Top Law Colleges in Maharashtra: Government, Private & NLUs Explained
Maharashtra, besides being the financial capital, it’s India’s legal capital outside Delhi. Mumbai hosts the Bombay High Court, one of the prestigious courts in the country. Pune is home to some of India’s most respected law institutions. Nagpur has emerged as a hub for legal innovation. With 200+ law colleges across Maharashtra and 3 National Law Universities, now, your choice of the top law colleges in Maharashtra will shape your entire legal career trajectory.
It’s a comprehensive guide built by ‘IMS Get.Set.Law’ from real data on placement outcomes, fee structures, entrance requirements, and honest assessments of what each college actually delivers.
Top 10 Law Colleges in Maharashtra: Quick Snapshot
Here is a list of NLUs, government, and private law colleges in Maharashtra prepared by IMS CLAT mentors:
| Law Colleges | Fees in Lakhs | Average Placements | Total Seats |
| Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai | 3,97,476 per annum | 10 LPA | 120 |
| Government Law College (GLC), Churchgate | 6890 per annum | 8 to 12 LPA | 240 |
| MNLU, Nagpur | 3,65,000 per annum | 7.6 LPA | 240 |
| Symbiosis Law School (SLS), Pune | 4,98,000 per annum | 13.31 LPA | 600 |
| NMIMS, Mumbai | 3,50,000 per annum | 10 to 14 LPA | 300 |
| NMIMS, Navi Mumbai | 2,75,000 per annum | 10 to 14 LPA | 120 |
| SVKM’s Pravin Gandhi College of Law (PGCL) | 83,500 per annum | 6 LPA | 120 |
| MNLU, Aurangabad | 3,22,001 per annum | 8 to 14 LPA | 120 |
| UMLA, (Thane & Santacruz) | 51,500 per annum | 4 to 9 LPA | 120 & 60 |
If you appeared in CLAT 2026, the CLAT counselling process has begun with the announcement of CLAT results. Check CLAT cutoffs for law colleges.
Top Law Colleges in Maharashtra: National Law Universities in Maharashtra
Maharashtra has THREE NLUs:
Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai
| Metric | Details |
| Established | 2015 |
| Seats | 120 |
| Entrance Exam | CLAT (75-85%ile typical) |
| Programs | BA LLB (5 years), LL.M |
| Fees | 3,97,476 per annum for BA LLB |
| Average Placement | 1o LPA |
| Faculty | National and international experts |
What makes MNLU Mumbai special:
- Location: Students are literally studying next to Bombay High Court, corporate law firms, and legal practice. Internships are with real firms and law environment.
- Faculty quality: National-level faculty members who practice law alongside teaching. You learn from active practitioners.
- Placement outcomes: 10-15 LPA average, with placements across litigation, corporate, startups, international firms.
- Alumni network: Growing network of NLU graduates in top law positions across India.
- International exposure: Tie-ups with universities abroad, exchange programs.
- Realistic assessment: MNLU Mumbai is the best NLU choice in Maharashtra. If you score 80%+ in CLAT, this should be your priority.
Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Nagpur
| Metric | Details |
| Established | 2015 |
| Seats | 250 |
| Entrance Exam | CLAT (65-75%ile typical) |
| Programs | BA LLB (5 years), LL.M |
| Fees | 3,65,000 per annum for BA LLB |
| Average Placement | 7.6 LPA |
| NIRF Rank | Top 30 in India |
| Faculty | National-level experts |
What makes MNLU Nagpur special:
- NIRF Top 30 Ranking: MNLU, Nagpur ranks 28th in the top law colleges in India for 2025 as per NIRF.
- Lower admission cutoff: MNLU, Nagpur typically has lower cutoff (65-75%ile).
- Emerging legal hub: Nagpur is emerging as an alternative legal center. Growing corporate presence, government agencies, and law practices.
- Cost of living: Lower than Mumbai with better student life experience.
- Good placements: 7-12 LPA is solid, especially for Nagpur-based college.
