List Of Indian Government Internships For Law Students in India

As we know, Internships are incredibly crucial for law students to provide them with a decent job after graduation from college. Moreover, internships are the real places where a law student learns to become a lawyer by facing all the implications of the law he had read in law school. It provides them with an opportunity to gain practical experience in the legal field, which is often not covered in the law school curriculum. Further, Internships also provide law students with opportunities to network with legal professionals and potential employers and build professional networking with them. Different areas of law are discovered while interning in a law firm or court, which helps one make an informed decision about career paths.

The most important reason why law students take up internships is their Resume. Having good internships and experience on their resumes can provide law students with attractive and potential employment. Usually, law students intern at law firms and courts. However, government forums and departments also provide excellent exposure to the students who are planning to join them as their career.

Here are some of the Indian government internships schemes that law students can apply for:

Internship Opportunity with Niti Aayog

Niti Aayog is a policy think tank of the Government of India that provides strategic and technical advice to central and state governments on various policy matters. It offers internship opportunities to law students to gain exposure to the policy-making process and contribute to the development of policies related to various sectors. As a law student, interning with Niti Aayog can be an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience in the field of policy-making and to develop expertise in areas related to law and policy. By interning with Niti Aayog, one can learn how to:

• Research various policy issues related to law and justice, social welfare, education, health, and other sectors;
• Assist in drafting policy briefs, reports, and other documents related to policy formulation and implementation.
• Participate in meetings and discussions with policymakers, stakeholders, and experts.
• Provide inputs on various policy matters related to law and justice.
• Assist in organizing seminars, workshops, and other events related to policy matters.

Generally, the duration of the internship with Niti Aayog offered is of 4 weeks to 8 weeks, depending on the availability of the intern and the workload of the organization and the department also provides the interns with a stipend of Rs. 10,000 per month to cover their expenses during the internship. To apply for an internship with Niti Aayog, a law student must visit the official website of Niti Aayog and fill out the application form. The application form usually requires information about the student's academic qualifications, work experience, and areas of interest, and selected candidates will be informed by Niti Aayog through email.

Internship Opportunity with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA)

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs is the place to intern for a law student planning to practice corporate law post his or her graduation, as MCA is responsible for regulating and administering corporate affairs in India. As a law student, interning with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs can be an excellent opportunity to gain exposure to the legal and regulatory framework governing the corporate sector and develop expertise in corporate law areas. Some of the tasks that an intern may be assigned include:

• Assisting in the drafting of corporate legal documents, such as contracts, agreements, and legal opinions;
• Researching the Companies Act, 2013.
• Assisting in the preparation of reports and briefs on legal and regulatory developments in the corporate sector.
• Understanding how a private and public limited company operates and governs in India from commencement to winding up.
• Participating in meetings and discussions with policymakers, stakeholders, and experts.

The internship duration is not fixed and keeps changing as per the requirements and availability of the interns; however, the usual duration is 2 months. The stipend provided by MCA ranges around INR 10,000 per month, and a certificate of the internship is provided after successful completion of the internship and on submission of the assignment report.

MCA releases notifications to call for applications every year in January, and students can apply for the same on their official website. The MCA engages up to 10 interns at a particular period of time.

Internship Opportunity with the Competition Commission of India

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is a statutory body responsible for enforcing the Competition Act, of 2002, which regulates anti-competitive practices and promotes fair competition in the market. The CCI offers internship opportunities to law students who are interested in competition law and wish to gain practical experience in the field. One gets exposure to unfair trade market practices, anti-competition practices, and other competition law regulations. Other government departments like the Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate, and others are also involved in competition law cases.

The duration of the internship with the CCI is usually six weeks to eight weeks, and interns are not provided with a stipend, but they are given a certificate on successful completion of the internship. To apply for an internship with the CCI, you can visit the official website CCI and fill out the application form. The application form usually requires information about the student's academic qualifications, work experience, and areas of interest.

Internship Opportunity with the Centre for Public Policy Research

The Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR) is a non-profit research organization based in Kerala, India that focuses on research and advocacy in the areas of public policy and governance. The CPPR offers internship opportunities to law students who are interested in public policy research and wish to gain practical experience in the field. It is committed to becoming a leading authority that can devise and implement practical strategies to effect changes in public policy and governance. The CPPR upholds the principles of liberal thought, democracy, the rule of law, and economic freedom while prioritizing equity, efficiency, and effectiveness. The Centre has facilitated open discussions, driven policy reforms, and brought about institutional transformations in various areas such as Urban Reform, Livelihood, Education, Health, Governance, Law, and International Relations & Security. CPPR's mission is to conduct and promote research and training that are evidence-based and of high quality; offer practical and innovative recommendations to governmental bodies, private organizations, and academic institutions; and influence decision-making processes. Law students interning here learn how to frame public policies for the welfare of the country under the law.

The internship duration at CPPR is also from 4 to 12 weeks, and some amount of stipend is given to the interns.

Internship Opportunity with the Reserve Bank of India

The primary governing body for finance and monetary policy in India is the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The RBI frequently provides research internship opportunities for students, primarily those pursuing a Ph.D. in fields such as Economics, Banking, and Law. It is important to note that these opportunities are suggested for students who have completed their coursework. The interns can learn banking regulations and notifications that are released regularly by the Reserve Bank of India.

The duration of the internship is generally long i.e., for around 6 months, and is conducted in two sessions starting from January and July every year. The RBI pays a good stipend to its interns, and those who outperform manage to procure pre-placement offers from RBI.