In this article, Ana Khan gives a list of ten best legal research internships in India.
Introduction
Theory and Practical are the two important segments of any curriculum and in the professional courses like LLB, the practical aspect plays an important role. Though law school teaches every student the theoretical aspects in depth but the application of these aspects are not covered under any law school. For the purpose of understanding the applicability of the law, it is mandatory for every law student to do an internship and learn the practicality of the profession.
Where to find legal internships.
There are various online portals through which internship can be applied at various organizations.
Some of the websites are mentioned below:
- www.lawctopus.com
- www.internshala.com
- www.livelaw.in
- www.hellointern.com
- www.lawlex.org
- www.lawmantra.co.in
How to apply for an internship
- Search for any law firm, NGO or any research organization in which you would like to intern.
- Find the relevant email id of the organization/firm for the internship application.
- Make your CV/Cover Letter for the purpose of internship and send it to the organization.
- Keep the track of your application by reminding them once in a week (not more than that).
Best Legal Research Internships in India
Legal research internships are found at various Research Organizations, NGO, Lawyers, Government Organizations, Companies and Law firms. All are discussed below:
PRS Legislative
PRS track the functioning of the Parliament and works with the MP’s and MLA’s. Interns can assist these MP’s and MLA’s with their work. During the Parliament session, interns have to work for the upcoming issues and during the non-session periods, the interest of the individual is taken into consideration.
Main tasks assigned:
- The work mainly involves data inferences, assisting in research for a Member of the Legislative Assembly.
- On the last day of the internship, interns are expected to submit a report and make the presentation on the same.
Work Culture:
- All the analyst are easily approachable and very eager to answer the questions you ask.
- They will always make sure to provide you with some work
Stipend:
No stipend.
Application Procedure:
Interested persons can fill in the application form. The form has to be filled out in one session, and there is no option of saving responses. You are expected to:
- write a short statement of purpose (not more than 500 words)
- upload an up-to-date resume in PDF format
- upload a writing sample of any policy issue. (not more than 1000 words) in PDF format
Contact details:
| New Delhi office | PRS Legislative Research
3rd Floor, Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, 212, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg, 
New Delhi – 110002 Tel: (011) 2323 4801-02 Email: [email protected] |
Centre for Legislative Research & Advocacy
CLRA is an independent not-for-profit research organization which focuses on research, advocacy, and networking where you have given a chance to assist the Member of Parliament. CLRA works closely with civil society groups, parliamentary institutions, legislators, political parties, civil servants, and media to create participatory and collective wisdom and praxis in the policy and decision-making process.
Main tasks assigned:
- The work is mainly research-based.
- Making reports and questions which Member of Parliament could ask in the session.
Work Culture:
The Work environment is very relaxed. MPs are really supportive and always eager to answer your questions.
Stipend
No stipend.
Application Procedure
Please ensure that your Internship CV adheres to the basic guidelines before hitting submit button. Interested candidates can send their CVs to [email protected]om or [email protected]g
Contact Details
| New Delhi Office | Centre for Legislative Research and Advocacy (CLRA)
C/o IMPF, 173, North Avenue, New Delhi – 110001 011-23092911 |
Centre for Public Policy Research
Centre for Public Policy Research is a research organization dedicated to extensive and in-depth research on current economic, social, and political issues.
Main tasks assigned
- To observe proceedings with court officials, lawyers, and police.
- Translation of documents from Hindi to English.
Work Culture
The staff is really hard working and inspires the interns to work more.
Stipend
No stipend
Application Procedure
To apply as an Intern, please Click here to fill the online Application form
Those interested in part-time jobs or volunteering can also apply
Contact Details–
| New Delhi Office | Centre for Public Policy Research
B5/143, Safdarjung Enclave,New Delhi- 110029, India. Email [email protected] |
| Kochi Office | Centre for Public Policy Research
‘Anitha’, 1st floor S.A Road, Elamkulam, Kochi- 682020, Kerala, India Ph: +91 484 4043895 |
Center for Death Penalty, NLU Delhi
The center on the death penalty is providing internship policy on the rolling basis. The name has been transformed to Project 39a. The policy launched to develop a robust and rewarding internship programme that will provide meaningful exposure to the complexities and nuances, in particular, of the administration of the death penalty and the criminal justice system in India.
