The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has announced the schedule for the Law Graduate Assessment Test (Law-GAT) 2026, mandatory for law graduates seeking enrollment as advocates with the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC). The test will be conducted under HEC’s Education Testing Council (ETC).
Online registration will begin on March 3, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., while the Law-GAT exam is scheduled to take place on April 5, 2026 (Sunday). HEC stated that any updates or changes regarding the test will be uploaded on its official website.
Candidates holding a bachelor’s degree in law or an equivalent qualification from an HEC- or PBC-recognized institution, whether local or foreign, are eligible to apply. The test will consist of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), and candidates must secure at least 50 out of 100 marks to qualify.
HEC clarified that the Law-GAT is conducted quarterly in major cities. Applicants can select their preferred test center; however, ETC reserves the right to reassign centers if fewer than 250 candidates register at a particular location.
The commission further stated that candidates who have already passed the Law-GAT, exhausted their seven attempts, or are currently enrolled in a law degree program are not eligible. It also emphasized that passing the Law-GAT alone does not grant the right to practice law, as enrollment depends on fulfilling additional requirements set by the Pakistan Bar Council.
The Law-GAT was introduced to standardize the assessment of law graduates before enrollment as advocates. It serves as a mandatory screening mechanism to ensure minimum professional competency prior to registration with the bar.
