Legal internships are not limited to law firms, chambers, or corporate offices. Some of the most impactful and transformative learning experiences for law students come from NGOs—organisations working directly with communities, rights-based movements, litigation support, public policy, research, and social justice.
An NGO internship helps students understand ground realities, legal systems, constitutional rights, and grassroots advocacy—skills essential for anyone pursuing litigation, public policy, or development-sector lawyering.
To simplify the process, here is a direct-apply curated list of active NGOs across India where law students can apply without any intermediary platform. Each listing includes location, email ID, application method, work areas, and operational status—making it easy for you to apply immediately.
1. Human Rights Law Network (HRLN)
HRLN is one of India’s largest networks of human rights lawyers working on PILs, constitutional rights, women’s justice, labour issues, disability rights, and social equality.
Location: Delhi (South-East), Mumbai + regional centres
Apply: hrln.internships@gmail.com
Procedure: Send CV + cover letter + internship dates (some units interview candidates)
Work Areas: Human rights litigation, research, PIL drafting, fact-finding
2. Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI)
CHRI works on criminal justice reform, prison reform, police accountability, and RTI strengthening.
Location: South Delhi
Apply: vinu@humanrightsinitiative.org
CC: aditya@humanrightsinitiative.org
Procedure: CV + writing sample + SOP
Work Areas: Criminal justice, transparency, access to justice
3. Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy (VIDHI)
India’s leading legal policy think tank working on tech law, constitutional governance, gender policy, health, and more.
Location: Delhi (Central), Bengaluru
Apply: internships@vidhilegalpolicy.in
Procedure: CV + cover letter + writing sample
Work Areas: Public policy research, legislative drafting, legal reform
4. Centre for Law & Policy Research (CLPR), Bengaluru
CLPR is widely respected for constitutional litigation, equality rights, and transgender rights advocacy.
Location: Bengaluru Urban
Apply: reachout@clpr.org.in
Procedure: CV + writing sample + cover letter (min. 4-week commitment)
Work Areas: Constitution, gender rights, equality law, strategic litigation
5. Nazdeek
Nazdeek works with marginalised communities, especially women workers, through legal empowerment and rights-based advocacy.
Location: South Delhi
Apply: info@nazdeek.org
Procedure: CV + motivation + availability
Work Areas: Labour rights, women’s rights, access to justice
6. People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL)
One of India’s oldest civil liberties organisations, known for grassroots documentation and public interest interventions.
Location: National Office – Patparganj, East Delhi
Apply: puclnat@gmail.com
Procedure: CV + district preference + reason for joining
Work Areas: Civil liberties, fact-finding, human rights research
7. Lawyers Collective
A pioneering Mumbai-based organisation known for gender justice, HIV advocacy, and socio-legal reform.
Location: Fort, Mumbai
Apply: aidslaw@lawyerscollective.org
Procedure: CV + cover letter + area of interest
Work Areas: Gender rights, sexual harassment law, HIV law
8. CRY – Child Rights and You
CRY offers legal and policy internships on child protection, juvenile justice, and child labour.
Location: Mumbai HQ; Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata
Apply: volunteer@CRYmail.org
Procedure: CV + specific interest area
Work Areas: Child rights law, advocacy, juvenile justice research
9. SLIC – Socio Legal Information Centre
The litigation arm behind many human rights PILs and fact-finding missions across India.
Location: Delhi HQ + regional offices
Apply: info@slic.org.in
Procedure: CV + issue preference (or apply via website “Intern With Us”)
Work Areas: Human rights, PIL support, field verification
10. CHETNA – Centre for Health, Education, Training & Nutrition Awareness
A Gujarat-based NGO working on health rights and gender justice.
Location: Ahmedabad
Apply: chetna@icenet.net
Procedure: CV + cover letter
Work Areas: Women/child health rights, policy research, advocacy
11. Majlis Legal Centre
A leading women’s rights legal centre specialising in domestic violence, family law, and POCSO litigation.
Location: Mumbai Suburban
Apply: majlis@majlisbombay.org
Procedure: CV + interest in gender justice
Work Areas: Domestic violence, gender law, criminal justice
12. Breakthrough India
Breakthrough uses media, advocacy, and community campaigns to prevent gender-based violence.
Location: North-West Delhi
Apply: volunteer@breakthrough.tv
Procedure: CV + issue selection
Work Areas: Gender rights, legal awareness, campaigns
13. Prayas – TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences)
Prayas works with prison inmates, children in conflict with law, and women in distress.
Location: Mumbai
Apply: prayas@tiss.edu
Procedure: CV + student ID + internship dates
Work Areas: Juvenile justice, prison legal aid, socio-legal support
14. HAQ Centre for Child Rights
A Delhi-based organisation focused on child rights, juvenile justice, and litigation support.
Location: South Delhi
Apply: info@haqcrc.org
Procedure: CV + motivation letter
Work Areas: Child rights, JJ Act research, documentation
How to Apply Effectively (Lexibal Tip)
To increase your internship selection chances:
✔ Keep Your CV One Page
Highlight research, drafting, internships, moots, writing experience.
✔ Write a 100–150 Word Cover Letter
Include:
- Why this NGO?
- What area of law interests you?
- Your availability dates
✔ Include a Writing Sample
Preferably a research-based article, case analysis, or legal blog.
✔ Give Clear, Specific Dates
Most NGOs prefer interns who commit 3–4 weeks minimum.
Final Thoughts
NGO internships give law students rare, meaningful exposure to real people, grassroots legal issues, and social justice challenges—far beyond what textbooks can teach. Whether you choose a career in litigation, academia, public policy, human rights, or corporate law with a social lens, these experiences help you become a more aware, empathetic, and skilled lawyer.