Judicial Internship Experience @ Hon’ble Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, SC

Name

Adyasha Priyadarshini

Name of the College

Xavier Law School, XIM University, Xavier City, Plot No. 12(A), Nijigada, Kurki, Harirajpur, Bhubaneswar, Odisha – 752050, India.

Name of the Organization

Judicial Internship under Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, Judge, Supreme Court of India, Supreme Court of India, Tilak Marg, New Delhi – 110001, India.

Duration of Internship

April 1, 2026 – April 30, 2026

How did you apply?

I submitted my application for the internship by sending my cover letter, writing sample, and CV to the official email address of His Lordship’s office.

First-Day Formalities, Infrastructure, and First Impression

Forenoon Session: Court Attendance

On the commencement of the internship, the intern cohort was instructed to observe the proceedings of the Supreme Court of India starting at 10:30 AM. I reported duly to the designated courtroom, where proceedings were presided over by a Division Bench comprising the Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and the Hon’ble Mrs. Justice B.V. Nagarathna. The court proceedings spanned from 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM and included a recess between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM. Thereafter, the proceedings concluded with the rising of the Bench.

Afternoon Session: Office Orientation and Briefing

Following the adjournment of court proceedings, I reported to His Lordship’s residential office for the administrative and introductory segment of the day, which included the following:

• Introductory Session: A comprehensive introduction with the respective Law Clerks-cum-Research Associates (LRs) designated to the office, followed by an introductory meeting with His Lordship in his esteemed chamber, wherein I had the privilege to interact with His Lordship.
• Orientation: A detailed briefing session outlining the operational protocols of the office. The orientation covered areas including:
  • Standard formats and methodologies for preparing case briefs.
  • Strategic approaches to systematically analyzing the case files.
  • Legal research methodology and utilizing digital resources effectively for citations and case laws.
  • Office decorum, professional etiquette, and strict adherence to prescribed timelines.
  • Individual roles and responsibilities expected throughout the internship tenure. (The office operated for all 7 days in a week, including Sundays. Formal leaves and days off were subject to the discretion of LRs.)

To assess understanding and apply the briefing practically, each intern was assigned 2–3 sample case files. I accordingly prepared formal case briefs in accordance with the prescribed format and submitted them to the law clerks for review.

The day concluded upon the successful submission of the assigned tasks, marking a productive commencement to the internship.

Main Tasks

As a judicial intern, the primary role is to serve as an analytical and research backbone for the esteemed office, working under the direct supervision of the Law Clerks-cum-Research Associates (LRs), wherein the submissions of the work assigned to each intern undergo thorough correction and necessary modifications.

The most important aspect of the same is that the case file briefs are prepared for the meaningful assistance of His Lordship; therefore, the three things that are pivotal in nature are efficiency, accuracy, and coherence.

Adherence to deadlines is also significant. The main tasks include:

1. Preparation of Case Briefs

With hundreds of matters listed every week—especially on “Miscellaneous Days” (Mondays and Fridays), when new Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) are heard—the Bench relies heavily on pre-vetted summaries to understand the core of a dispute quickly.

• Drafting Synopsis: Condensing voluminous case files into a concise 2–3-page summary in the prescribed format. (There are separate formats for separate matters, for example, Miscellaneous Applications, Transfer Petitions, Bail Matters, SLP Civil and Criminal, Contempt Petitions, etc.)

2. Legal Research and Precision Footnoting

When a complex point of law arises during oral arguments, interns are tasked with carrying out deep-dive legal research to support the chamber.

• Finding Precedents: Tracking down landmark judgments of the Supreme Court, High Courts, or persuasive foreign jurisprudence on novel legal questions.
• Statutory Interpretation: Analyzing legislative intent by looking into parliamentary debates, Law Commission reports, and changing amendments.
• Speech and Article Research: Assisting the LRs in gathering data, literature, and legal histories for upcoming seminars, keynotes, or academic articles they are authoring.

3. Courtroom Observation and Note-Taking

Sitting in the courtroom from 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM is not passive; it is an active extension of chamber work.

• Tracking Oral Arguments: Taking meticulous notes of the real-time exchanges between the Bench and the Bar and updating the orally pronounced judgments or orders in the Excel sheets for future reference.
• Spot Research: In the event of a specific case citation being raised mid-hearing, the Law Clerks might coordinate with the intern to quickly look it up in digital databases like SCC Online or Manupatra.

4. The Golden Rule of Internship

Confidentiality is absolute. As an intern, you are privy to unreleased drafts, internal judicial observations, and sensitive legal strategies. Maintaining absolute discretion and professional etiquette is paramount to the integrity of the internship.

Work Environment

• The work culture within His Lordship’s residential office was exceptionally conducive to professional development. The Law Clerks-cum-Research Associates (LRs) maintained an approachable and supportive demeanour, offering detailed guidance whenever conceptual or procedural ambiguities arose.
• The feedback mechanism was notably structured and constructive.
• The LRs employed a precise and objective approach to reviewing submitted assignments, ensuring that errors were not merely highlighted but explained in a manner that facilitated legal growth and skill refinement.
• Exceptional and accurate work was consistently recognized and appreciated, fostering a performance-driven environment.
• Furthermore, any corrective criticism or admonition received was entirely professional, purposeful, and directed towards elevating our standard of work and understanding of judicial processes.
• Tasks were systematically and equitably distributed among co-interns, encouraging a healthy, competitive spirit that optimized the collective turnaround time for file completion. I, at times, successfully drafted six to seven comprehensive case briefs.
• Due to the stimulating and positive workplace environment, high-volume workloads were managed seamlessly without causing burnout or exhaustion.

Good Things about the Internship

• The internship was well-supported by robust administrative facilitation and thoughtful office hospitality, such as:
  • Court Access: The office ensured the seamless and timely issuance of Supreme Court entry passes, granting us the daily privilege of observing live courtroom proceedings.
  • Office Amenities: The provision of formal high tea breaks and refreshments greatly contributed to maintaining high energy levels during extended working hours.
  • Overall: The PS office and all the staff members of the office were highly cooperative.
• The feedback and appreciation from the LRs have been a motivating factor.
• We were given the opportunity to interact with His Lordship in his chamber and the privilege of directly receiving the internship certificates from His Lordship.

Bad Things about the Internship

None. It has been a really enriching experience.

Besides the internship, the weather and climatic conditions in Delhi, consisting of the scorching summer heat, were the only uneasy factors.

Monthly Stipend

It was an unpaid internship.

Details about the accommodation, commuting to the office

Accommodation arrangements were made by me personally. I commuted to the Supreme Court and office through public transportation and cabs.

Anything else you want to share?

Lessons Learned

• Having a reading habit is necessary, as case files are complex and voluminous in nature.
• One should not rely on AI blindly or in general when involved in research and preparing case file briefs.

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