What internships are mandatory during LLB course?
Internships after LLB course provide hands-on experience in various legal settings, like litigation, judiciary, corporate law, and so on. The BCI mandates 12-weeks internship programs for 3-year LLB students and 20-weeks internship programs for integrated BA LLB courses.
In the legal profession, theoretical knowledge is necessary, but practical exposure transforms a law student into a competent legal professional. An internship after LLB course is mandated by the Bar Council of India. The internship during a three-year or five-year LLB course helps students apply the classroom knowledge in the courtroom. The article deals with the various types of internships that can be done while pursuing theLLBcourse in India.
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Law Internships for B.A. LL.B. and LL.B. Students
The students pursuing theBA LLBor LLB courses in India can pursue various internships. Take a look at the list of internships they can opt for to have weightage:
Litigation Internships during LLB Course
Where to pursue:District Courts, High Courts, Supreme Court
What you learn:Court procedures, drafting, client handling, case analysis
When to pursue:Mid-semester and summer breaks
Law Firm Internships
Where to pursue:Tier-1 firms (Khaitan & Co., AZB & Partners), or mid-size boutique firms
What you learn:Corporate law, legal research, compliance matters, due diligence,
When to pursue:3rd year onwards for B.A. LL.B. or 2nd year of LL.B. course
Judicial Clerkships
Where to pursue:Under Hon’ble Judges of High Courts/Supreme Court
What you learn:Legal reasoning, Judgment writing, and research methodologies involved in cases
Legal Aid Clinics
Where to pursue:Various NGOs, University-affiliated clinics etc.
What you learn:Grassroots legal practice, client counselling, social justice
NGO & Human Rights Internships
Where to pursue:Amnesty International, Human Rights Law Network, various NGO’s etc.
What you learn:Constitutional law, PILs, RTI, legal empowerment
Government Internships
Where to pursue:Law Commission of India, NITI Aayog, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC),
What you learn:Policy analysis, public law, legal drafting for government documents
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Benefits of Pursuing Internships During LLB Course
The potential benefits of pursuing an internship during the LLB course are:
Helps in Knowing the Practical Application of Knowledge:What the students have learned in the classroom, an internship provides a good opportunity to learn and implement the courtroom cases or work.
Gaining Exposure:With the LLB course internship, the student gains maximum exposure to the outside world. That helps them in building confidence and face the challenges involved in solving the cases.
Knowledge about the Proceedings:Textbook learning is not enough for a lawyer to understand the court cases. Unless they work under an experienced advocate under close supervision, they must not have enough weightage to deal with the cases after the course completion.
As per the regulatory guidelines issued by the Bar Council of India, for a 3-year LLB course, students must complete an internship spanning 12 weeks. For a 5-year B.A. LLB, at least 20 weeks of internship during the entire course, preferably after every semester, is needed. Furthermore, keep in mind that any law internship you pursue during a single academic year must not exceed 4 weeks duration. While pursuing the internship, it is important that you also complete your course on time.