LLB Internship Programme 2026 — Department of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice | ₹5,000 Stipend, Apply at dashboard.doj.gov.in

Mehak Sharma, a third-year student at Symbiosis Law School, Pune, had been tracking government internship listings since January 2026. She wanted something that wasn’t another corporate law firm internship — she was interested in access to justice, legal aid, and how policy actually moves through government.

In March, she found the Department of Justice internship listing. She clicked through to the portal — dashboard.doj.gov.in — and immediately hit a problem: the portal asked for a NOC from her institution, but her university’s NOC process required a 15-day advance notice. She hadn’t planned for that. The June slot deadline was in 4 days.

She missed the June slot. She applied for the July slot instead — submitted 20 days before the deadline, with all documents correctly sized and formatted. She was selected.

She spent four weeks at Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi, attached to a Deputy Secretary-level officer working on e-Courts implementation. She contributed to a research note on Tele-Law service delivery in tribal districts. She left with a Ministry of Law and Justice certificate — one of the most credible government internship certificates a law student can hold in India.

The only thing that nearly stopped her was the NOC timing. This guide makes sure that doesn’t happen to you.

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Quick Answer

💡 Quick Answer — LLB Internship Programme 2026 Offered by: Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India Apply at: dashboard.doj.gov.in/internship/ Stipend: ₹5,000 (paid after satisfactory completion) Duration: 1 month (4 weeks) per slot Summer 2026 Slots (Phase 1): → 10 June – 9 July 2026 (Deadline: 5 June 2026) → 10 July – 9 August 2026 (Deadline: 5 July 2026) → 12 August – 11 September 2026 (Deadline: 5 August 2026) Seats: Maximum 10 interns per slot Eligibility: 2nd year of 3-year LLB, or 3rd/4th year of 5-year integrated law degree Mode: Full-time, in-person, New Delhi Certificate: Yes — on satisfactory completion One-time rule: Students who interned with DoJ in a previous year are NOT eligible

Last Verified: June 2026

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DoJ LLB Internship vs DoLA Internship vs Law Commission Internship — Which One Is Right for You?

Three government law internship programmes run simultaneously in 2026 under the Ministry of Law and Justice umbrella. Most students don’t know these are different programmes with different departments, different eligibility, and different application addresses.

Simple test — which one fits you:

1. Interested in justice delivery systems, legal aid, e-Courts, Fast Track Courts? → Department of Justice (this programme)
2. Interested in legal advisory work, court proceedings, contract drafting, legal opinions? → Department of Legal Affairs
3. Interested in law reform research, comparative legal analysis, policy drafting? → Law Commission of India

Important: You can apply to all three if eligible — they are separate departments with separate applications and separate selection processes.

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What Is the DoJ LLB Internship Programme? Entity Overview for 2026

<cite index=”172-1″>The LLB Internship Programme is an initiative by the Ministry of Law and Justice under the Department of Justice to provide young law students with hands-on experience in the field of justice delivery. The programme aims to acquaint students with the functioning of the Department of Justice and allow them to gain knowledge in various specialised areas such as Access to Justice, e-Courts services, Fast Track Special Courts, and more.</cite>

The Department of Justice sits under the Ministry of Law and Justice and handles a very specific part of India’s legal infrastructure — not the drafting of laws (that’s the Legislative Department), not government legal advisory (that’s the Department of Legal Affairs), but the delivery and administration of justice: court infrastructure, judicial appointments, legal aid schemes, and access to justice programmes.

For a law student, this means the internship is a practical immersion in how India’s justice delivery system actually functions at the government level — not just in theory.

