About the Organization
The Square Circle Clinic is a criminal justice initiative at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, with offices in New Delhi, Pune, Nagpur, and Hyderabad. The Clinic focuses on pro bono criminal defence, particularly for death row prisoners, and undertakes research, litigation, and public engagement on issues such as the death penalty, torture, legal aid, forensics, and mental health in the criminal justice system
Type / Nature of Opportunity
Internship Opportunity (Research, Litigation & Criminal Justice Internship)
Eligibility Criteria
- Students enrolled in undergraduate or postgraduate programmes in:
- Law
- Humanities
- Social Sciences
- Psychology / Psychiatry
- Media and Communications
- Students from other disciplines may also apply (preference given to the above fields)
- Open to candidates studying in India or abroad
Areas of Work / Key Responsibilities
- Research Work:
- Forensic science (including DNA forensics)
- Legal aid in criminal justice
- Mental health and criminal law
- Torture, punishment, and death penalty
- Litigation Support:
- Assisting in pro bono defence for prisoners, including death row cases
- Mitigation Investigation:
- Preparing life histories and mitigation reports for sentencing hearings
- Strategic Communication:
- Public engagement, storytelling, and social media strategy
- Administrative Work:
- Supporting daily administrative functions of the Clinic
Mode of Work
- Primarily Offline (New Delhi, Pune, Nagpur offices)
- Remote internships considered only in exceptional cases
Important Dates and Timelines
- Rolling basis applications throughout the year
- Applicants must apply at least 2 months before the intended start date
- Selected candidates are informed approximately 6 weeks prior to commencement
Duration
- Full-time: Minimum 4 weeks to Maximum 12 weeks
- Part-time (limited availability): Minimum 12 weeks
Stipend / Perks
- Full-time interns: ₹10,000 per 4 weeks
- Part-time interns: ₹5,000 per 4 weeks
- Extensive exposure to criminal justice litigation and research
Application Process
- Applications must be submitted via the official online application form (separate links for locations)
- Required documents:
- Resume
- Statement of Purpose (maximum 750 words) explaining interest and contribution
Contact Information
Important Notes / Additional Information
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
- If no response is received 6 weeks before the intended start date, the application should be considered unsuccessful
- Travel and accommodation expenses are not covered
- Interns are expected to work full-time (10 AM to 6 PM) and adhere to office protocols
- The Clinic reserves the right not to fill positions
