I'm a Third Year BA LLB student from a non nlu but "at par with NLUs" private law school, if you believe in the NIRF rankings. My 5th semester gets over next month and I've successfully failed at securing an internship for this semester break. I would not say that it was due to delay in applications because I did start applying fairly early and mostly got ghosted even after follow up mails. I do have previous internships- one in litigation, the other a judicial internship and this would've been my first law firm internship but ahoy. The past week I've frantically applied to a lot of places but no responses.

Any advice as to what can I do at this stage and how screwed am I if i don't get to intern at all this sem break? Alternatively what other things can I do during all this time to not lose my mind and upskill myself into a non ghostable, employable candidate for my future endeavours? Be as blunt as you want, I need a reality check to understand that I'm probably not even smart enough for Imposter Syndrome. Help a sister out!!!!

TL DR: 5th sem end break no internship, non nlu, advice as to last minute reparations/ alternatives, or any general tips?

where do you live? if travelling ain't much of an issue, you can still apply to smaller firms in del/cal/hyd/blr/chennai? Search the internet as bad as you can and get something. Had you applied before, firms like Khaitan and Khaitan would've offered online internship as well. And you can still get ample lit internships, they don't really care about deadlines unless it's a really good chamber(don't think too much, you're out of options). The point being- last moment internship isn't a far shot if you apply to enough number of places.

Secondly, if you do decide on not interning, make the best of your month. It's a sem break so you don't have to study. So, start writing. Madly. Read up the paper each day, pick contemporary issues and write smaller articles, under 1000 words, and send them to decent publishing places. You won't manage to get evrything published, neither will all of your writings be substantial, but you'd still have something to add on your cv at the end of the day.

Ideally try not to stay at home for a month because it's tough to be productive when one gets to stay in the comfort of home. But if that's what you choose to do, do make good of it. Don't overthink, but do act.

I was at GLC and one of the "pros" was that everyone interns all year long and there are barely any lectures. I think its really dumb now. Those internships mean nothing, most interns even in t1 firms like azb just pretend to be busy all day or skim a few lines online under the garb of "research". I think the time is better spent studying, or co-authoring papers/commentaries with a fellow student. At least you can decorate your CV with it, choose your interest, which really shows potential interest that you took initiative. But I don't think you'll get an internship with a non NLU, afaik, T1s only took the top ranking students from GLC each year. It is what it is.