What you work on:

• Access to Justice: Tele-Law programme (legal advice via video call for rural citizens), Nyaya Bandhu (pro bono legal services), National Legal Services Authority coordination
• e-Courts Services: India’s phased digitisation of district and subordinate courts — Phase III implementation analysis
• Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs): Courts set up for POCSO cases and rape cases — monitoring, reporting, performance analysis
• Legal reforms: Research and analysis support to policy notes going to the Secretary or Minister level

Three things that make this different from a law firm internship:

1. You are working on systemic legal reform — not client matters. The output is a research note or policy brief, not a legal opinion for a private client
2. You are attached to a serving government officer — Deputy Secretary, Director, Joint Secretary, or Secretary level. The mentorship is direct and senior
3. The certificate says “Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India” — this carries a specific weight in UPSC interviews, judicial service applications, and international law programme applications that law firm certificates do not

2026 key updates:

• <cite index=”172-1″>Summer Programme Phase 1 slots are confirmed for June, July, and August 2026</cite> — deadlines as listed in the Quick Answer above
• The application portal at dashboard.doj.gov.in/internship/ is the only valid application channel — no email applications accepted
• File size limit strictly enforced at 100 KB for all uploads — this catches most first-time applicants off guard

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Eligibility — Who Can Apply in 2026

<cite index=”172-1″>To be eligible, candidates must be Indian students who have completed the 2nd year of a 3-year LLB course, or the 3rd year of a 5-year integrated law degree, or are 4th year students after the exam to enter the 5th year. The minimum age is 18 years. Interns must be enrolled in an accredited law school or university.</cite>

Breaking this down clearly:

3-Year LLB Programme students:

• Completed 2nd year (going into 3rd year) — eligible
• 1st year students — not eligible
• Final year (3rd year) students — check current guidelines; some batches accept final-year students

5-Year Integrated LLB Programme students:

• Completed 3rd year (going into 4th year) — eligible
• Completed 4th year (going into 5th year) — eligible
• 1st or 2nd year students — not eligible
• Final year students — check current batch guidelines

Who is NOT eligible:

• <cite index=”172-1″>Students who have already completed an internship with the Department of Justice in previous years are not eligible for the current year’s programme</cite>
• School students (Class 11/12) — not eligible
• Non-law students — not eligible
• Law graduates (LLB completed) — not eligible for this specific DoJ programme; Law Commission and DoLA may accept law graduates

Age: Minimum 18 years. No upper age limit mentioned.

Institution: Must be enrolled in a recognised and accredited law school or university in India. No specific ranking or tier requirement — any recognised institution qualifies.

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Deep Dive: What You Actually Do During the Internship

<cite index=”172-1″>Interns will be posted with an officer at the level of Deputy Secretary, Director, Joint Secretary, or the Secretary, Department of Justice. Placement will be approved by the Competent Authority.</cite>

Each intern is assigned to one specific officer. Your work for the month is shaped by that officer’s current workload and the Division they head. You may be asked to:

Research and analysis: Preparing background notes on legislation, court statistics, or scheme performance. For example: analysing FTSC disposal rates across states, or mapping gaps in Tele-Law coverage in tribal districts.

Drafting: Helping prepare internal notes, briefing documents, or responses to parliamentary queries — under close supervision.

Data compilation: Many DoJ Divisions track court infrastructure and scheme data across 36 states and UTs. Compiling, cross-checking, and presenting this data is a significant part of the work.

Literature review: For policy notes, interns are often asked to survey how other countries handle similar issues — comparative legal research is a common assignment.

What you will NOT do:

• Appear in court or represent any party
• Draft legal opinions for external parties
• Access classified policy material independently (all work is supervised)

Attendance requirement: <cite index=”172-1″>90% attendance is mandatory for satisfactory completion of the internship.</cite> This is 4 weeks of full-time, in-person work. Missing more than 2 working days without prior approval risks losing the certificate and stipend.

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How to Apply — Step by Step

Step 1: Check your eligibility and the slot deadline

Before opening the portal, confirm:

• Your year of study matches the eligibility criteria (2nd year 3-yr LLB, or 3rd/4th year 5-yr LLB)
• The slot you want to apply for has not passed its application deadline
• You have not previously interned with the Department of Justice

Step 2: Get your NOC from your institution — do this first

This is the step that catches most applicants. You need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your law school — signed and stamped by your Head of Department or Principal. Most institutions require 10–15 working days to issue an NOC. If you start this step on the deadline day, you will miss the slot.