- Realistic assessment: MNLU Nagpur is excellent if you score 65-75%ile. It provides better value than many private colleges, solid NLU pedigree.
Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Aurangabad
| Metric | Details |
| Seats | 120 |
| Entrance Exam | CLAT (55-65%ile typical) |
| Programs | BA LLB (5 years), LL.M |
| Fees | 3,22,001 per annum |
| Average Placement | 8 to 14 LPA |
| Faculty | Growing faculty base |
What makes MNLU Aurangabad special:
- Lowest admission cutoff: Easiest NLU to get into among Maharashtra NLUs as 55-65%ile is achievable.
- Tier-2 city advantage: Lower competition, lower living cost, and emerging legal market.
- Lower fees: Slightly lower than Mumbai and Nagpur.
- Growing placements: Not as established as Mumbai/Nagpur but improving.
- Realistic assessment: MNLU Aurangabad is good if you score 55-65%ile. Easiest path to NLU in Maharashtra.
Watch More on Top Law Colleges in Maharashtra
Top 10 Government Law Colleges in Maharashtra
Here are the top 10 government law colleges to study in Maharashtra:
| Govt. Law Colleges | Fees in Lakhs | Average Placements | Total Seats |
| Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai | 3,97,476 per annum | 10 LPA | 120 |
| Government Law College (GLC), Churchgate | 6890 per annum | 8 to 12 LPA | 240 |
| MNLU, Nagpur | 3,65,000 per annum | 7.6 LPA | 240 |
| MNLU, Aurangabad | 3,22,001 per annum | 8 to 14 LPA | 120 |
| ILS Pune – Indian Law Society Law College, Pune | 1,73,732 per annum | 6 to 10 LPA | 300 |
| BAMU, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University |
6k-10k | 2.5 to 3.5 LPA | 180 & 300 |
| Savitribai Phule Pune University | 8k-12k per annum | – | 60-120 |
| Gondwana University, Gadchiroli | 10.5k per annum | – | 120 |
| Shivaji University, Kolhapur | 6k-9k per annum | – | 120 |
| TMV – Lokmanya Tilak Law College, Pune | 80k-96k per annum | – | 120 |
Total Seats in Top Law Colleges in Maharashtra
Here is a list of NLUs, government, and private law colleges in Maharashtra with their seats:
| Law Colleges | Total Seats |
| Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai | 120 |
| Government Law College (GLC), Churchgate | 240 |
| MNLU, Nagpur | 240 |
| Symbiosis Law School (SLS), Pune | 600 |
| NMIMS, Mumbai | 300 |
| NMIMS, Navi Mumbai | 120 |
| SVKM’s Pravin Gandhi College of Law (PGCL) | 120 |
| MNLU, Aurangabad | 120 |
| UMLA, (Thane & Santacruz) | 120 & 60 |
Law Programs Offered By Maharashtra Law Colleges
The best law colleges in Maharashtra offer various law programs which are as follows:
- UG 5‑Year Integrated (e.g., BA LL.B., BBA LL.B., B.Com LL.B., B.Sc LL.B)
- UG 3‑Year LLB (after graduation)
- Postgraduate: LL.M. (1 or 2 years), specialized diplomas (IPR, corporate law, arbitration).
- PhD in Law (available at larger universities / NLUs)
Also read, Law Careers in India | Career after 3 years LLB.
If you’re preparing for CLAT 2027 exam, you should begin your prep without wasting much time.
Join Best CLAT Coaching in Maharashtra
What are the Law Entrance Tests in Maharashtra?
- CLAT UG & PG admissions to most NLUs (including MNLU Mumbai) NLUs across India, MNLU Mumbai.
- MHCET Law (MH-CET Law) is State-level law entrance for Maharashtra government/private colleges, Government Law College, University of Mumbai colleges, and some private colleges.