Main tasks assigned
- Interns may be asked to assist in litigation activities, research projects or initiative public outreach.
- Interns will also be expected to assist in administrative matters.
Work Culture
Going by the reputation of the college, the expectation from the internship is very high.
Stipend
Rs.10,000 for every 4 week period of internship.
Application Procedure
Interested applicants must send the following information–
- Curriculum Vitae
- Cover Letter indicating the programme enrolled in, current year of study, the name of the university and the exact dates of the internship
- Statement of Purpose of not more than 500 words explaining their interest in interning with the Centre.
The application form is accessible here:
NOTE-Applicants should apply at least 8 weeks but not more than 12 weeks in advance from the proposed date of their internship. Please allow for at least 4 weeks for processing the applications.
Contact Details-
| New Delhi | Project 39A
National Law University, Delhi Sector 14, Dwarka, New Delhi – 110078 Phone no. +91 11 2803 2533 Fax no. +91 11 2803 6432 |
Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy
The Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy is an independent think tank doing legal research and assisting the government in making better laws. Vidhi is committed to producing legal research of the highest standard with the aim of informing public debate and contributing to improved governance.
Main tasks assigned
- To compile a list of cases which is filed to the Supreme Court by the NGO.
- To prepare a case analysis/case brief.
- To prepare a list of cases disposed of by various tribunal each year.
Work Culture
The staff is really cooperative and one of the best legal research internships.
Stipend
No stipend
Application Procedure
- The application for an internship should be submitted by clicking on the link below. Please note that the link will remain active only for the first 20 days of every month.
- Applicants are required to apply 2 (two) to 6 (six) months prior to the proposed date of the internship.
The internship form is accessible here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1gCe1h7tBfX144XUustZfTfVQwbgfEEonmGAf24Cn4vnMAQ/viewform
Contact Details-
| DELHI BRANCH
|
D-359, Lower Ground Floor, Defence Colony
New Delhi 110024 011 4310 2767 |
| BENGALURU BRANCH | 43, Residency Road, Shanthala Nagar,
Bengaluru 560025 |
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
For biotechnology or environmental law freaks, there is no better place than TERI to invest your time in. One of the largest developing institutions, it does not have a formal internship program. It ensures a range of research opportunities’ for its interns in areas of environmental law jurisprudence, sustainable development and the like. Apply soon, you may just be the next Marshall Eriksen!
Main tasks assigned
- To do research work.
- Data entries and tabulations as excel sheet.
Work Culture
The staff is generally quite helpful and it depends upon your mentor.
Stipend
No stipend.
Application Procedure
Click the link below to apply.
http://ngobox.org/job-detail_Intern-/-Summer-Trainee-at-TERI_25197
Contact Details:
| New Delhi, Lodhi Road Branch | Darbari Seth Block,
IHC Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110 003, INDIA Tel: (+91 11) 2468 2100, 4150 4900 Fax: (+91 11) 2468 2144, 2468 2145 Email: [email protected]. (TERI) |
| New Delhi, Vasant Kunj Branch | Plot No. 10, Institutional Area,
Vasant Kunj, New Delhi – 110 070 Tel: (011) 7180 0222 (25 lines) Fax: (011) 2612 2874 Email: [email protected] |
| Gurugram (Gurgaon) Branch | Gurgaon – Faridabad Road,
Opposite Pathways School, Gwal Pahari, Gurugram – 122 102 |
HRLN (Human Rights Law and Network)
HRLN is a non-profit, non-governmental organization. HRLN provides pro-bono legal services to those with little or no access to the justice system, conducts litigation in the public interest, engages in advocacy, runs helplines, conducts legal awareness programmes.
Main tasks assigned
- The main task is mostly research work, drafting applications, affidavits.
- The legal work which was assigned also includes the personal meeting of clients.
- Work of translation is also being given to the interns.
- Research on what the Supreme Court held in Human Rights cases.
Work culture
Employees are very humble and delegate some of their work to the interns to provide them with work experience.
Stipend
No stipend
Application Procedure
If you are interested to undertake an internship programme, please send your application form, a recommendation letter, writing sample and CV to [email protected] with a title in the subject line of your email: ‘Internship at SLIC: (mention month)’.