Action: Go to your institution’s administration office at least 3 weeks before the slot deadline and formally request the NOC. Tell them the exact dates of the internship slot you are applying for.

Step 3: Get your supervisor/HoD letter

You also need a separate letter from your Supervisor or Head of Department or Principal confirming your enrolment and recommending you for the internship. This is different from the NOC — it is a recommendation, not a permission. Same timing advice applies: request 2–3 weeks before the deadline.

Step 4: Prepare all documents

<cite index=”172-1″>The following documents should be uploaded along with the application:</cite>

• Aadhaar Card (scan — JPG/PNG, under 100 KB)
• Passport-sized Photograph (JPG/PNG, under 100 KB)
• Passing Certificate / Degree / Marksheet (PDF/JPG/PNG, under 100 KB)
• Letter from Supervisor / Head of Department / Principal (PDF/JPG/PNG, under 100 KB)
• No Objection Certificate (NOC) from institution (PDF/JPG/PNG, under 100 KB)
• Proof of Identity and Proof of Address
• Identity Card or Proof of Enrollment
• Bank Account Details for stipend disbursement

Critical file size rule: <cite index=”172-1″>Files should not exceed 100 KB.</cite> This is a hard limit enforced by the portal. Most scanned documents are 500 KB–2 MB by default. You must compress every document before uploading. Use iLovePDF, Smallpdf, or your phone’s built-in scan compression to bring each file under 100 KB before the upload step.

Step 5: Open the official portal

Go to dashboard.doj.gov.in/internship/ — this is the only valid portal. Do not apply by email or post — only online applications through this portal are accepted.

Step 6: Fill the online application form

The form asks for: personal details, course details, institution name and address, preferred internship slot (select one), and document uploads. Double-check every field before submitting — you cannot edit after submission.

Select your preferred internship month carefully. You can apply for only one slot per application. If not selected, apply for the next slot separately.

Step 7: Submit before the deadline

Each slot has a deadline 5 days before the start date:

• June slot: Apply by 5 June 2026
• July slot: Apply by 5 July 2026
• August slot: Apply by 5 August 2026

Submit at least 3–5 days before the deadline — the portal can slow down near the cutoff as applications spike.

Step 8: Track selection and confirm joining

<cite index=”172-1″>A maximum of 10 interns will be selected for each monthly slot, based on the Department’s requirements.</cite> Selection results are communicated through the portal or via email to your registered contact. If selected, confirm your joining within the timeline specified in the selection communication.

Step 9: Join, attend, complete your assignment

Report on the first day of your slot with original documents for verification. Sign any joining documents required by the Division. Maintain 90% attendance throughout. Complete your assigned research/drafting work before the last day.

Step 10: Collect certificate and stipend

After completion, the certificate is issued by the Department. The ₹5,000 stipend is credited to your bank account (provided during the application). Both are issued after satisfactory evaluation of your work by the supervising officer.

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The LLB Internship Trap — Where Most Applicants Fail

Here is the scenario that plays out across law schools in Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Kolkata every June.

A student finds the DoJ internship listing, clicks through to the portal, starts filling the form, reaches the document upload section — and discovers the NOC field. They don’t have one. They go to the administration office. The office says: “15 working days, submit a written request.”

The slot deadline is in 5 days.

They miss the June slot. If they had started 3 weeks earlier, this would have been a non-issue.

This happens to a significant number of eligible, motivated students every year — not because they aren’t qualified, but because the NOC requirement is listed on the portal but not emphasised as a time-sensitive bottleneck.

How to fix it:

Work backwards from the deadline:

• 5 June deadline → NOC request submitted by 12 May → 24 working days buffer
• 5 July deadline → NOC request submitted by 10 June → 19 working days buffer
• 5 August deadline → NOC request submitted by 10 July → 19 working days buffer

Start the NOC process before you start the application form. The NOC is the long-lead-time item. Everything else — photograph, marksheet, Aadhaar — takes one afternoon.

The 100 KB file size trap: The second most common failure point. Students scan their documents at full quality (600 DPI), get 3 MB files, and then discover during upload that the portal rejects anything over 100 KB. Compress every file before the upload session. Don’t try to compress during the session — portal sessions time out.

