HSA Advocates Internship Experience for Law Students | Banking & Finance | A Real Experience

Are you looking for insights into an internship at HSA Advocates? In this internship experience, Ravi Sukheshan, a fifth-year student at Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, shares his experience working in the Banking & Finance practice area at HSA Advocates.

From securing the internship through persistent cold emailing to working on transaction documents, reviewing drafts, and attending client meetings, this account offers insights into the work assigned to interns in Banking & Finance. Ravi also shares practical advice on approaching law firms for internships, making the most of the experience, and understanding potential PPO opportunities.

HSA Advocates Internship Experience

INTERNSHIP EXPERINCE

We request you to share brief responses to the following:

1. Basic Details

• Name: Ravi Sukheshan
• Law School + Year: Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, 5th Year
• Firm/Chamber Name: HSA ADVOCATES
• Practice Area: Banking & Finance

2. How did you actually secure this internship? (cold email, referral, LinkedIn, application portal, campus placement, professor, previous internship, etc.)

Ans: I secured the internship through persistent cold emailing. I started reaching out to the seven Partners in the Corporate practice area on 13 January and followed up consistently. In total, I sent around nine follow-up emails to the Partners. During this period, I was also actively reaching out to and calling other law firms regarding internship opportunities. After nearly three months of consistent follow-ups, I received the confirmation. 

3. What did your CV look like when you applied, and what do you think helped your profile stand out?

Ans: I feel that my experience at Fox Mandal and MMB Legal helped my profile to some extent. I also made a conscious effort to keep my CV specific about the work I had actually done, rather than using broad or generic descriptions. I tried to mention the particular laws, provisions, and assignments I had worked on so that the reader could get a clear sense of my experience.

At the same time, I think consistency and timing also played a role. There is no single factor that I would say guaranteed the opportunity, and I was fortunate that my efforts eventually worked out.

4. Was there an interview or selection round? If yes, what were you asked?

And: No.

5. How long after applying did you receive a response?

Ans: I received the confirmation approximately three months after my initial application. I first reached out on 13 January and received the internship confirmation on 8 April.

6. What kind of work or projects were you assigned during the internship? (research, drafting, meetings, due diligence, etc.)

Ans: During the internship, I worked directly with the Banking and Finance Partner, primarily on transactional and documentation work. I worked on mapping sanction letters into transaction documents and revising documents such as Security Trustee Agreements, Deeds of Hypothecation, Hypothecation Powers of Attorney, Negative Lien Undertakings, and Debenture Trust Deeds. I also reviewed sanction letters and term sheets, compared drafts, identified deviations, and flagged clauses requiring clarification. I also had the opportunity to attend client meetings and meetings with other Partners involved in different aspects of the same transactions, which gave me a better understanding of how different teams and stakeholders coordinate on a transaction.

7. Did you get an opportunity to draft any documents? If yes, what did you draft, and did you get to see what happened to the work you submitted?

Ans: Yes, I had the opportunity to work on and revise several transaction documents, including Security Trustee Agreements, Deeds of Hypothecation, Hypothecation Powers of Attorney, Negative Lien Undertakings, and Debenture Trust Deeds. My work involved incorporating transaction-specific details and the commercial terms from the sanction letters into the relevant documents. I also reviewed and revised drafts based on comments and changes received during the course of the transactions.

8. Who usually assigned your work, and how often did you interact with associates, partners, or other seniors?

Ans: My work was primarily assigned directly by the Banking and Finance Partner I was working with. I interacted with the Partner regularly throughout the internship.

9. What did a typical day during your internship look like?

Ans: A typical day would start around 10:00 a.m. at the office. Since the firm was close to my PG, I would usually reach around that time, set up my laptop, and greet the Partner I was working with. I would then check with him for any new assignments or continue working on tasks that had been assigned earlier. Most of the day would be spent working on transaction documents, reviewing drafts, making the required changes, and discussing the work with the Partner when necessary.

10. Was the internship paid? If yes, what was the stipend, and were there any attendance or other requirements?

Ans: No, the internship was unpaid, and there were no specific attendance or other requirements beyond being regular and completing the work assigned to me.

11. What are the top 2-3 things you learned during the internship, and what is one thing you wish you had known before joining?

Ans: One of the most important things I learned was that, in practice, the client’s interests and the quality of the work have to remain the priority. The internship also showed me the level of commitment that transactional work can sometimes require. When there is an important deadline, you may have to put in long hours, including working late into the night, to ensure that the work is completed properly and on time.

I also learned the importance of being detail-oriented and responsive, particularly when working on transaction documents where even a small mistake or omission can matter.

One thing I wish I had known before joining was how fast-paced transactional work can be and how quickly priorities can change depending on the requirements of a transaction.

12. What should other law students know before applying, including any PPO opportunities?

Ans: I would say that the first thing students should understand is that what works for one person may not necessarily work for someone else. There is no single approach to securing a good internship. Students should try different methods, whether it is cold emailing, reaching out to people in their network, finding connections, or applying through different channels, and figure out what works best for them. It is also important to be persistent and not get discouraged by rejections or a lack of responses.

Knowing the law is important, but personal effort, persistence, and communication matter just as much. Once you get an internship, I think students should make an effort to engage with the people around them rather than limiting themselves to completing the work assigned to them. Speak to the Associates and Partners, introduce yourself, understand what they are working on, and, where appropriate, express an interest in the kind of work you would like to be involved in. You may not always get an opportunity simply by waiting for work to come your way, so being approachable and making your interests known can make a difference.

At the same time, this does not mean constantly asking seniors for work or trying to force interactions. There is a balance between being proactive and being respectful of their time and workload. I think the best approach is to do the work assigned to you properly, be willing to take on more when required, and use the internship as an opportunity to build genuine professional relationships with the people you work with.

As for PPO opportunities, I would suggest focusing first on doing good work and building genuine professional relationships rather than approaching an internship only with the expectation of a PPO. If you perform well, are dependable, and make a good impression, opportunities may follow naturally.