The Law Graduate Assessment Test (Law-GAT) is mandatory for law graduates seeking enrollment as advocates with the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), following the Supreme Court directive dated March 6, 2018. It ensures only qualified candidates with strong foundational legal knowledge enter the profession.
Key Criteria
| Criterion | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB or equivalent) from HEC/PBC-recognized universities |
| Passing Marks | Minimum 50% (50 out of 100 marks) |
| Attempts Allowed | Up to 7 chances (per latest HEC rules) |
| Test Format | 100 Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Test Fee | Rs. 3,000 (non-refundable, non-transferable) |
| Frequency | Quarterly by HEC Education Testing Council (ETC) |
| Payment Methods | 1Link, banks (e.g., HBL A/c No. 01127900567403), Easypaisa, JazzCash, Upaisa |
Who Can Apply?
Any graduate holding an LLB (or equivalent) from a recognized institution.
Law GAT Syllabus (Latest – No Major Changes in 2026)
Official syllabus PDF (still valid):
https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/services/students/etc/Documents/Curriculum-LAW-GAT-test.pdf
- Constitutional History of Pakistan (20 Marks): Landmark cases – Maulvi Tamiz-ud-Din Khan (PLD 1955 FC 240), State vs. Dosso (PLD 1958 SC 533), Asma Jilani (PLD 1972 SC 139), Nusrat Bhutto (PLD 1977 SC 657), Nawaz Sharif (PLD 1993 SC 473), Al-Jehad Trust (PLD 1996 SC 324), Zafar Ali Shah (PLD 2000 SC 869), etc.
- Constitution of Pakistan, 1973 (10 Marks): Preamble to Article 40, Parliament (50-89), Judicature (175-212).
- International Law (5 Marks): UN Charter, ICJ.
- Jurisprudence (10 Marks): English (Sir John Salmond), Islamic (Prof Imran Ahsan Khan Nyazee).
- Civil Procedure Code (CPC) (20 Marks): Sections from the preamble to Sections 12, 15-20, 47, 75, 96, 104, 115, and 151. Orders 1, 6-9, 39, 41, and 43.
- Criminal Law (20 Marks): Pakistan Penal Code (PPC): Chapter 2, 4, 16, 16-A, 17. Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC): Chapter 1, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 16, 17, 31, 39, and Bail.
- Law of Evidence (20 Marks): Qanoon-e-Shahadat Order, 1984 (complete).
- Professional Ethics (10 Marks): Canons of Professional Conduct and Etiquette of Advocates (Ch 12, Rule 134-175 B). Pakistan Legal Practitioners & Bar Councils Rules, 1976.
2026 Test Dates & Schedule
Law-GAT is held quarterly. Check the official 2026 Calendar: https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/services/students/etc/PublishingImages/ETC%20Test%20Calendar%20for%20Year%202026.pdf
Upcoming/Expected Tests (based on patterns):
- April 5, 2026 (first of the year)
- August 9, 2026
- October 18, 2026
- December 20, 2026 (and possibly more)
Registration opens 2-3 weeks before each test. keep visiting pk law notes regullarly for more update
Registration Process
- Visit https://etc.hec.gov.pk/ → Sign up/login with CNIC/Passport.
- Complete “My Profile”.
- Apply under “Law Graduate Assessment Test”.
- Pay Rs. 3,000 via available methods.
- Verify payment on dashboard.
On Test Day
Bring: Roll Number Slip, Original CNIC/Passport, Fee Receipt.
Test Centers
The test will be conducted in various cities, including Islamabad ,Lahore, Multan, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad ,Karachi ,Sukkur ,Hyderabad ,Peshawar , Abbottabad ,Quetta, Turbat ,Muzaffarabad , Gilgit and others.
Comment below 👇:
Which attempt number is yours? Need tips on any subject? Tag a fellow law graduate!
Read More : Law GAT Update
Hello,
My name is Asif Ali and I am graduated in law back in 2018 but unfortunate could not pass the LAW GAT in 2022.Now I am in UK since 2022 and I have completed Master of Laws ( LLM). I want to know that is there any way to give test online or I have heard that after doing LLM, HEC waives the Law gat test for the bar council enrolment.
Please do let me know about my querry.
kind regards,
Asif Ali
It really great