I am currently in my second year of law school. I started pursuing litigation internships from my first year, but I come from a non-legal family and do not have any family background or established network in the profession. Because of this, I am concerned about whether I will be able to build a sustainable career in litigation, particularly in the initial years when having guidance and professional connections can be important.
I have therefore started exploring corporate law as an alternative career path. I recently interned at the NCLAT and found work relating to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) particularly interesting, which has made me consider pursuing this area more seriously.
Since I still have several years before graduation, I want to use this time to build a strong foundation in corporate law and IBC and choose internships that will help me develop a relevant profile. My long-term goal would be to secure a position at a good Tier-2 or Tier-3 law firm after graduation.
What should I read or study to build a strong foundation in corporate law and IBC, and what kind of internships should I target from now onwards to build the right experience and improve my chances of securing a good corporate law job after graduation?
Dear Student/ Mentee,
Thank you for sharing your query — it’s a sensible question to be asking in your second year. At this stage, I would just advise you to study whatever you want, and while studying, also write Articles, Blogs, or any piece that you want. This exercise will enhance your knowledge in a particular field, and the pieces that you will write will help you in your future.
A few points to address both parts of your question:
On the litigation vs. corporate law dilemma
Don’t think of this as an irreversible fork. A large part of corporate law — especially IBC work — sits very close to litigation. NCLT and NCLAT are tribunals, and IBC practice involves drafting applications, appearing for hearings, and arguing matters, much like a court practice. Many Tier-2/Tier-3 firms with strong insolvency practices value candidates who are comfortable in a tribunal room, not just at a negotiating table. So your litigation internships aren’t wasted effort — they’re actually an asset for an IBC-focused career.
Building a foundation in corporate law and IBC
Statute first, commentary second. Read the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 cover to cover, along with the CIRP Regulations and Liquidation Process Regulations framed by the IBBI. Don’t skip the Regulations — a lot of practical IBC work turns on regulatory timelines and procedural requirements, not just the bare Code.
Case law that every IBC junior should know:
- Swiss Ribbons v. Union of India (constitutional validity of the Code)
- Essar Steel (Committee of Creditors v. Satish Kumar Gupta) (commercial wisdom of CoC)
- Innoventive Industries v. ICICI Bank (Section 7 admission)
- Vidarbha Industries Power and the subsequent clarifications (discretion under Section 7)
- Recent NCLAT and Supreme Court decisions on Section 9 disputes, personal guarantor insolvency, and pre-packaged insolvency
Apart from these judgments, do keep a watch on Live Law, Bar & Bench, Law Trend (and all other Legal News Websites/ Applications) and you will be able to see the recent trends around this particular law. This will definitely help you to keep pace with the others.
Internships to target
- NCLT/NCLAT chambers or judges (you’ve already done this — build on it) — try to get a second stint in your 3rd or 4th year once you have more foundational knowledge, so you can extract more from it.
- Insolvency Professional (IP) firms/entities — interning with a Resolution Professional’s office gives you exposure to the commercial and operational side of insolvency, not just the legal side, which is a real differentiator on your CV.
- Boutique insolvency/restructuring litigation firms — these are often more generous with hands-on drafting work than larger firms, and Tier-2/Tier-3 firms specifically value candidates who’ve already drafted Section 7/9 applications, resolution plans, or claim forms.
- Litigation chambers with a strong IBC docket — many senior counsel and law firms handling company law matters before the Delhi High Court and NCLT take interns; this bridges your existing litigation experience with your target area.
- Consider at least one internship in general corporate/M&A to round out your profile — Tier-2/Tier-3 firms with insolvency practices often expect juniors to also handle transactional work, especially in the early years.
A practical note
Don’t over-specialize too early. Firms hiring at the entry level generally want to see a demonstrated interest in an area (which your NCLAT internship already shows) combined with solid all-round litigation/drafting skills. Use your remaining years to alternate between IBC-specific internships and general corporate/litigation ones, and try to publish a short article or case comment on a recent IBC judgment; it’s a way to demonstrate genuine engagement with the subject when you eventually interview.
Wishing you the very best for the rest of law school.
