The Central government has conveyed this in the Parliament that it has no plan to introduce a regulatory framework mandating a minimum stipend for law interns.
However, Union Minister of State for Law & Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal stated that the Bar Council of India (BCI) is drafting a Model Code of Legal Internships.The same was revealed in a response to a Parliamentary question posed by Praveen Khandelwal asking whether there was a framework standardising stipend, fair selection, internship conditions and grievance redressal for law students who intern with advocates, law firms and corporate legal departments.
The Law Ministry stated that the BCI's Model Code would aim to ensure "fairness, transparency, and accountability in the structure and administration of internships offered by legal practitioners, firms, and institutions."Last year, the BCI issued guidelines recommending a minimum stipend for junior advocates assisting senior advocates, law firms and independent practitioners.
For junior lawyers in urban areas, the recommended minimum stipend was Rs 20,000 per month. In rural areas, the recommended amount is Rs 15,000 per month, to be provided for a minimum period of three years from the date of the junior advocate’s engagement.However, the minimum stipend is not mandatory.
Pertinently, the stipend for law interns in India varies significantly from place to place, ranging from zero (unpaid internships) at some work places to Rs. 10,000 per month or more, with some firms offering a one-time stipend or a stipend contingent on research publication. Factors like the organization, location, and duration of the internship, as well as the intern's experience and performance, influence the stipend amount.
Meanwhile ,the BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal had asked this question as to whether the Government proposes to introduce a regulatory frameworkmandating a minimum stipend or honorarium for law students interning with advocates, law firms, and corporate legal departments. In his written query he also sought to know whether the Government has held consultations with the Bar Council of India, Law Firms, and Legal Education Bodies regarding standardising internship conditions and preventing exploitation of interns.
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