I was interested in LITigation! So, in November 2017 – Two things happened. One, I got a hands-on mooting experience. Second, I decided to quit Legal Desire, where I worked as one of their Executive Assistants. I got this opportunity in my second year, and during all these months that I worked there, I got to learn a lot. I handled interns, wrote articles and case analyses, helped the Founder with a little communication and PR work and a lot of miscellaneous work that only helped me shape myself into this professional I was turning into.
With my resignation and end of my mooting, I was back in that place where I had nothing to do. After my classes, I got back to my hostel room only to find myself sleeping or watching Modern family (I had finished FRIENDS) with my roommate. I could feel this liberation of not doing anything, and this feeling was so lovely, it's hard to type it down in words.
I started applying for litigation internships months before my internship month because of the "Apply-four-months-prior" protocol. I was very confident that I wanted to pursue litigation; hence, my cover letter had many nice things to say about litigation that I hoped would've been bought by those reading my cover letter.
Lawctopus came to my rescue when I wanted to find out where to apply and how to apply because they had all info and then Lawctopus was an angel to the rescue. The provision of internship experiences by many other students made it a little easier for me to choose which internship to apply in and which do not.
Having interned thrice before, I was hopeful that I get a stipend because of the work done in the name of "learning" in internships. A little incentive doesn't hurt anyone, and my preferences for an internship were mainly a stipend and a good internship atmosphere.
Having applied in about fifteen places, I had forgotten about it. I carried on watching Modern Family and then FRIENDS when one day, I received an email from one of the advocates stating that I was selected for the internship and that I have to join from the next month. My happiness knew no bounds, and I checked up on my best friend, who had received the same email. Both of us were on cloud nine because we were supposed to intern together and that too, in a place like this one, it'd be amazing for our CVs.
We were quite excited about this internship because it was finally an internship that we could brag about, just like other students who used to do the same thing. Both of us got this internship by not having to request anyone and without any contacts, so it was quite an achievement.
It was my first day, and as excited and nervous as I was for it, my best friend was right next to me, feeling the same way, which made it a little easier for me. We interacted with a few associates in the next few hours, and oh god, I wanted to run away from that place. They were so cold, and I felt so un-welcomed that it was a reality check that not all places are the same.
Before this internship, I had heard about how interns aren't respected and that they're ill-treated, but because I had a nice time in my previous internships, I always used to disregard these claims. That day, that very first day, I wished for this internship to have never happened because I was already so scared of the associates there.
Being intimidated is one thing, but getting scared of someone is an altogether different thing that obstructs your productivity. My productivity was already down to 50 percent on the first day itself. I knew I was diligent, but the way I was being treated and my co-interns were unfair to us. The court visits soon felt like prison because I was super scared of the associates and the interns' workload was next level. We were expected to not take holidays even on weekends, so it was seven days a week work culture that I did not want to be a part of.
My productivity, which was down to 50%, reduced to 25% by 7 pm every day because human beings need a break. I was sure I was a human back then, contrary to what the associates there must have felt about this breed called "interns." I used to get regular migraine headaches in the office, but the scare that I had of my superiors was so next level that I worked for almost 10-12 hours in the office and went back all tired.
When I had applied for this internship, I wanted to learn the nitty-gritties of law. I wanted to learn more about litigation; I wanted to assist in significant cases and research for them.
Certainly, my idea of this internship was far from the real big picture that the internship reviews on Lawctopus did not paint. I cannot blame the interns for not stating the true experiences because, of course, no one wants to be served with a defamation notice later on, right?
I have no idea how my best friend did not mind all the unfair and rude treatment, but I was not someone who could let anyone treat me this way, so I just prayed for days to go by quicker (this was the most I could do, back then) and I wanted just to go back to law school, study so much and meet my friends again. I was missing my hostel bed (there was hardly any sleep for this one month; hence), my eyes wanted to rest, and my mind wanted to turn itself off, and I did not want to be scared.
The thought of leaving the internship mid-way did come into my mind. Still, I was sure that I would also lose out on my attendance without submitting my internship certificate, so I just stayed and slogged for the remaining number of days.
What did I learn there? I learnt to take orders from the superiors. I learnt to page number the file. I learnt how to report to the superiors about the upcoming cases by looking at the Supreme Court display. I also learnt to keep quiet and just suffer through the misery because you're an intern, and you do not matter.
I would be lying if I'd say I learnt just this. I also learnt how to draft an opinion. I learnt how to do research and make judgment analysis. But for the most part, I learnt how to stay scared of the superiors at the office because, after all this, you deserve a certificate stating your accomplishment as an intern.
Was my internship that bad, you ask? It wasn't bad, but it was just something that made me feel worthless, which made me doubt myself and my skills because I was scared of people in the office. Every task I did, reduced my confidence bit by bit because they never really acknowledged my efforts. Working for seven days a week, from the morning till the night, only for the sake of "learning" was something I did not want.
Thirty-one days of my internship somehow ended, and I partied like crazy on the last day with my co-interns because it was a celebration—a celebration of a thing called freedom from a scary dream-like reality.
I did not want to go to the courts. I couldn't see myself as someone who'd practice litigation after this internship, and there ended my short and sweet stint of having a thing for litigation.
After my internship, I went back to law school. I took a deep breath and decided of informing other students about my experience, so they could take an informed decision themselves and not be misled by a few other internship reviews.
As I ended my third year, a new interest in International Law developed, and I soon saw myself as the next International Law expert India would witness.
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