Paid Internship Opportunity at Square Circle Clinic, NALSAR University of Law [Stipend 5-10K] - Apply Now!

About the Square Circle Clinic

The Square Circle Clinic is a criminal justice initiative at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. The clinic focuses on pro bono criminal defence for death row prisoners and undertrials, along with research and public engagement on key criminal justice issues.

Its work covers areas such as:

• Death penalty litigation
• Forensic science (especially DNA forensics)
• Prevention of torture
• Legal aid in the criminal justice system
• Mental health and criminal justice
• Criminalisation and punishment

The team previously worked as Project 39A at National Law University, Delhi and moved to NALSAR in April 2025. 

The clinic operates from offices in:

• New Delhi
• Pune
• Nagpur
• Hyderabad

About the Internship

The Square Circle Clinic offers paid internships on a rolling basis to provide students with hands-on exposure to criminal justice work in India. 

Interns may work across several teams, including:

1. Research

• Empirical and field research on criminal justice issues
• Topics such as forensics, death penalty administration, torture, and legal aid

2. Litigation

• Supporting pro bono legal representation for prisoners sentenced to death
• Trial-level legal aid for undertrials in Pune and Nagpur prisons

3. Mitigation Investigation

• Developing life histories of death-row prisoners
• Preparing mitigation reports for sentencing hearings
• Particularly suited for students in social sciences, psychology, and related fields 

Eligibility

The internship is open to students enrolled in recognised undergraduate or postgraduate programmes, including:

• Law
• Humanities
• Social Sciences
• Psychology / Psychiatry
• Media and Communication

Students from other disciplines may apply, though preference is given to the fields listed above. 

Duration

• Minimum: 4 weeks
• Maximum: 12 weeks

Applicants must specify the exact dates of the internship in their application. 

Stipend

• ₹10,000 per 4 weeks for full-time interns
• ₹5,000 per 4 weeks for part-time interns

Location

Interns may be placed at the clinic’s offices in:

• New Delhi
• Pune
• Nagpur

(In-person internships are generally preferred.)

Application Timeline

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Applicants should apply at least two months before the intended start date of the internship.

Application Procedure

Interested candidates must apply through the official online application form and submit:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Statement of Purpose (max 750 words) explaining:
  • Interest in criminal justice
  • Motivation to work on death penalty defence and related issues 

Applications and documents must be submitted only through this link:

For the internship position in Delhi - Apply here.

For the internship position in Nagpur and Pune - Apply here.

For queries related to the internship, candidates may write to:
📧 squarecircleinternships@nalsar.ac.in

Good luck with your application!

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