Internship Experience @ Pallav Saxena and Associates, New Delhi

Name

Apoorv Goswami

Name of the College

Symbiosis Law School, Noida

Name of the Organisation

Pallav Saxena and Associates, New Delhi

Duration of Internship

November 22, 2025 – December 27, 2025

How did you apply?

After being referred by someone, I sent my CV and cover letter.

First-day Formalities, Infrastructure, First Impression

On the first day, I was assigned the task of reading the Bare Acts of RDB and SARFAESI to understand how banking litigation proceeds and what powers the legislature has conferred on financial institutions and borrowers.

After reading the Bare Acts, my test was taken, and subsequently, I was assigned a legal research proposition on what happens when two coordinate bench decisions conflict with each other. I was also told to monitor video conferencing every day from 10 a.m. and read as many files as I could.

Main Tasks

I observed video conferences of different DRTs/DRATs and the Delhi High Court every day, read case files, and prepared case briefs by making a list of dates and events. I was also tasked with legal research and drafting.

Some of the legal propositions I was given to find favourable judgments on were: “an interim stay granted till the next date of hearing cannot be vacated if the concerned judge is on leave on the next date of hearing,” and what happens when two coordinate judge bench decisions contradict each other.

I drafted interim applications and affidavits of assets under Form 16A, Appendix E, under Order XXI Rule 41(2) of the Code of Civil Procedure, as well as replies such as a reply under Section 19(25) read with Section 22 of the Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, 1993, seeking directions to the Commissioner of the Income Tax Department and the concerned officer of NSDL (National Securities Depository Limited).

Work Environment

The work environment was very healthy; people were helpful, supportive, and collaborative. We were provided with computers to monitor video conferences and reading materials to understand the statutes.

Good Things about the Internship

This internship was filled with lessons on the workings of the banking field, understanding the significance of division of work, discipline, networking, and using legal research tools effectively. I was regularly assigned tasks with feedback.

Everyone was supportive and assigned me work that helped me build practical skills, such as understanding and drafting interim applications and affidavits, and finding favourable judgments.

My senior emphasized reading laws, such as the General Clauses Act, which is essential for interpreting all Central Acts, rules, and regulations, rather than assigning me just clerical work, which is significant for succeeding in litigation.

Another positive aspect is that it is located in Jangpura, which is like a hub of lawyers and judges. When you come to the office, you get to see the houses of senior advocates and retired judges.

Bad Things about the Internship

I didn’t find any negative aspects of the internship. The pollution in Delhi is one thing that could have been better, as it drastically affects a person’s health.

Monthly Stipend

No Stipend

Details about the Accommodation, Commuting to the Office

I commuted by the Delhi Metro from my home to Jangpura Metro Station and then took an auto to the office, which is five minutes away from the station. After 6:30 PM, autos are less readily available, but the distance from the office to the metro station is walkable.

Anything else you want to share?

Importance of Courtroom Exposure:

I often visited the Delhi High Court to see my senior argue after reading the respective case file. One of the most memorable legal propositions I worked on was the wrongful classification of a willful defaulter by the bank.

It is a great place to build networks and observe how the country’s famous lawyers argue. I saw arguments by Mr J Sai Deepak, Mr Gaurav Bhatia, and other prominent lawyers, and experienced their art of arguing.

I also visited the DRT in Delhi and saw the registry. We visited to register a case and flagged all the appendices in the hard copy to make navigation easier for the parties and the judge.

AI is No Longer Secondary:

In this competitive ethos, you can’t afford to ignore the power of tools that can save not minutes but hours; however, you have to make sure you are not using the tool with blind faith.

There were times when I had to find various judgments in less time and ensure they were correct, as they would be presented not in moot courts but in real judicial institutions; one wrong judgment can jeopardize the case even if others are correctly placed.

For example, after finding judgments with that tool, I could also find relevant paragraphs and manually cross-check whether they are present, which really speeds up the process.

However, it comes with two drawbacks: first, it does not train your mind to read and understand all the minute details of the case, which is very important for long-term legal training; second, AI can hallucinate, and you have to be very vigilant, or you can end up filing cases that do not exist or are not relevant to your issue.

This is the reason I used AI only when there was insufficient time to read, but still, the cross-checking step is something that cannot be skipped.

Significance of Not Representing Just the Client but the Legal System:

I realized there are various points against both parties in a legal case, but we still represent the client to strengthen the legal system.

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