INTERVIEW: Lakshmi, LLM from RGNUL on Studying at a National Law University!
Be honest, what made you think, “Yeah, I can crack CLAT in one month”?
To be honest, I wouldn’t say that I was confident that I could crack CLAT PG in just one month. But I really wanted to give myself a fair chance. I knew the time was short, and that it’s not easy to crack an exam like CLAT PG in just one month.
But what I felt is that if I give it my absolute best, maybe I would have no regrets later. It’s not always about what the result would be, but it’s about simply trying with full sincerity.
Did this start as a serious plan or a “let’s see what happens” moment?
Honestly, I would say it was a mixture of both. I made a proper plan for a month to cover as much of the syllabus as possible to crack CLAT PG. But at the same time, I was of the mindset that I would give it my best and see what happens.
I told myself that if it worked out, great. If not, I would prepare for the next year. This sort of helped me to stay calm during the preparation.
If your one-month prep had a movie title, what would it be?
I would name the movie “One Month, One Chance” because that was exactly what it was for me. I had just one intense month to do my best, where every day mattered.
What did a typical day in your CLAT prep life look like: chaotic, disciplined, or controlled madness?
A typical day during my CLAT prep was a combination of chaos and discipline at the same time. I graduated with my B.A. LL.B (Hons.) as a University Rankholder in June 2024. Thereafter, I enrolled with my state bar council and started practicing as an advocate.
So while preparing for CLAT, I was working. I had to manage my practice and preparation simultaneously. My days were divided between court work and preparation.
Managing practice and preparation was definitely stressful, but in hindsight, it also made the journey more meaningful. Above all, it taught me how to work under pressure and make the most of limited time.
Any study hacks that saved you precious time (and sanity)?
Since I had only one month to prepare, I started by analysing the previous year’s CLAT PG question papers. This analysis helped me to understand the pattern of the exam.
I realised that many questions were based on recent Supreme Court judgments from the previous three years. So I mostly focused on the case laws instead of revisiting every basic concept and bareacts from scratch. I prioritised caselaws over bareacts.
Another thing that saved me a lot of time was reading case summaries instead of full judgments. Several websites and YouTube channels that compile case summaries were extremely helpful in this process.
Did you ever feel like quitting mid-prep?
Of course, I think almost every aspirant feels that at some point.
There were days when everything felt overwhelming, especially because I was also working. But whenever I felt that pressure, I would take a small break, clear my mind, and restart again. Sometimes a small break helps you return with better focus.
How did you deal with the pressure of knowing time was not on your side?
One thing that really helped me deal with the lack of time was to stop thinking about it. Instead of constantly worrying about the lack of time, I tried to focus on using the time I had as efficiently as possible.
I realised that thinking about it will only add pressure. So I kept smaller goals for each day, kept a checklist, and ticked them off. Completing these daily targets kept me motivated and gave me a sense of progress.
How did you feel when you found out you got into RGNUL?
I am someone who entered the field of law unknowingly. It felt like destiny guiding me here.
When I first joined law school, I didn’t even know that an exam like CLAT existed. I completed my graduation from a private college. But during those years, one thing I always wanted was to experience what it feels like to study in a National Law University.
Since I had missed that opportunity during my undergraduate studies, the only way left was through LLM. When I finally found out that I had secured admission to a National Law University, it truly felt like “Mission Accomplished.” More than anything, I felt deeply grateful and excited to begin a new chapter of my academic journey.
What did this one-month journey teach you about yourself?
This one-month journey taught me one simple but powerful lesson: it is better to start late than never start at all. That one decision to prepare for CLAT seriously in one month saved me an entire year of waiting and preparation.
Many aspirants believe that they will do better if they had more time. But what I realised is that whether you have one month or one year, what truly matters is your determination. If something is meant for you, and you do your part sincerely, things eventually fall into place.
Do you think confidence matters as much as preparation? Why?
Absolutely. Preparation only helps with knowledge, but confidence helps you to use the knowledge you have effectively.
There will always be moments of self-doubt during preparation. What matters is how you respond to those moments. Once you learn to move past that doubt, the path becomes much clearer.
What would you say to someone who thinks it’s “too late” to start CLAT prep?
I would say what I learned from my own journey: it is never too late to start.
If you truly believe this is the path you want to take, then begin today. Delaying the decision only increases regret later.
Biggest myth about CLAT preparation you’d like to bust?
One myth that I would like to bust is that CLAT is an extremely difficult exam that only a few can crack. But what I have realised is that once you are determined and ready to work for it sincerely, then there is no other exam like CLAT that is easier to crack. In reality, once you understand the pattern and prepare strategically, it becomes a very manageable exam.
One piece of advice for students who want to aim high but doubt themselves.
Moments of self-doubt are natural. Everyone experiences it. But there should never be a limit to how high you aim. It is better to try and fail than regret later of the chance you got and never tried.
One personal practice that helped me was keeping my goals to myself until I achieved them. This will help you a lot in dealing with self-doubt. When fewer people know about your plans, it becomes easier to focus without the pressure of expectations.
Lastly but definitely not the least, If CLAT were a person, what would you say to it today?
I would simply say thank you.
Thank you for opening doors that I didn’t even know existed. More than anything, this journey made me stronger and showed me that with belief, effort, and determination, there is very little that is truly impossible.
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Adtiya Aryan
Contributing author
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