How to Get an Internship at a Tier 1 Law Firm in India (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)

Getting an internship at a Tier 1 law firm in India is highly competitive, but an NLU degree is not the only route into these firms. A strong application, relevant internships, good academics, a focused area of interest and early applications can significantly improve your chances.

For students targeting firms such as Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, AZB & Partners, Khaitan & Co., Trilegal and JSA, the objective should not simply be to get an internship. A good internship can also become a route towards an assessment internship or a pre-placement offer.

Why Tier 1 Law Firm Internships Matter

Leading law firms generally offer some of the highest starting salaries in the Indian legal profession and recruit extensively through campus placements and pre-placement offers. Internships can therefore be an important opportunity to demonstrate your abilities before graduation.

For students outside the recruitment pipeline of top NLUs, internships can be particularly valuable because they provide an opportunity to demonstrate their drafting, research and commercial-law skills directly to a firm.

Step 1: Understand the Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility requirements differ between firms and internship programmes. Standard internships may be available to students in specific years of a three-year or five-year law programme.

For example, the source material notes that Khaitan & Co.’s regular internship has typically been around four weeks and has been open to students in the second or third year of a three-year LLB and fourth or fifth year of a five-year programme.

Long-term or assessment internships can have considerably stricter requirements. Earlier Delhi University Law Centre notices for Khaitan included criteria such as being a second-year student, having a cumulative score of around 55–60%, completing two internships, having an interest in corporate law and submitting a writing sample. These programmes could extend from six months to a year.

These requirements should not be treated as universal rules. Internship criteria change between firms and recruitment cycles, so students should always check the current requirements before applying.

Step 2: Apply Early

One of the most important aspects of securing a Tier 1 internship is timing.

The source material indicates that applications can open approximately 6–9 months before the intended internship period, meaning students should not wait until immediately before their preferred month to apply.

A practical progression is to use the early years of law school to build experience through smaller firms, chambers, research and writing. By the third year, students can begin targeting stronger corporate firms and boutiques, while the third and fourth years can be used to target Tier 1 firms and specific practice areas.

By the fourth and fifth years, the objective should ideally be to convert strong internships into assessment internships or PPO opportunities.

Step 3: Build a Profile That Gets You an Interview

A Tier 1 internship application should give the recruiter clear evidence that you can contribute to the team.

Academic performance is one part of the profile. A consistent academic record can help demonstrate discipline and subject knowledge.

Previous internships are also important. Having two or more internships, particularly where at least one is relevant to corporate law or the practice area you are targeting, can strengthen the application.

A writing sample or publication can provide additional evidence of your research and analytical ability. Instead of writing randomly across multiple areas, it can be more useful to develop a clear interest in an area such as company law, M&A, competition law, capital markets or banking.

Your application should therefore tell a consistent story: what area of law interests you, what you have already done in that area and why you want to gain further exposure to it.

Step 4: Prepare a Strong CV and Cover Letter

Your CV should be clean, concise and easy to scan. A two-page CV is generally sufficient for a law student, with emphasis on academics, internships, publications, moots and other relevant achievements.

Avoid filling the CV with unnecessary design elements. The objective is to make relevant information easy for a recruiter to identify.

The cover letter should be specific to the firm. Explain why you are interested in the firm and the practice area and what you hope to learn from the internship. Generic statements that could be sent to any law firm are unlikely to make the application memorable.

Even where a cover letter is optional, the source recommends sending one.

Step 5: Apply Through the Correct Channel

Before sending an application, check the firm’s official internship or careers instructions.

There are generally three possible routes. The first is your college’s placement or internship committee, particularly where the firm recruits through specific law schools.

The second is the firm’s official careers or internship portal.

The third may be direct email, where the firm expressly provides an email address for applications. The source notes, for example, that Khaitan & Co. has previously directed students outside certain campus channels to apply through its designated internship email with their CV and transcripts.

Do not rely on an email address found in an old LinkedIn post or forum discussion. Always verify the current application method from the firm’s own instructions.

