Internships, Interactions, and Networking

Summary: This post talks about internships, interactions, and networking—preparing you for the future, building your confidence.

There was no concept of internship during my student days, so I never did any, but I participated in sports and read widely. I won University and district championships in table tennis as well as in squash. I regret in not participating in debates and cultural activities. I wish I had undertaken these activities as well.

After winning Allahabad University singles and doubles table tennis championship in 1968

ADVICE TO LAW ASPIRANTS

Introduction & Most Important Skill।। Improve Your Language।। Being Short and Concise: Crux of Good Communication।। Clear Grasp of the Subject: Necessary for Communication।। Feynman’s Technique।। Read, Read, & Keep on Reading।। Internships, Interactions, and Networking।। ।। ।। ।।

इस चिट्ठी को हिन्दी में यहां पढ़ा जा सकता है।

Intern Widely

Try to do internship at different places with different people to have all kinds of experience. What I mean is that internship may be done with practising lawyers, corporate lawyers, judges at district as well as higher courts. It should also not be limited to them. It may be done with different NGOs and government offices as well. 

The idea is to get the first-hand knowledge of their working and perhaps get better picture of what you may like to do in the future. It is also good idea to include some recommendations as well, when applying for internship. 

During my student's days, I played under the name of YK Singh. This is the 3rd continuous Table Tennis singles and double title for anyone in the Allahabad University. As I understand, there were some other players as well, but they did not win it in three continuous years.

Interact Meaningfully

I often get emails, messages about the links of the articles and books written by them to comment. Many a times, messages like ‘Good Morning’ or ‘Happy Sunday’ or happy something else. This is not a good way of interacting; lawyers and judges are busy people: they don’t have time to read unsolicited work or messages. Instead, 

• Invite them to your college for a talk or interaction; 
• Ask thoughtful questions after lectures;
• Comment and engage with their articles meaningfully. 

This may be more fruitful than sending them your articles or messages. It may also lead to a good internship.

Participate in the Extra-Curricular Activities

Take every opportunity to speak in public functions, participate in debates and group discussion.  If your college has a drama club then do join it. If it offers any other extra-curricular activity, then join it. In case there is none then organise it yourself. 

To best of my information, this is also a unique distinction in Allahabad District squash championship.

Taking part in sports is essential. I have been very active in sports and have organised tournaments as well as captained teams many a times. I have often won matches, where everyone thought that I would lose them. Apart from others, it taught me— 

• Team spirit and working together; 
• How to fight back; 
• How take a defeat or accept victory gracefully. 

Participating in extracurricular activities and taking part in sports will improve your confidence, develop leadership, and help in networking—all essential in the legal world. 

Conclusion: Interning diversely, interacting meaning fully and participating in sports as well as cultural activities is important. 

In the next post, we will talk about use of technology and artificial intelligence (AI).

#AdviceLawAspirants #AdviceLawStudents #Advice #SelfImprovement