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Building a Strong Legal Profile During Law School: Skills, Internships & Networking

Legalwiki

— 3 min read
Building a Strong Legal Profile During Law School: Skills, Internships & Networking

Author: Manan Grover, 2nd year law student, Maharaja Surajmal Institute, Janakpuri

Law internships are pivotal experiences for every law student. They are not just stepping stones but hands-on introductions to the legal world, helping you bridge the gap between academic theory and practical lawyering. Yet, many students miss opportunities to extract the full value from their internships.

It is essential to approach the experience strategically to build skills, confidence, and clarity about your future legal career.

This detailed guide provides practical strategies, insider insights, and highlights the importance of finding quality law internships and preparing effectively.

Here are 10 powerful, practical, and easy-to-follow strategies to make your law internship application stronger, smarter, and impossible to ignore.

1. Create a Clean & Professional CV

(a) The CV is the face of your professional identity, and it is often the first thing recruiters notice. A well-structured and polished CV can instantly create a strong impression and increase your chances of being selected.

(b) Make sure your CV is clean, professional, and easy to read. Include clear sections such as Education, Skills, Previous Internships, Achievements, Courses & Workshops, and any other relevant experience.

(c) Present your information in a concise and organised manner so recruiters can quickly understand your strengths and potential.

What Impresses Recruiters?

  • Clean formatting
  • Concrete achievements
  • No overclaiming

2.Write a Customized Cover Letter

A generic cover letter gets ignored immediately. Your cover letter must mention core points.

(a) It must clearly address the organisation’s work, your relevant skills, and why you’re genuinely interested in contributing to them.

(b) Always follow the Golden Rule: Make the letter about the organisation, not just about yourself. 

(c) Show how you can add value, and your application will stand out effortlessly.

Your cover letter must:

  • Mention the organisation’s work
  • Highlight your matching skills
  • Show why you are applying
  • End with a polite, confident tone

Law firms and lawyers prefer students who can perform tasks immediately, such as:

  • Familiar with Technology like word office, word excel, AI tools
  • Legal research
  • Case summarisation
  • Using Law Software’s
  • Good Communication Skills

4.Showcase Your Best Writing Samples

Make sure to attach 1–2 polished samples and include samples like

  • A blog post (With Any Web Portal Like LawOF lawof.in/demo1/)
  • A case brief
  • A research note
  • A legal article

5.Build a Professional LinkedIn Profile

Recruiters often check your online presence. Most of the Recruiters are checking LinkedIn profile first.

Your LinkedIn should have:

  • Professional photo
  • Clear Headline (e.g., “Law Student | Interested in Corporate Law OR Criminal Law”)
  • Achievements
  • Articles or posts

6.Network with Lawyers, Professors & Seniors

Networking can ensure internships before applications even open. You can ensure this by:

  • Attend law workshops & webinars
  • Ask seniors for contacts
  • Maintain respectful follow-ups
  • Join subject-specific committees or centers in your university

7.Apply Early & Apply to the Right Place

Don’t wait for deadlines. Apply 2–3 months in advance to organisations aligned with your interests (litigation, IPR, corporate, policy, human rights, Criminal Law, Space Law, Animal Law, etc.)

8.Avoid Common Mistakes

 Avoid common mistakes such as :-

  • Overly long CVs
  • Improper email subject lines
  • No attachments or incorrect filenames
  • WhatsApp-style language

9.Write a Simple but Strong Email

Perfect Email Subject Line Example:
“Application for Internship – Jan–Feb 2025 – [Your Name]”

A good email should include:

  • A short introduction
  • Your purpose
  • Your skills
  • Your attachments
  • Your availability

10.Follow Up Professionally: Persistence shows professionalism

If there is no reply, then you can ask them professionally while taking care of these steps:-

  • Wait for 5 – 7 days
  • Send a polite follow-up
  • Avoid calling unless they allow it
  • Don’t spam multiple emails

Conclusion

Building a strong profile for top law internships is not about one big step. It’s about consistently improving your skills, documents, and professional presence. When you focus on developing practical abilities, creating a polished CV and cover letter, and engaging in meaningful academic and extracurricular work, you naturally become a more competitive candidate.

With the right preparation, confidence, and commitment, you can open doors to prestigious opportunities and set the foundation for a successful legal career.

All the Best for your Legal Journey!

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