by January 29, 2026, before 1:00 PM.
• Confirmation Fee: To secure the seat, a non-refundable fee of ₹20,000 is mandatory for those who select the "Freeze" or "Float" options on their counseling-dashboard.
• Exit Option: Students who no longer wish to participate in the legal-intake process can choose the "Exit" option, which will result in the forfeiture of their current seat and removal from future rounds.

Mandatory Documentation for Verification

To ensure a valid law-selection, candidates must upload clear, scanned copies of their original documents to the counseling-dashboard for institutional review.

• Academic Records: For UG programs, Class 10 and 12 mark sheets are required; PG candidates must additionally provide their LLB degree or final year mark sheets.
• Entrance Credentials: The NLU-merit 2026 scorecard and admit card are essential for identity and rank verification.
• Certificate Requirements: Category certificates (SC, ST, OBC, EWS), domicile certificates for state quotas, and PwD certificates must be in the prescribed format.
• Transfer Papers: Character certificates and Migration/Transfer certificates from the last attended institution are necessary to finalize the legal-intake formalities.

Comparison of Counselling Options and Fees

The legal-intake process offers three distinct paths for candidates after the second list is released.

• Consortium Fee: The initial registration fee paid during December (₹30,000 for General, ₹20,000 for Reserved) will be adjusted against the final university fees.
• Reporting Protocol: While the law-selection is handled online, candidates who "Freeze" their seats must eventually report physically to their allotted NLU for final verification.
• Technical Readiness: Aspirants are urged to check their counseling-dashboard today to ensure their previous documents were accepted and to prepare for any additional requests.

Conclusion

As the NLU-merit second window approaches, the focus for all law aspirants is on strategic decision-making. The upcoming release on January 22 is a pivotal moment in the 2026 legal-intake cycle, as many candidates will see shifts in their NLU assignments. By ensuring all documents are scanned and ready for the counseling-dashboard, students can avoid the last-minute stress of technical rejections. The Consortium has reiterated that no extensions will be granted beyond the January 29 deadline for fee payment, making early action vital for securing a place in India's premier legal institutions.