I am a final-year LL.B. student from a non-NLU institution aspiring to build a career in corporate law. Over the course of law school, I have completed five internships, including one at a corporate law firm and another at a semi-corporate firm, where I gained experience in contract drafting, commercial contracts, regulatory compliance, and other corporate law matters. I have also actively participated in moot court competitions, won the Best Mooter award in one competition, represented my institution at a national-level moot court competition, and worked on building a strong ATS-friendly CV. Despite applying to nearly 90–95 internship opportunities, I have not been able to secure an internship with a Tier-1 or Tier-2 law firm.
As I am now in my final year, I am concerned that I have limited time left before graduation to strengthen my profile and improve my chances of entering a top-tier law firm.
Could you please guide me on why candidates with seemingly competitive profiles still struggle to secure internships at Tier-1 or Tier-2 law firms? What changes can I make to my application strategy, CV, networking efforts, and interview preparation to improve my chances? During my remaining time in law school, which skills or experiences should I prioritize? Finally, as a non-NLU student graduating in 2027, would starting my career at a smaller corporate law firm or an in-house legal team and lateraling to a Tier-1 law firm after gaining experience be a practical and effective career path?
