I am a final-year law student from a tier-2, non-NLU background. Over the last few years, I have completed internships at firms such as Dentons Link Legal, Hammurabi & Solomon Partners, and a few boutique firms with highly experienced teams and diverse client work in General Corporate and allied areas. One of these boutiques even extended a call-back offer based on performance, which reinforced my confidence in this practice area.

Looking ahead, I am also scheduled to intern with Saikrishna & Associates (▮▮▮ ▮▮▮) and King Stubb & Kasiva (▮▮▮ ▮▮▮), and I am targeting more opportunities in January 2026 with both large firms and boutique practices. All of my internships so far have been secured through merit and performance-based selections, without institutional support from college.

My interest lies in General Corporate, and I am seeking advice on the following:

1. How should I navigate my upcoming internships to make them impactful and possibly convert them into long-term opportunities?

2. What should I focus on in terms of preparation and skill-building to build a career in General Corporate?

3. For assessment internships or interviews, what key areas (laws, skills, or case studies) should I study to stand out during evaluations?

Any guidance from seniors and practitioners would be invaluable.

1. Don't waste your time at Saikrishna & Associates. The firm is currently on a hiring freeze, also if you're scheduled for Delhi/Noida office, the scenes are horrific.

2. Plan your internships accordingly, look for places that have vacancies (specially if you're in your 4th year), don't just apply and intern.

3. Stand out in your internships from the other candidates, make your face value, be sharp and consistent. Dress Well.

How does one specifically look for vacancies for internships at T2/T3 firms (or push comes to shove T1 firms) these days? It just seems like people are either cold emailing and getting it through sheer luck or getting it through connections. (i get that's how the field functions, but as a student approaching his 4th year, i just need a guiding light at this point)

This profession is just Nepotism and nothing else. Trust me on this, it's just connections and nothing.

I have interned at Saikrishna and Associates (including Call-back) as well as Hammurabi and Soloman Partners (including Call-back) and without referrals, all by myself (begging HRs).

I am a final year law student, having no legal background and unfortunately an unknown law college.

Now when it comes to hiring, your Connections will speak louder than your CV. Trust me, no matter if you have exceptional outstanding CV, a mediocre brat having partner referrals will eat up your position. Both of these firms will exploit you in return of free labour but when comes to hiring only candidate with mediocre employability skills with partner referrals get hired.

My advice would be, don't just intern, work on your connections.

Also, when it comes to vacancies, reach out to people on LinkedIn. Reach out to HRs initially, only then intern, don't waste your tine providing free labour.