Top 10 Legal Maxims That Keep Repeating in CLAT and Other Law Exams

Himanshi Goyal
2 days ago
6 min read

Legal maxims are short Latin phrases that express basic principles of law. These phrases may sound complicated, but their meanings are simple and useful. Many law entrance exams, including CLAT, AILET, and state judiciary exams, often ask questions based on these maxims. They are either directly mentioned or form the base of the logic used in legal reasoning passages.

Knowing a few important legal maxims helps you solve such questions quickly and accurately. Rather than memorising all maxims, focusing on the most commonly repeated ones is more helpful for your preparation. Below are 10 legal maxims that frequently appear in law entrance exams, explained in a simple and clear manner, along with examples to help you understand them better.

1. Actus Non Facit Reum Nisi Mens Sit Rea

Meaning: An act alone does not make a person guilty unless there is a guilty mind.
Understanding this principle is important when learning how to prepare for CLAT, especially for the legal reasoning section. It means that a person is guilty of a crime only if they have both done something wrong (actus reus) and had a guilty intention (mens rea). In simple terms, the action and the intention must go together to make someone legally guilty.
Example: A person picks up someone else’s umbrella by mistake, thinking it is their own. Here, there is no guilty intention, so they cannot be punished for theft.
Exam Relevance: Appears in criminal law-based questions where the focus is on whether the person acted intentionally or not.

2. Audi Alteram Partem

Meaning: Hear the other side as well.
This is a rule of natural justice. It states that no one should be punished or affected by a decision unless they are given a chance to present their side of the story. Fairness in legal decisions depends on this principle.
Example: A school expels a student without asking them what happened. This action goes against the principle of audi alteram partem.
Exam Relevance: Frequently appears in questions related to administrative law, school or workplace discipline, or complaints.

3. Nemo Judex in Causa Sua

Meaning: No one should be a judge in their own case.
Another rule of natural justice, this maxim means that a person should not decide a case in which they have a personal interest. Bias or conflict of interest makes a decision unfair.
Example: A principal whose child is involved in a school fight should not be the one to decide the punishment. The decision might be biased.
Exam Relevance: Comes up in questions where the decision-maker has a personal connection to the case.

4. Ignorantia Juris Non Excusat

Meaning: Ignorance of the law is not an excuse.
This maxim means that a person cannot avoid punishment by saying they did not know the law. Everyone is expected to be aware of the basic rules and laws of the land.
Example: A driver parks in a no-parking zone and claims they didn’t see the sign or know the rule. This excuse does not work under this principle.
Exam Relevance: Seen in questions where a person breaks a rule but says they didn’t know it was illegal.

5. Volenti Non Fit Injuria

Meaning: A person who voluntarily agrees to take a risk cannot complain about the injury.
This is used in tort law. It applies when someone willingly takes part in an activity with known risks and later suffers an injury. Since they agreed to the risk, they cannot hold others responsible.
Example: A player joins a football match and gets injured. They cannot sue other players for the injury because they chose to play.
Exam Relevance: Used in legal reasoning sets related to sports, adventure activities, and personal consent.

6. Res Ipsa Loquitur

Meaning: The thing speaks for itself.
This maxim is also from tort law. It is used when an accident happens in such a way that it clearly shows negligence, even if there is no direct evidence.
Example: A ceiling fan falls on a student during class. The incident itself shows that there was carelessness in maintaining the fan. No further proof is needed.
Exam Relevance: Useful in negligence questions where the event clearly indicates fault.

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7. Ubi Jus Ibi Remedium

Meaning: Where there is a right, there is a remedy.
This maxim says that if a person’s legal right is violated, there must be a way to correct it. A right is meaningful only when the law provides a method to protect or enforce it.
Example: An employee who doesn’t get their salary on time can go to court to claim it. Since they have a right to be paid, they also have a remedy if that right is denied.
Exam Relevance: Appears in civil law questions related to legal rights and enforcement.

