Name
Anonymous
Name of the Organisation
Hikmat Helping Hands Foundation (HHHF), Not-for-Profit, Y-Block Mangolpuri, New Delhi, 110083.
Duration of Internship
June 2026
How did you apply?
I came across the internship opportunity through Lawctopus and applied through the application link provided in the internship advertisement.
After submitting the required details, I was selected for the June 2026 Virtual Legal Research Internship at Hikmat Helping Hands Foundation.
Following my selection, I received an offer letter and further instructions through email and WhatsApp, after which the internship commenced in virtual mode.
First-Day Formalities, Infrastructure, and First Impression
The internship commenced virtually without a formal orientation session. On the night of 2 June 2026, the organizers shared a PowerPoint presentation introducing the Hikmat Helping Hands Foundation along with a welcome message.
On 3 June 2026, interns received their first assignment, which involved designing a legal awareness poster. The internship followed a task-based approach from the outset. There was limited mentor interaction or guidance during the initial stages, and communication primarily took place through WhatsApp.
Main Tasks
According to the internship brochure, interns were expected to draft policy briefs on legal issues affecting marginalized groups, plan and execute virtual awareness campaigns, organize 2–3 outreach visits to spread awareness of fundamental rights, and undertake related assignments.
During my internship, the primary legal tasks consisted of designing a legal awareness poster and preparing a research paper on a contemporary legal issue. The research paper was assigned with limited guidance regarding expected word count, formatting, or evaluation criteria.
Subsequently, a substantial portion of the assignments centered on subscribing to the organization’s social media platforms and fundraising activities. Interns were initially expected to raise a minimum of ₹2,500 (later reduced to ₹1,500).
Those unable to meet the fundraising target were instructed to share the fundraising material with a specified number of individuals and groups as an alternative requirement for eligibility for certain internship benefits.
As a result, I found that a significant part of the internship was devoted to outreach and fundraising rather than legal research or policy drafting.
Work Environment
The internship was conducted entirely online, with communication taking place primarily through WhatsApp. While the virtual mode offered flexibility, I found the work environment to be quite demanding due to the emphasis placed on fundraising-related assignments.
Interns were expected to either achieve the prescribed fundraising target or, alternatively, circulate the fundraising material to a specified number of individuals and groups and submit screenshots as proof of completion to remain eligible for certain internship benefits.
This created considerable pressure and, in my experience, shifted the focus from legal learning towards meeting outreach requirements. Additionally, there was minimal interaction with mentors and limited feedback on the legal research work submitted.
I found the communication from the organizers to be formal and, at times, less accommodating than I had expected. Queries regarding the internship and publication process were not always addressed in a manner that encouraged open discussion, which made it difficult to seek clarification when needed.
Good Things about the Internship
The primary positive aspect of the internship was the opportunity to independently research and write on a contemporary constitutional and labour law issue.
It helped me practise legal research and writing. However, beyond the research assignment and the completion certificate, I did not personally experience any significant academic or professional value from the internship.
Bad Things about the Internship
This internship was far from what I expected from a legal research programme. The legal component was largely confined to preparing one poster and one research paper, after which the focus shifted almost entirely to fundraising and promotional activities.
Instead of receiving mentorship, feedback, or meaningful engagement with legal research, interns were expected to meet fundraising targets or circulate fundraising materials to a prescribed number of individuals and groups to remain eligible for certain internship benefits.
Monthly Stipend
It was an unpaid internship
Details about the accommodation, commuting to the office
As the internship was conducted entirely online, no accommodation or commuting was involved.
All communication and assignment submissions took place through digital platforms, primarily WhatsApp and email.
Anything else you want to share?
My biggest takeaway from this internship is that not every opportunity labelled as a “legal internship” necessarily offers meaningful legal training.
Beyond independently researching my assigned topic, much of my effort went into fundraising activities and coordinating with my personal contacts for donations.
This experience taught me to carefully assess the nature of an internship, the availability of mentorship, and the balance between legal work and other responsibilities before accepting an offer.
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