Contact Details
The other branches of HRLN are Shimla, Dharamshala, Almora, Tehri, Jaipur, Srinagar, Chennai, Cochin, Trivandrum, Hyderabad, Cuttack, Imphal, Itanagar, Gangtok, Kohima, Guwahati, Ranchi, Patna, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Jabalpur, Indore, Raipur. PUCLPUCL is a human rights organization formed by Jay Prakash Narayan as People’s Union for Civil Liberties and Democratic Rights (PUCLDR) later the name changed to People’s Union for Civil Liberties. Main tasks assigned
Work Culture The staff is very friendly and always encouraged to ask more and more questions. Stipend: No stipend How to apply: Drop your CV and Cover letter at [email protected] Contact Details:
|
PILSARC
The Public Interest Legal Support and Research Centre (PILSARC) is a non-profit legal backup center based in Delhi. It provides support to various Human Rights Institution.
Main tasks assigned
- The main task is to do a lot of research on Refugee Law.
- The other task to do is drafting of legal opinions.
Work Culture
The office is highly resourceful and the workplace is very friendly.
Stipend
No stipend
Application Procedure
If you wish yourself to apply here, mail your applications at [email protected] or [email protected].
Contact Details:
| New Delhi | A-131, New Friends Colony, 110065,
Email: [email protected] |
iPleaders
iPleaders consists of a team of lawyers hell-bent on figuring out ways to make the law more accessible. A major focus area of iPleaders has been researching and developing resources through blogging, educational resources, workshops, and interactive software that entrepreneurs can use themselves as an aid during decision making
Main tasks assigned
- The main task is to write blogs for the iPleaders and some of them will be published on the website, you have to write about the legal issues which will be provided by the mentor.
- You have to do a lot of research work on the issue.
Work Culture
The staff is very friendly. As the staff is very young there is no such thing as “generation gap”, they all will understand your problem and situation. The only thing to keep in your mind is your “work” and “timings”, they are very punctual about the timings, that is, from 10 am to 7:30 pm.
Stipend
The stipend is paid on the performance basis like if you complete 50 articles during the tenure of your internship, then you will get Rs.5000/- as a stipend.
Application Procedure
Drop your CV along with Cover Letter at [email protected]
Contact Details:
| Delhi Office | 33A, 1st Floor,
M. B. Main Road, Saidulajab, Delhi:110030 |
| Kolkata Office | Technopreneurs Surrogate Ventures,
2nd Floor, Techno India University, EM1/4, Sector V, Salt Lake, Kolkata: 700091 |
| Goa Office | Bootstart, Greenland View,
Dandoswada. Mandrem, Goa: 403527 |
Ace your Internship
To be successful in securing and excelling in a corporate internship, you need to plan and prepare well ahead. We observed the process and journey of securing a corporate law internship and converting one into a job offer for hundreds of law students and then identified the elements that worked and that didn’t work. This program is developed to enable you to acquire those skills before you even walk into a corporate internship. You will be able to build yourself into a person whom a law firm seeks out. A wide range of topics are covered in a huge amount of detail, such as:
- How to draft an effective CV
- How to write an effective cover letter
- Guides for performing different kinds of tasks at an internship
- How to excel at due diligence
- How to excel at proof-reading assignments and learn for the future
- Comprehensive technical skills training on M&A, Corporate, Debt Finance, FDI, General Corporate and Stamp Duty
- Hacks for high-powered Google, Manupatra, MCA and BSE searches
- Presentation and formatting techniques
- Learn how to read and interpret financials of a business
- Internship Plan for mapping out your internship progress
- How to write expert-level articles that catch client and recruiter attention
- How to draw complex corporate structures in PowerPoint from Day 1
- How to build expertise in any area of law
- How to network effectively before, during and after your internship
- Detailed interview preparation modules for technical and HR-style interviews
References:
- http://www.prsindia.org/aboutus/internships-at-prs/
- http://www.clraindia.org/trust.php
- https://www.cppr.in/internships/
- http://www.livelaw.in/call-interns-centre-death-penalty-nlu-delhi/
- https://vidhilegalpolicy.in/
- http://www.hrln.org/hrln/join-us/interns-a-volunteers.html
- https://ipleaders.in/home