8. Salus Populi Suprema Lex

Meaning: The welfare of the people is the highest law.
This maxim is used when personal rights are limited to protect public safety. It supports decisions taken by the government for the common good, even if some individual freedom is affected.
Example: During a public health crisis, the government may enforce lockdowns. This action limits movement but is allowed under this principle.
Exam Relevance: Found in questions dealing with public interest, emergency actions, or health and safety laws.

9. Qui Facit Per Alium Facit Per Se

Meaning: A person who acts through another is considered to have acted themselves.
This is related to vicarious liability. If someone performs an act through an agent or employee, they are also responsible for the result of that act.
Example: A delivery person working for a company causes damage while on duty. The company may be held responsible, even though the boss was not present at the scene.
Exam Relevance: Regularly asked in legal reasoning sets involving employer-employee relationships.

10. Fiat Justitia Ruat Caelum

Meaning: Let justice be done, even if the heavens fall.
This maxim means that justice must be served, no matter how difficult or serious the consequences are. It shows that fairness in law should not be stopped by fear or pressure.
Example: A court punishes a famous politician for a crime, despite possible backlash. The court is following this principle by prioritising justice over consequences.
Exam Relevance: Appears in ethical or controversial case-based passages where tough decisions are involved.

Helpful Tips to Learn Legal Maxims Easily

Use Short Notes or Flashcards: Make a small card with the maxim on one side and its meaning and example on the other. This helps with regular revision.
Connect with Real-Life Situations: Try to link the maxim to things you see in school, public life, or the news. Real examples help you remember better.
Practice with Questions: After learning a maxim, solve 2–3 questions related to it. This helps you understand how it is used in legal reasoning.
Group Maxims by Topic: Some maxims are related to criminal law, some to tort law, and others to constitutional or civil law. Grouping them by category helps with quicker recall.

Why These Maxims Are Asked Again and Again

These legal maxims are easy to test in exam questions because they are clear, logical, and commonly used in Indian legal situations. In most comprehension-based legal reasoning questions, the logic behind the correct answer follows one of these maxims-even if the Latin phrase is not directly mentioned.

Over the years, CLAT papers have included multiple questions where:

A person did something by mistake → Actus Non Facit Reum Nisi Mens Sit Rea
A person wasn’t allowed to explain → Audi Alteram Partem
An employer was held responsible → Qui Facit Per Alium Facit Per Se

Recognising the maxim can help you quickly identify the correct answer.

Also, take some time to explore the Differences between CLAT, LSAT, and AILET before choosing your exam path.

Summary Table of All 10 Maxims

Maxim	Meaning	Topic
Actus Non Facit Reum…	No crime without guilty mind	Criminal Law
Audi Alteram Partem	Listen to both sides	Natural Justice
Nemo Judex in Causa Sua	No one judges their own case	Natural Justice / Bias
Ignorantia Juris Non Excusat	Not knowing the law is not an excuse	General Legal Rule
Volenti Non Fit Injuria	Consent removes blame	Tort / Sports Injuries
Res Ipsa Loquitur	Accident shows fault by itself	Tort / Negligence
Ubi Jus Ibi Remedium	Rights must have remedies	Civil Rights / Compensation
Salus Populi Suprema Lex	Public welfare comes first	Government / Public Safety
Qui Facit Per Alium…	Acting through others makes you liable too	Vicarious Liability
Fiat Justitia Ruat Caelum	Justice should be done, no matter the result	Ethical / Moral Judgments

Conclusion

Understanding these legal maxims gives you a clear advantage in CLAT and other law entrance exams. Many questions are based on these simple legal principles. You don’t need to memorise long lists-just focus on these commonly asked maxims and practise applying them in questions.

Regular revision, smart examples, and practice with legal reasoning passages will help you remember them and apply them correctly in exams.

Let me know if you’d like these maxims in a printable PDF, flashcard format, or with example-based practice questions.

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