IP and Trademark Internships for Law Students in India

There are two main routes to an IP or trademark internship in India: the internship run by the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM), which accepts applications online throughout the year, and IP law firms and attorney practices that take interns directly. The government route is unpaid and the firm route varies.

The official IP office internship

A public notice dated 27 June 2025 from the CGPDTM sets out the scheme. As stated in that notice:

• Who can apply: students in undergraduate or postgraduate programmes in law, science, engineering or related fields, research scholars interested in intellectual property rights, and professionals seeking exposure to IPR frameworks.
• Online internship: 30 days, with one online session a day.
• Offline internship: 30 days for undergraduates, with short term (45 days), mid term (up to six months) and long term (up to 12 months) options. The duration depends on availability and the office’s discretion.
• Locations for offline: the IP offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Nagpur.
• Stipend: none. The notice calls the internship non-remunerative.
• Application: online through the internship page on the IP India services site, open all year. You get an application number by email.
• Documents: an updated CV, a no objection certificate from the head of your institution or nodal officer if you are a student or research scholar, and a degree certificate or marksheet.
• Certificate: issued within 10 days of successful completion.
• Queries: the notice gives internship.ipo@gov.in.

Read the current notice before you apply, because details can be revised after the date of the version we checked. An offline internship also means finding accommodation in one of those cities at your own cost.

Internships with IP firms and attorneys

Many law firms and boutique practices handle trademark prosecution, opposition, litigation and licensing. Smaller firms often take interns on a rolling basis. Pay varies, and some offer short paid programmes, though specific amounts change often and we do not state them here. The best way to find these is to search for IP firms in your city, check whether their site has a careers or internship page, and send a short email with a CV and a writing sample.

Some firms prefer students who have finished a course in IP law. If your university has an IP elective, mention your marks and any project you did.

What interns do

• Trademark searches. Checking the register for identical or similar marks before a client files.
• Preparing applications. Gathering details such as the applicant, the goods and services class, user date and the mark’s representation.
• Handling examination reports. Reading the Registrar’s objections and helping draft replies.
• Oppositions. Assisting with notices of opposition and counter statements.
• Litigation support. Researching passing off and infringement cases, and preparing notes on similarity, deceptive confusion and goodwill.
• Docketing and renewals. Tracking deadlines for oppositions, hearings and renewals.

Learn these before you start

1. The Trade Marks Act, 1999. Read the definition of a trade mark, the grounds on which registration can be refused (Section 9 absolute grounds and Section 11 relative grounds), the process for registration and the remedies for infringement and passing off. Check the sections you cite against the current bare Act.
2. The classification. Goods and services are grouped under the Nice Classification. Know how to identify the right class for a product.
3. The online system. Applications and searches are done through the Trade Marks Registry’s online portal. Spend an hour exploring the public search so you can use it when asked.
4. Basic cases. Read a few leading Indian judgments on deceptive similarity and passing off, and be ready to explain them in plain language.
5. The other IP laws. Skim the Patents Act, 1970, the Copyright Act, 1957 and the Designs Act, 2000 so you understand where a trademark ends and other protection begins.

Standing out

Write a short note on a recent trademark judgment, explaining what the court decided and why, and attach it. Interns who can write clearly are rare and valued. A tailored email beats a mass one. If you need feedback on your writing, Lexfolio’s virtual internship includes editing, and published pieces can be added to your CV.

Does it lead to a job?

An IP internship teaches useful, specific skills, but no internship guarantees a job or a pre-placement offer. Treat it as the way to find out whether you enjoy the detail-heavy nature of IP prosecution and litigation, which is often more procedural than students expect.

What we did not verify

We did not verify the current stipends of any private IP firm, and we have not listed them. Details of the government scheme are taken from the notice dated 27 June 2025, so check for any revision on the official site before you apply.