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DoJ LLB Internship vs Law Firm Internship vs High Court Internship — Career Value Comparison

The right choice depends on your career direction:

• Planning UPSC CSE with Law Optional or judicial services exam? DoJ internship is a direct signal of public service commitment
• Planning corporate/transactional law? Law firm experience is stronger for placement purposes
• Planning litigation career? High Court internship with a senior advocate or judge is the gold standard

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Documents Required — Complete Checklist

Prepare and compress all of these before opening the application portal:

☑ Aadhaar Card — scan both sides, compress to under 100 KB, JPG or PNG format ☑ Passport-sized Photograph — recent, white background, under 100 KB, JPG or PNG ☑ Marksheet — most recent year’s marksheet showing your current year of study; PDF/JPG/PNG under 100 KB ☑ Passing Certificate or Degree — proof of completing previous year; under 100 KB ☑ Letter from Supervisor/HoD/Principal — on institution letterhead, signed and stamped, recommending you for internship; PDF under 100 KB ☑ No Objection Certificate (NOC) — from institution, confirming they have no objection to you undertaking this internship; PDF under 100 KB ☑ Proof of Identity — any government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar serves dual purpose) ☑ Proof of Address — Aadhaar, voter card, or utility bill ☑ Identity Card / Proof of Enrollment — your law school ID card or enrollment certificate ☑ Bank Account Details — account number, IFSC, bank name — for stipend disbursement; must be your own account

Before uploading: Test every file — open it and confirm it is readable, not pixelated, and under 100 KB. A compressed file that is unreadable will get your application rejected during verification.

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Common Problems and How to Fix Them

“Portal won’t accept my documents — file too large” → Cause: Default scan quality produces files well above 100 KB → Fix: Use iLovePDF.com → Compress PDF → upload original → download compressed. For photos: use a phone scanner app with “low quality” setting, or use Paint/Preview to save at lower resolution. Target 70–80 KB per file to have buffer

“NOC not ready before the slot deadline” → Cause: Application started too close to deadline → Fix: Apply for the next slot — deadlines are the 5th of each month. Submit your NOC request immediately and apply for July or August slot

“Already interned with DoJ last year — can I apply again?” → Answer: No. <cite index=”172-1″>Students who have already completed an internship with the Department of Justice in previous years are not eligible for the current year’s programme.</cite> Apply to the Law Commission or Department of Legal Affairs instead

“Selected but can’t attend in-person in Delhi” → Cause: No remote option → Fix: This internship is fully in-person at Shastri Bhavan / North Block, New Delhi. If you cannot be in Delhi for the full month, withdraw and apply for a slot when you can. Hybrid/remote is not available

“Stipend not credited after internship completed” → Cause: Bank account details entered incorrectly, or certificate evaluation pending → Fix: Contact the DoJ internship cell via the portal or at doj.gov.in with your internship reference number. Confirm your bank account details were correct on the application. Stipend follows certificate issuance

“Not selected for the slot I applied for” → Cause: Only 10 seats per slot; selection is competitive even with small numbers → Fix: Apply for the next available slot. Strengthen your application — ensure your marksheet shows strong academic performance, and your HoD letter specifically mentions relevant coursework in access to justice, legal aid, or court administration

“Portal shows application submitted but no confirmation email” → Cause: Email may go to spam, or registered email had a typo → Fix: Check spam folder first. Log back into dashboard.doj.gov.in/internship/ — if your application appears in the dashboard, it was submitted successfully. Screenshot your submitted application as proof

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Before You Apply — 10-Point Checklist

☑ Confirm your year of study is eligible — 2nd year 3-yr LLB, or 3rd/4th year 5-yr integrated LLB ☑ Confirm you have NOT previously interned with the Department of Justice — previous interns are ineligible ☑ Request your NOC from your institution at least 3 weeks before the slot deadline — this is your longest lead-time item ☑ Request your HoD/Principal recommendation letter at the same time as the NOC — same 15-day processing time ☑ Compress all documents to under 100 KB each before opening the portal — test every file ☑ Have your bank account details (account number + IFSC) ready before starting the form ☑ Choose only one slot per application — select the slot you can commit to fully, 4 weeks in-person in Delhi ☑ Do not apply if you cannot maintain 90% attendance — the certificate and stipend require satisfactory completion ☑ Submit at least 3 days before the slot deadline — portal traffic spikes near cutoffs ☑ Bookmark dashboard.doj.gov.in/internship/ — this is the only valid portal; no email or postal applications accepted

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the stipend for the DoJ LLB Internship Programme in 2026?