- NLAT / SLAT / AILET / LSAT are Institute-specific entrances. SLAT is for Symbiosis Law Schools, AILET is for NLU Delhi, and NLAT is for NMIMS.
If you’re targeting MNLU Mumbai, CLAT preparation is non-negotiable. For GLC and other Mumbai colleges, MHCET Law and college cutoffs matter.
How to Prepare for the Entrance Exams of The Top Law Colleges in Maharashtra
Law aspirants can take the admission to best law colleges in Maharashtra through law entrance exams, such as CLAT, SLAT, NLAT, AILET, and LSAT. These exams are held every year.
Top Law Colleges Accepting MH CET Law Scores in Maharashtra
If you wish to pursue law career in Maharashtra, you should get admission in the 3-year and 5-year LLB programs in the top MH CET Law colleges. Over 49 colleges accept MH CET Law scores for admission. Out of those 49, the top-tier colleges include Government Law College, Mumbai, ILS Law College, Pune, and SVKM’s Pravin Gandhi College of Law.
The Common Law Entrance Test is conducted to get admission to both undergraduate and integrated undergraduate programs offered by the law colleges of Maharashtra. The CET is the only way to get admission to the colleges accepting MH CET Law scores. The State Common Entrance Test Cell, Maharashtra, and the Directorate of Higher Education, Mumbai, conduct this MH Common Entrance Test (MH CET).
- Government Law College (GLC), Mumbai
- SVKM’s Pravin Gandhi College of Law, Mumbai
- The University of Mumbai Law Academy
- Rizvi Law College, Mumbai
- Indian Law Society (ILS) Law College, Pune
- D.E.S. Navalmal Firodia Law College, Pune
- Shankarrao Chavan Law College, Pune
- Dr Ambedkar College, Department of Law, Nagpur
- St. Wilfred’s College of Law, Mumbai
- Dr DY Patil College of Law, Navi Mumbai
Read more: MH CET Law Cutoffs – How much do you need to score for the top law colleges?
How to Choose the Best Law School in Maharashtra
First, find your career aspiration and career trajectory. Whether you want to be a judge or pursue corporate law. Your entrance score in exam like CLAT or MH-CET will also drive your choices. If you scored 95+ in CLAT, you will have bigger pool of choices.
You can also take help from IMS Law School Zone which is a user-friendly, interactive online platform by IMS India. It’s designed to help law aspirants navigate the complex law school admissions process in India. It is part of the larger IMS Grad School Zone initiative.
Key Features and Functionality: The platform consolidates crucial data of all law colleges and top NLUs in India to help students make informed decisions.
- Comprehensive College Information: The platform features a detailed list of premier law institutes, including National Law Universities (NLUs) like NLSIU Bangalore and NALSAR Hyderabad, as well as top private and government colleges.
- College Comparison: Users can compare different law colleges side-by-side based on various factors like seat availability, reservation policies, placement statistics, and fees.
- Cut-offs and Deadlines: It provides category-specific cut-off data from previous years, helping students understand their admission chances. It also tracks important application and test deadlines.
- “myNLU Target Rank” Tool: This is CLAT College Predictor feature allows students to input their potential scores or state of domicile to predict which colleges they might be eligible for based on past trends.
Best Law Colleges in Maharashtra with Low Fees
There are law colleges in Maharashtra with affordable fees:
Government Law College, Mumbai
GLC has minimal annual fees of 6.8k for law courses and it’s one of the best. It stands as one of Asia’s oldest and most prestigious law institutions, established in 1855. Their alumni include judges of the Bombay High Court, Supreme Court advocates, and some of India’s most respected legal minds. The affordability democratizes legal education. Additional optional fees for library and laboratory.
Government funding allows GLC to charge minimal fees while maintaining exceptional quality. The average placement package is about ~₹8 LPA and the top 10-15% secure ₹12-18+ LPA at premier firms. The placement rate is 95%+.
