Law Internships in India
Law Internships are an important part for those looking forward to beginning their legal journey. As per the rule laid down by the Bar Council of India, it is mandatory for law students to do an internship to get their law degree. Law Internship is available broadly in various sectors, including corporate legal sections, government officers, private firms, etc.
Those who have completed their 3-year LLB course have to complete at least 12 weeks of internship. But students who have finished 5-year LLB course will need to finish 20 weeks as per the 2008 Rules of Legal Education and Rule 25 of the Advocates Act, 1961.
- Types of Internship for Law Students
- Important Skills Required
- How to get an internship? Process to Apply
- List of documents required to apply for law internship
- Duration of Law Internship
Types of Internship for Law Students
While there are ample options to pursue an internship. Some of the major areas where you can do your internship are
- Legal firms
Various firms give you a chance to get exposure by assisting a senior advocate. During your tenure, you will be doing legal research, attending court hearings, drafting documents etc. With this, you will get exposure to several important legal areas like tax, criminal, civil, family and Intellectual Property law.
- Ministry of India
If you choose to do the internship with government departments like the Ministry of Education, National Commission for Law, External Affairs Ministry, etc. The option is vast so is the exposure. The best part of doing an internship with government bodies is that you get exposure to several important areas like public policy, international law and others.
- Judiciary
Doing an internship in judiciary units like High Courts or family court gives you exposure of court proceedings every day. Say if you are interning in the Delhi High Court, you will be working with judges, lawyers and law researchers. It will make a major difference in your career grap.
- Non-Governmental Organisations
If you are interested in more intrinsic issues of society, then you should definitely pursue an internship at some NGOs or research institutes. You will be getting exposure in areas like human rights, child rights and environmental law. Some of the NGOs you can focus on are Human Rights Law Network, Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights, People's Union for Civil Liberties, etc.
- Corporate Legal Departments
Every good corporate have their own legal team. The in-house legal team works on various issues of the employees and employer’s too. Some of the organisations where you can consider are Inforedge, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs etc.
Also Read Top Law Firms in India: Career Guide, Salaries, and Internships
Important Skills Required
Though you can apply for an internship anywhere as per your interest area. But you should ensure following skills are fulfilled.
- Excellent ability to do research
- Good verbal and written communication
- Must have proficiency in MS Word and other applications
- Should be proactive
- Strong attention to detail
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How to get an internship? Process to Apply
By now, it must be clear to you in which area you wish to pursue your internship. But now the question remains where and how to proceed.
Online Platforms: With everyone going tech-savvy, the best place to start searching for internships are the job platforms and the legal websites. Most of the legal firms update their portals with the upcoming job opportunities. Apart from that you can also check Naukri website to stay ahead.
Applying Directly: You also have an option to reach out to your shortlisted firms or organisations by email or calling them directly. You must start applying months before the actual date you wish to start.
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List of documents required to apply for law internship
Before you start applying, it is important to know what documents are required. Go through the list below
- An updated resume
- Statement of interest
- Cover Letter
- Mark sheets
- Letter of recommendation by a college/University
Duration of Law Internship
Now that you have decided to do an internship and know the process too, it is important to understand the duration. It must be noted that you can do a short internship of a minimum 4 weeks, too or opt for the option of doing it for months. Whatever you choose, make sure you meet the Bar Council of India criteria that a total of 12 weeks of internship should be completed for a three-year course and 20 weeks for a five-year course during your academic cycle.
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