I had interned under Mr. Phiroze Edulji last year, and candidly, if you intend on engaging yourself in a litigation internship and are inclined towards criminal law, it is among the foremost internships in Calcutta. That said, the exposure is not confined solely to criminal matters but also entails diverse work across various fields such as writs, PILs, IPR, white-collar crimes (PMLA), tech law, and commercial litigation, alongside original side suits and testamentary matters as well. Precisely speaking, the work spans a wide latitude of domains, and that, I feel, is one great advantage, for one gathers multifarious exposure rather than being restrained to bails, criminal appeals, and revisions, as is the case with many HC criminal chambers. That said, you would be exposed, firsthand, to the crème-de-la-crème of criminal litigation that consists of high-profile matters.

But the most enriching part of the internship is observing Sir argue matters in Court; he is simply a pleasure to watch in Court, and yes, you would be in awe of him. I can tell you most assuredly that this itself is a masterclass in oral advocacy, he is indeed a Sr. Adv. of high stature. I would urge you to note down the exact points that Sir argues in a given case; I will elaborate on this later.

As for the work and environment, it is collegial and liberal—you would be handed over briefs of numerous matters and would be given the liberty to read and analyse them. You would have to draft case briefs and conduct extensive legal research on particular points of law, as instructed by Sir himself. However, you would not be spoon-fed, and you must not tread with any such expectation; instead, you would be trained rigorously as to how to think on your own feet, i.e., being taught how to teach yourself to tackle the challenges that the practice of law poses. Furthermore, Sir himself would assign you tasks and check them; you are expected to work diligently. Also, once you have watched Sir argue a matter and have noted down the arguments (as advised earlier), it would provide you with the perspective of what points one should canvass and those that are best kept unagitated. This fundamental exercise would aid and accelerate the development of your litigation instincts.

Above all, interactions with Sir would be the best part of the internship. A small bit of advice would be to always carry a notebook and a pen. Firstly, you would be asked about what you had observed during the day’s proceedings, and secondly, Sir explains difficult points of law that you would have to research, and it really helps to have everything noted down. The quality and depth of research assigned are excellent.

In essence, the internship is worth every bit of it, given that you are meticulous and enthusiastic. At the cost of reiteration, diligence is rewarded, while lacklustre or lukewarm effort is not. Interns who show initiative and a genuine interest in the files are encouraged to go through case papers, assist with research, and prepare short notes where required. I personally opine that the internship offers a steep learning curve if one is willing and driven to learn.

As an anecdote, I do vividly remember getting the jaw-drop reaction from other advocates, court staff, and even members of the general (and aware) public the moment I mentioned that I was interning under Mr. Edulji. I’m sure that you will experience the same.