12 Minutes to CLAT: Decoding CLAT Preparation Strategy with Keshav Malpani
“If you are planning to take CLAT in a school environment where teachers and mentors would be generally seen saying, “Science leke IIT/NEET karo, scope hai isme” or “Vakeel banke chhatri ke neeche baithe rahoge zindagi bhar”, you have anyway won a very important starting battle. I assume all the CLAT aspirants are aware people who explored their options rather than following the rat race.“
– Keshav Malpani (Founder, 12 minutes to CLAT)
Mr. Keshav Malpani is a graduate of National Law University, Jodhpur (NLUJ) and the founder of 12 Minutes to CLAT. His YouTube channel has 32,000+ subscribers and provides rich and knowledgeable content for CLAT aspirants. He is also an educator at Unacademy.
We managed to ask him the following questions.
How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers? What inclined you towards the field of legal education?
I am Keshav Malpani, a graduate of National Law University, Jodhpur (NLUJ) in 2020. Primarily a corporate lawyer, I shifted towards the field of education as according to me it is one of the most noble profession, and changing someone’s life with the right approach and concepts helps me sleep better every night.
You did your graduation from National Law University, Jodhpur. Did you take any exams? Can you share your experience in NLUJ?
I took CLAT in 2015. NLUJ has been the most enriching experience of my life. Went there like a boy, graduated a man, the institution gave me the confidence to explore variety of fields and with the company of some of the brightest law students in the country, I grew into a completely different individual than I was 6-7 years ago.
Keshav, you have a startup “12 minutes to CLAT”. What made you go for this?
Well, I would not call it a startup as startup is a capitalist term where the prime motive is to make money. This initiative was started in 2020 to bridge the gap for students that they face in their journey for CLAT, and provide them the right tools to excel. With someone who has been there, done it, I try to help students with the approach, strategy and the mindset needed to crack a national level entrance exam like CLAT.
Your Youtube channel has grown really well. Can you help us understand who this channel is for and how it is beneficial?
12 Minutes to CLAT YouTube channel has been an honest attempt to provide the best quality conceptual clarity and ways in which students can strategise their preparation. I believe that every student has what it takes to clear this exam, however their problems are unique, and providing a solution to those individual problems is what I seek to achieve through my videos and personal mentorship sessions.
CLAT 2024 will be conducted on 18th December 2023. Do you have any guidance for you the young students preparing for CLAT 2024?
The final exam date is not released yet. However, it is expected on one of the Sundays in mid-December. CLAT, under the new pattern, has become practice based. Students need to read and interpret passages quickly to be able to answer questions.
My suggestions would be to start reading newspapers daily, without fail, and practice as much as possible. Moreover, Current Affairs preparation shall be done consistently on a daily basis.
Keshav, what are the best books that students can refer to?
There are not many books under the new pattern. However, for English, books like Word Power Made Easy (for vocabulary), RS Aggarwal on Verbal Logic, Magical Book on Quicker Maths by M Tyra may be good budget buys for preparation.
For Current Affairs, online sources are better since they are updated regularly.
Do you think mocks are important? If yes, how one should go about it?
Mock Tests are the most important element for CLAT preparation since practice is the key to cracking this exam. I would strongly suggest students to do offline mocks with OMR sheets to ensure proper time management.
What are the career options in Law?
NLUs have introduced all of us to a highly rewarding Corporate law culture, which is why most of the students take CLAT these days. Other than this, careers in litigation, policy and academics are highly rewarding in the long run.
A great part about being a lawyer is that it comes with a lot of awareness. We, as lawyers, do not get carried away by biased media reporting, or without hearing the other side of the dispute in question.
What are the other entrance exams that students can take?
Other than CLAT, other exams like AILET (for NLU Delhi), MH-CET and SLAT. Law colleges are also available under CUET.
You are an Unacademy Educator too. Can you please share your experience?
At the time of writing this, I am teaching on Unacademy for last 1.5 years. This is a platform that I have used well so far to follow my passion for teaching, and at the same time, provide a lot of perspectives to students on a daily basis which has helped them not just help this exam, but become a more informed human being.
Any advice from your side to all our readers, looking to take law entrance exams?
If you are planning to take CLAT in a school environment where teachers and mentors would be generally seen saying, “Science leke IIT/NEET karo, scope hai isme” or “Vakeel banke chhatri ke neeche baithe rahoge zindagi bhar”, you have anyway won a very important starting battle. I assume that all the CLAT aspirants as aware people who explored their options rather than following the rat-race.
My advice to them would be to make sure they work hard and stay consistent in the preparation to realise their dreams. You have taken a decision where people would try to bring you down trying to brainwash you with their biases and lack of awareness. Always keep going, and at the same time, do not get complacent.