Internship Application Email Format

A simple application email can follow this structure:

Subject: Internship Application – [Month–Month, Year] – [Your Name] – [Office]

Email:

Dear [HR/Team],

I am a [year] student pursuing [degree] at [college] and am writing to apply for an internship with the [practice area] team at [Firm] during [month/year].

I have previously interned at [A] and [B] and have developed a particular interest in [practice area]. I have also worked on [relevant research/publication/drafting experience].

I would be grateful for the opportunity to intern with your team during the proposed period. My CV is attached for your consideration.

Regards,
[Name]
[Phone Number]
[Email Address]

Keep the email short. Your CV and cover letter should provide the additional detail.

Step 6: Follow Up Without Spamming

If you do not receive a response, a short and professional follow-up can be sent after an appropriate interval.

The purpose of a follow-up is simply to confirm that your application has been received and ask whether there is any update. Repeated emails, excessive calls or contacting multiple partners unnecessarily can have the opposite effect.

Persistence is useful, but it should remain professional.

Step 7: Prepare for the Internship Interview

If the firm invites you for an interview, be prepared to explain everything on your CV.

You should know the basic concepts relevant to your preferred practice area and be able to discuss your previous internships and writing samples. It is also useful to follow major transactions, regulatory developments and important legal developments in the area you claim to be interested in.

For a corporate law internship, for example, revising contract law, company law and securities law can provide a useful foundation.

Step 8: Convert the Internship into a PPO

Getting the internship is only the first objective. If you want the internship to lead to a job, your performance during the internship matters.

Complete assignments carefully, meet deadlines and ask questions when you genuinely need clarification. Pay attention to formatting, citations and accuracy in research and drafting work.

At the same time, build professional relationships with the associates and partners you work with. Towards the end of the internship, you can appropriately ask your supervisor about future opportunities, including assessment internships or PPO processes.

The source notes that interns who perform well may be considered for PPO interviews.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

One of the biggest mistakes is applying too late. Tier 1 internships can require planning months in advance.

Students should also avoid sending the same generic cover letter to every firm, submitting an unnecessarily long CV or forgetting to attach the required documents.

Another mistake is focusing exclusively on the biggest law firms. A strong internship at a respected mid-sized firm or corporate boutique can provide valuable experience and make a later Tier 1 application stronger.

Finally, do not rely entirely on Reddit, LinkedIn posts or forum discussions for eligibility requirements. Such information can become outdated quickly. The firm’s current internship instructions should take priority.

Can You Get a Tier 1 Internship Without an NLU Degree?

Yes, but the process can be more difficult.

Top NLUs have a significant advantage because many leading firms recruit directly through their campus processes. Students outside these institutions therefore need to compensate by building a stronger overall profile.

Relevant internships, good academics, writing experience, a clear practice-area interest and persistent early applications can all help. The source also notes an applicant’s experience of securing a Tier 1 internship through cold emailing, while recommending applications several months in advance. This is an individual experience rather than a guarantee.

The important point is that not having an NLU tag should not become a reason to stop applying.

FAQs

When should I apply for a Tier 1 law firm internship?

A practical target is approximately 6–9 months before your intended internship, although the exact timeline differs between firms and internship programmes.

Do I need an NLU degree to get a Tier 1 internship?

No. However, leading firms recruit heavily from top NLUs, so students from other law schools generally need to build a stronger combination of academics, internships, writing and practical experience.

Is a cover letter necessary for a law firm internship?

Even where it is optional, sending a concise and customised cover letter is advisable. It gives you an opportunity to explain your specific interest in the firm and practice area.

How long are Tier 1 law firm internships?

Standard internships are often around four weeks, while longer assessment internships can extend from six months to a year, depending on the firm and programme.

What is an assessment internship?

An assessment internship is a longer internship designed, at least in part, to evaluate a student’s suitability for a future role. Such internships can be connected to the firm’s PPO recruitment process.