<cite index=”172-1″>Interns will receive an honorarium of ₹5,000 upon successful completion of the internship.</cite> This is paid after the internship ends, not monthly during the internship. Plan your finances for the full month in Delhi before the stipend arrives post-completion.

How many students are selected per internship slot?

<cite index=”172-1″>A maximum of 10 interns will be selected for each monthly slot, based on the Department’s requirements.</cite> This makes each slot genuinely competitive despite the programme not being widely advertised. A strong academic record and a clearly written application significantly improve your chances.

Can students who previously interned with DoJ apply again?

No. <cite index=”172-1″>Students who have already completed an internship with the Department of Justice in previous years are not eligible for the current year’s programme.</cite> If you interned with DoJ in any previous batch or year, you must apply to other programmes — Law Commission of India or Department of Legal Affairs.

What is the maximum file size for document uploads on the portal?

<cite index=”172-1″>Files should not exceed 100 KB.</cite> This applies to every document uploaded — Aadhaar, photograph, marksheet, NOC, HoD letter, and any other supporting document. Compress all files before starting the application session. The portal does not allow re-upload after submission if a file was too large.

Where is the internship located? Is remote work available?

The internship is fully in-person and full-time at the Department of Justice, Government of India offices in New Delhi. <cite index=”172-1″>This is a full-time internship that requires physical attendance.</cite> No remote or hybrid option is available. Accommodation and travel are the intern’s own responsibility — the Department does not provide TA/DA.

What areas does the DoJ internship cover?

<cite index=”172-1″>The programme aims to acquaint students with the functioning of the Department of Justice and allow them to gain knowledge in various specialised areas such as Access to Justice, e-Courts services, Fast Track Special Courts, and more.</cite> Your specific assignment depends on the Division you are placed in and the supervising officer’s current workload.

Is the DoJ internship the same as the Department of Legal Affairs internship?

No — these are two separate programmes under the same Ministry. The Department of Justice handles justice delivery, legal aid, and court infrastructure. The Department of Legal Affairs handles government legal advisory, court proceedings, and legal opinions for the Government of India. Different departments, different application portals, different work. Check both to see which fits your interests better.

What is the application deadline for the 2026 summer slots?

Three summer slots are open in 2026. The deadlines are: 5 June 2026 for the June slot (10 June – 9 July); 5 July 2026 for the July slot (10 July – 9 August); and 5 August 2026 for the August slot (12 August – 11 September). Apply well before each deadline — the portal is the only channel, and last-minute submissions risk technical issues.

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Contact and Official Links

Online Application Portal: dashboard.doj.gov.in/internship/ Internship Guidelines PDF: dashboard.doj.gov.in/internship/assets/docs/internship.pdf Department of Justice Official Website: doj.gov.in Ministry of Law and Justice: legalaffairs.gov.in

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Official Links Summary

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Final Thought

The Department of Justice LLB Internship is one of the most undersubscribed high-value government internships available to Indian law students. Ten seats per month. Ministry of Law and Justice certificate. Direct mentorship from Joint Secretary or Deputy Secretary level officers. Real policy work.

The barrier is not competition — it is information. Most eligible students don’t know the programme exists, and the students who find it often miss the June slot because they didn’t account for the NOC timing.

If you are a 2nd year 3-year LLB student or a 3rd/4th year 5-year LLB student reading this in May or June 2026: start your NOC process today. The July slot deadline is 5 July. That is enough time.

Official application portal: dashboard.doj.gov.in/internship/

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