SVKM’s Pravin Gandhi College of Law (PGCL)
It’s a mid-tier private law college in Mumbai, affiliated with University of Mumbai. Established relatively recently, PGCL positions itself as offering “quality legal education” with modern approach. The annual fee is about ₹83,500 (Mid-tier private college). The average placement package is about ₹6 LPA. The recruiters include Mid-tier law firms, Corporate legal departments, and Government organizations.
MNLU Mumbai
It’s a National Law University and it’s autonomous. Established in 2014, MNLU represents India’s modern legal education paradigm. The annual fee is ₹3,97,476 and 5-Year Total is ~₹20 lakhs. The cost justifies itself through national-level education. The average placement package is about ₹10 LPA and the top tier placements is about ₹18+ LPA.
Recruiting organizations include premier law firms, like Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Trilegal, Big 4 Consulting, Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and World Bank.
Other Affordable Law Colleges in Maharashtra State
- ILS Pune for BA/BBA LLB: ₹1.12L per annum
- Bharati Vidyapeeth for BA/BBA LLB: ₹38.6K per annum
- K.C. Law for LL.B: ₹21.2k per annum
- MNLU Aurangabad for BA LLB: ₹2.4L per annum
- MNLU Nagpur for BA LLB: ₹2.49L per annum
FAQs
CLAT or MH CET: Which law entrance test should I target for Maharashtra law colleges?
Let’s understand it through advantages:
CLAT
- 22 NLUs nationally accept the CLAT score.
- Better value and higher average placements from NLUs in Maharashtra
MH CET:
- Easier competition in Maharashtra
- More colleges to choose from
- Alternative test if CLAT doesn’t work
Your strategy should be to prepare for both exams.
Are MNLUs Necessary for good career in law?
MNLUs helps in better law careers. Even if someone takers Non-NLU career path, like ILS Pune, SLS Pune, or NMIMS, they can get placed at 10-13 LPA. And someone from NLU path, can get placed at 16-18 LPA.
Your performance matters more than college name. Top performer from GLC might outperform average student from SLS Pune.
Should I Study Law in Maharashtra or Delhi?
Maharashtra has more law college options with varied fee structures which gives better value at same quality. The tier-1 placements from SLS and MNLU are averaged at 14-16 lakhs per annum.
Delhi city has the NLU Delhi brand with highest average placements. Delhi is also a concentrated legal hub with supreme court and ministries. If you can get into top law colleges in Delhi, go there. And, compare them with top 10 law colleges in Maharashtra.
Which is the best law college in Maharashtra?
GLC, MNLU Mumbai, MNLU Nagpur, SLS Pune, and NMIMS Mumbai are the state’s top law colleges. For legacy and judiciary orientation, Government Law College (GLC), Mumbai and ILS Pune are excellent. For corporate exposure and modern curriculum, Symbiosis Law School (SLS) and NMIMS KPMSL rank highly.
Which entrance exam should I take for Maharashtra law colleges?
If you target NLUs, take CLAT exam. For state colleges like GLC/ILS and many Pune colleges, prepare for MHCET Law. Private colleges have their own tests (SLAT, NLAT, college-based). Check each college website and join a preparation course for law entrance tests.
Are government law colleges in Maharashtra worth it?
Absolutely. GLC and ILS have historic reputations, strong alumni in courts and judiciary, and excellent ROI due to low fees. Government funding allows GLC to charge minimal fees while maintaining exceptional quality. The average placement package is about ₹8 LPA and the top 10-15% secure ₹12-18+ LPA at premier firms.
What is the placement range for top private law schools in Maharashtra?
Strong batches at Symbiosis and NMIMS often report average/median packages in the double-digit LPA i.e. ₹10–20 LPA. While many students get respectable mid-range corporate roles, like ₹6–12 LPA.
How should I choose between Mumbai and Pune law colleges?
Mumbai is the corporate & litigation hub with a proximity to top law firms and Bombay High Court. Pune offers a balanced campus life with good academic rigor and growing industry links. Your career focus whether it is corporate or judiciary or academia, should guide the choice.
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