How To Find An Ideal Internship For Law Students

After years of pampering and solid 60+ days of vacation during school days, interning might seem annoying during summer break and winter break but the right internship will help you land your dream job.

This article will help you in choosing your ideal internship step-by-step.

I. College and Marking System

This might sound new to many people that internships in law colleges carry marks. So, in order to find your ideal internship, the first step is to find and approach the internship and placement committee or academic council or any appropriate council and find out the allotment of marks. For example, an internship in NGO might be 5, an internship in the legal department of companies might be 8.

This will help during placement along with academic marks and your individual performance.

II. List of Compulsory Internship

Though you might know already know the list of compulsory internships in law school, it is advisable to obtain a list of compulsory internships along with their respective allotment of marks from your University in order to plan your internship accordingly.

III. Deciding your Place

By now, you will have an ideal city in your mind. For example, a city you would want to explore or the city you want to settle in future. In case if you do not have one, consult your seniors or responsible seniors to know which city has more opportunities or is more competitive.

After deciding the city or state, think twice if you can survive thereafter considering the temperature, language, food, cost of living, places to visit during leisure time. After deciding the place to intern, now you would want to know the right place for your internship. The following steps will help you with the same.

1. Before you could choose any place to intern, know your aim. For example, you are planning to work in NGO in future. Accordingly, you can complete the compulsory internship in every summer break and you can intern in NGO every winter break. This would help you gain more knowledge as well as help you build your CV.
2. Decide if you want to do paid/ unpaid internship and apply accordingly.
3. Time duration: begin the search of the institution at the very start of the semester. For, some institutions/ firms open and close before the break commences.
4. Do thorough research.
5. Check the popularity level and success rate of the institution.
6. Check if your seniors have interned there. If so, obtain an honest review.
7. If your friends/ relatives stay nearby that area, ask them about its working and infrastructure.
8. After sending emails, do check on the status of your application via calls regularly.
9. Make a list of things you want to learn and the things they offer to teach you. In case if they aren’t disclosing the things they’re going to teach you, make a rough list. Check if your expectations and their offers match. If it doesn’t match, think if you want to learn those. If not, don’t opt. If so, opt.
10. Make a list of institutions you’re trying for. Along with the main target, keep backup ideas.
11. Some institutions do take up for assessment internship i.e., your work and performance will be assessed
12. Last, but not least, check if the institution you are trying provides PPO (Pre-placement offer).

NOTE: Do not settle after getting/ not getting an internship in an institution. If you get an internship in your dream place, congrats! But, if you didn’t get in one, you don’t have to feel bad. Try contacting the backup ones. From my very own experience, I would like to say to you that I did not get an internship in certain institutions and I got my internship confirmed just a few days before the summer break and I am really happy that I am interning in the current place. Likewise, the place where you get placed for the internship will be providing new opportunities and you should always be open to obtaining them.

It is a popular myth that interning at top firms only will get you jobs. Well, it does help but it doesn’t mean you should not intern comparatively low-famed institutions. Keep working hard and be sincere irrespective of the place you get for an internship.

Your internship and placement cell will keep you updated with internship opportunities. Make sure to utilize it in case if you are not able to get an internship on your own or if you feel comfortable applying via University.

IV. Proper CV

After deciding the place, modify the CV accordingly and send them. For, your first impression is via your CV. It not only gives a good impression but also increases your chance of getting your internship confirmed.

An ideal CV will not be cluttered with unwanted information. An ideal CV should be neat and filled with necessary information. Mention the major rewards and awards, the area of specialization. Do not mention your weakness. Your strengths should be the content of your CV.

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For example, if you are planning to intern in NGOs for protecting stray dogs, mention the good things you’ve done for stray dogs like you’ve given many dogs for adoption, taken part in animal protection movements, enrolled yourself in local animal protection departments etc. It is always good to make a manual checklist of information before you sit to write a CV so that you don’t miss out on any of your achievements. Basically, CV is just like projecting the positive aspects of yours. So, it should be done properly to grab the opportunity you are aiming for.

Most importantly, make your reasons to intern genuine and strong enough that it reflects your interests and makes the reader be confident that your internship period is productive for you and the institution.

For an ideal CV, make a quick checklist of:

1. Brief and accurate personal details.
2. Brief profile of no more than 5 lines.
3. Key skills.
4. Education.
5. Previous Internship Experience.
6. Genuine interests.
7. References, if any. Do not put “nil” or “none” if you do not have any reference.
8. Keep your CV as much positive as possible.

Hope this article helps you. Good luck!

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