Since you have interned with NGOs, I suggest you go for firms (lit or corp) or intern under advocates in Delhi, Mumbai. Internships at firms or with senior Counsels have much more wightage than internship with NGOs. The issue is that many top tier firms do not take 2nd year students for internships but you may still apply. When I was in second year I had got calls from decent firms, so I would encourage you to apply in all law firms. For more info, visit Lawctopus.com which specifically deals with internship queries and might give you a better guidance.

In addition, you may have opportunities at law firms like Rajinder Narain, Kochhar, Zeus etc. The best thing would be to intern under a senior counsel. Applying early is a very good strategy and helps a hell lot. All the best.

I read this on Zeus’s site -

*Internship

Internship/Student Programme

All interested candidates should approach through the Placement Cell of their respective law schools. Students from fourth year onwards are preferred and applications should be mailed minimum two-three months in advance. The internship period commences in July of one year to May of the following year.

Training Entails

The selected Intern is required to work on two to three assignments at a given time. In addition the Intern has to make a presentation on any one topic before the ZEUS professional team. The Intern is graded and accordingly, a certificate is issued.

Positions are offered depending upon vacancies available and the meritorious competence of the student.*

They say they prefer 4th year students. I am in second year and want to apply for 4 weeks at most. Might they take me in?

Well, it seems they have framed strict policies regarding internship, same as what other big names do. Moving forward, visit Legal 500 and check as to what firms can you apply to- Tier 2 and Tier 3. I am sure it would help. Another important aspect while applying to firms is how you draft a cover letter and your resume, so be diligent about it.

Yeah I guess so too.

Yeah. I have made some choices, sent my applications to 3-4 of them.

I worked upon lawoctopus’s sample cover letter and rounded it up using their extra advices.

As for my C.V., our college provides us one dummy format. I tweaked it taking into consideration my individual performance and lawoctopus’s guidelines again.

Man, is a contact always extremely necessary for bagging these internships?

Like, I have put a LOT into my academics and extra curricular activities. Don’t they even bother checking up on that?

Contacts/ Jacks surely would help you get an internship. But what happens next is interesting. I have seen this couple of times that if the guy/girl is not good enough with work, the associates at the firm screw them; give them the most mind numbing work possible.

I will tell you what matters most is your knowledge of law and your academic record. At law firms, you will be judged on the basis of your interest, ability and perseverance to take up assignments during internship. Manage one internship with a Tier 1 or Tier 2 firm and the next internships will just come by easily, provided you apply in advance.

Personally, I never used any jack/contacts for internship because I didn’t have any. But I managed to intern with six best of the firms, in corporate and litigation, doing fairly well. I did manage job as well.. again without contacts. Basically, I am telling you this because I don’t want to brag about myself but I intend to encourage people like you who have good academic record to go ahead and feel positive about the culture at law firms and their selection criteria. Cheers!

Thank you.

Boosts up my morale. =D