How to Follow Up on an Internship Application

Wait about a week after applying, then send one short, polite email. If there is still no reply, send one more after another week and then move on. A follow-up shows interest and helps your application resurface; more than two shows that you cannot read the situation.

Why following up helps

Small chambers, firms and organisations often have no HR team. The email goes to a person who is also in court, in a meeting or on a deadline. Your application may be read and forgotten, or never opened. A brief follow-up costs you two minutes and brings the application back to the top of the inbox.

It does not guarantee a response. Many places simply do not reply to students, and that is a fact of the field, not a verdict on you.

A simple schedule

1. Day 0. Apply, ideally with a clear subject line and your resume as a PDF.
2. Day 7 to 10. First follow-up, by email. If the posting gave a phone number for queries, you may call once, at a sensible hour.
3. Day 17 to 20. A second and final follow-up, even shorter.
4. After that. Mark the application as closed in your tracker and apply elsewhere. If they get back to you later, treat it as a bonus.

If the posting stated a date by which they would reply, wait until that date has passed before writing. If it said “only shortlisted candidates will be contacted”, a follow-up asking about status is less useful; apply to other places and let them contact you.

What a good follow-up looks like

Keep it under 100 words. Reply to your original email so the thread is visible. Include:

• A clear subject line: “Following up: internship application, [Your Name], [Month]”.
• One line that reminds them what you applied for and when.
• One line that restates your interest and, if true, adds one new piece of relevant information, such as a paper you published.
• A closing that makes it easy: “I am happy to send any further documents.”

Sample email

Subject: Following up: internship application, Riya Sharma, November

Dear Sir/Madam,

I wrote on 3 November to apply for the litigation internship in December. I wanted to check whether you need anything further from me. I remain very interested, and I can adjust my dates if that helps.

Thank you for your time.

Regards,
Riya Sharma
[Phone number]

What not to do

• Do not write the next day. It reads as impatience.
• Do not send the same message across email, WhatsApp, LinkedIn and a phone call in one afternoon. Choose one channel, and use others only if the first stays silent.
• Do not write an angry or guilt-tripping email. “I have not heard from you and this is unprofessional” closes the door for good.
• Do not ask for feedback on a rejection as if you were owed it. You can ask, once and politely, but many will not reply.
• Do not attach new documents without saying why.

If you know someone inside

If a senior, alumnus or professor knows the person you applied to, ask them to mention your name. A short introduction from someone they trust is worth more than several follow-ups. Do not ask a contact to promise a result, only to pass on your application.

Following up after an interview

Send a thank you email within 24 hours, then wait at least a week for the decision, unless they gave a date. If you receive another offer in the meantime and need to decide, it is legitimate to write: “I have received another offer with a decision date of [date]. I remain very interested in your internship, and wanted to ask whether you might be able to tell me about the timeline.” Say this only if it is true.

If the answer is no

Reply with thanks. Keep it to two lines. People remember students who handle a rejection well, and some will write when another opening appears. If you want to understand why applications get turned down more generally, read why law internship applications get rejected.

Keep a tracker

A basic spreadsheet is enough: organisation, contact person, date applied, date of follow-up, result. Without it, students mix up places and send awkward messages. It also helps you see which approach gets replies.

Finally, remember that silence has many causes: a full roster, a partner who is travelling, an inbox that is out of control. Follow up twice, keep applying, and do not let one non-reply decide how you feel about your chances.

Following up by phone or message

Use a phone call only when the posting gives a number for queries or the person has said they prefer it. Call at a reasonable hour, introduce yourself in one sentence, say which role you applied for, and ask a single question: whether they need anything more from you. If the person is busy, thank them and end the call; do not ask to be called back. For a message on LinkedIn or WhatsApp, keep it to two lines and include your name and the role, since the recipient may not remember the email. If you have no clear answer after both attempts, the most useful thing you can do is put your effort into the next application. Many students who got a place did so on the fourth or fifth try, not the first.

A Hindi or regional language note

If you are writing to a local advocate who works mostly in Hindi, a short email in simple Hindi or a polite message in the language they use is fine. Keep the same structure: who you are, what you applied for, and one clear request. Match the formality of their own message.