Law internships are the key to turning classroom learning into real-world success! They help law students gain hands-on experience, sharpen skills, and build important connections.
A legal internship bridges the gap between theory and practice, making you job-ready even before graduation. In India, law firms, courts, and legal departments offer amazing opportunities for law interns.
Let’s discuss how you can find the best internship for law students and boost your career!
Why Law Internships Matter for BA LLB Students?
Law internships can help you in several ways. They can help you:
1. Enhance Legal Knowledge
During internships, law students get to work on real cases with lawyers. They learn to draft legal documents and research laws. They also get to attend court hearings and client meetings.
2. Build Professional Networks
Internships are great ways to connect with senior lawyers and mentors. Law interns also get to join legal events and seminars. We recommend you stay in touch with colleagues and seniors even after you complete your internships and do networking actively.
3. Improve CV and Employability
We recommend all our BA LLB students to add multiple legal internships to your CV. You should also try and get recommendations from lawyers. Internships help you highlight skills you excel in, such as research and drafting.
4. Secure a Pre-Placement Offer (PPO)
Legal internships are great ways to secure a law job. And to do it, you must show dedication and hard work during the internship, take responsibility and initiative for important tasks, and try and impress your employers with your legal skills.
Fact: A Bar Council of India (BCI) survey suggests that 75% of law graduates who secure jobs in top firms have completed multiple legal internships.
Types of Law Internships Available for BA LLB Students
Law internships are of various types. These include:
- Judicial Internships – Here, you work with judges, observe court proceedings, and learn how judgments are made. Great for understanding litigation!
- Law Firm Internships – You can gain experience at top firms like Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, AZB & Partners, or Trilegal. Perfect for corporate law careers!
- Corporate Legal Internships – Intern with legal teams at Tata, Infosys, or Reliance. Here, you can learn contract drafting and compliance work.
- NGO & Human Rights Internships – Work with organisations like HRLN or Vidhi Centre where you can work with social justice and policy research cases.
- Government Legal Internships – You can try to become an intern at the Ministry of Law & Justice or NHRC if you want to work on government legal matters.
- Start-up & Boutique Law Firm Internships – You can get hands-on experience in smaller firms and get to handle real cases early.
Fact: An NLU Delhi report shows that corporate legal internships for law students offer 35% higher conversion rates to full-time jobs compared to litigation internships.
Where to Apply: Top Law Firms in India Offering Internships
Some of the top law firms where you can try for internships include:
- Tier-1 Law Firms:
- Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.
- Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas
- AZB & Partners
- Khaitan & Co.
- Trilegal
- Boutique Law Firms:
- Nishith Desai Associates
- Saikrishna & Associates
- Singh & Singh Law Firm
- Litigation Chambers:
- Senior Advocates at the Supreme Court & High Courts
- In-House Legal Internships:
- Tata Sons, Aditya Birla Group, ICICI Bank, etc.
Fact: About 60% of law students from top law schools get internships at Tier-1 firms, while 40% start at smaller firms or NGOs before progressing to bigger opportunities.
How to Apply for a Law Internship?
To apply for law internships, you should try for:
- Online Applications:
You can find law internships on websites like Legally India, Lawctopus, Internshala, and LinkedIn. Many law firms also post internship openings on their official websites, so check them regularly and apply.
- Cold Emailing:
Sometimes, sending a well-written email to senior advocates and law firms works best. Make sure your email is clear, polite, and professional—keep it short and attach your CV.
- Networking & Referrals:
Many law students get legal internships through faculty recommendations, alumni connections, and LinkedIn networking. The more people you connect with, the better your chances.
- Law School Internship Cells:
Most colleges have internship cells that help students find opportunities. They partner with law firms and advocates to provide internships for law students. We advise you to connect with the Internship and Placement Cell of SMS Law College to get the right opportunities.
Fact: Mostly 50% of law students secure internships via networking, while 30% apply online, and 20% get internships through college placement cells.
What Do Law Firms Look for When Hiring Interns?
If you are looking for legal internships for law students, you must know what law firms expect from a law intern. Here are the key things they look for:
- Academic Performance: A high CGPA shows that you take your studies seriously. Firms also check how well you perform in key legal subjects like contract law and constitutional law.
- Previous Internship Experience: Law firms prefer students who have done internships before. Prior experience shows that you are familiar with basic legal work and can quickly adapt.
- Legal Research & Drafting Skills: Firms want interns who can research laws, analyse cases, and draft legal documents. A survey by Bar & Bench found that 92% of recruiters prioritise legal research and drafting skills over grades.
- Soft Skills: Good communication, analytical thinking, and teamwork skills matter a lot. You should be able to express legal points clearly and work well with lawyers and clients.
- Extracurricular Activities: Moot courts, writing legal research papers, and pro bono work make your application stronger. These activities show that you are serious about building a career in law.
If you want to stand out, focus on developing these skills. Law firms are not just looking for good students—they want interns who can think, research, and communicate well!
Conclusion
Finding the right law internships can shape your legal career. Whether applying online, networking, or using college placement cells, stay proactive.
Build strong research, drafting, and communication skills to stand out as a law intern. With multiple legal internships for law students, you can secure great job opportunities before graduation!
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