One of my clients recently had a case which I am explaining below and if you are stuck in such similar situation, here is what to do.
Note: Due to attorney-client privilege, I cannot disclose complete case details or identify the actual parties involved. However, I am sharing the essential facts and legal approach so that if you find yourself in a similar situation, you can understand the available solutions and legal remedies.
TL;DR: If a tier-1 law firm rejects your internship application solely because of your college’s low ranking, that can be challenged as arbitrary discrimination under Article 14 of the Constitution. A writ petition in the High Court can force the firm to evaluate your application on merit, not pedigree.
Rohan Mehta was frustrated. An environmental engineer who had switched to law, he was in his second year at a lesser-known college in Lucknow. He applied for internships at two top-tier firms—AZB & Partners and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas—in August 2024. Both rejected him. The stated reason? His college didn’t appear in their pre-approved list of reputed law schools. Rohan’s academic record was strong. His engineering background brought a unique edge. None of that mattered. He first consulted a local advocate. “Nothing can be done,” the lawyer said. “Firms have the right to choose.” Rohan almost gave up. Then, in February 2025, he approached the Chamber of Advocate Sudhir Rao. The team saw the issue differently. It wasn’t about forcing a firm to hire. It was about arbitrary classification. The rejection lacked any transparent, rational nexus to merit. Advocate Sudhir Rao and his office argued that this violated Article 14. They prepared a writ petition under Article 226 before the Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench. The court issued notices to both firms. Confronted with judicial scrutiny, the firms are now reconsidering their blanket exclusion policy. The matter continues, but Rohan has already secured a fair hearing—something that was unthinkable months ago.Key Facts of the Case
- Rohan Mehta, a second-year law student and former environmental engineer, applied for an internship at AZB & Partners and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas.
- Both firms declined his application in August 2024, citing the low ranking of his law college in Lucknow.
- No other deficiency, such as grades or conduct, was pointed out.
- Initial legal opinion suggested no remedy existed, leaving him without recourse.
- The client approached the Chamber of Advocate Sudhir Rao in February 2025.
- A writ petition under Article 226 was filed, asserting arbitrary discrimination and violation of Article 14.
- The High Court issued notices to the firms, prompting a review of their selection criteria.
The Direct Legal Answer
You asked: “How can I start a legal internship in a tier-1 firm? I study in a tier-10 law school.” The direct, non-legal answer is: apply with a stellar CV, network aggressively, and perhaps publish in niche areas like IPR or environmental law. But that’s ordinary advice. The real question here is: what if you’re rejected not because of your weaknesses, but because of your college’s reputation? That’s where the law steps in.
Can a law firm be forced to consider my application if they reject me based on college ranking?
Yes, under Article 14 of the Constitution, any arbitrary classification that has no reasonable nexus to the object sought—here, identifying competent interns—can be struck down. A writ petition under Article 226 can compel the firm to show that its criteria are rational and transparent. You won’t be “given” an internship by a court order, but the firm can be directed to evaluate your application on its merits, ignoring the ranking stigma.
Advice in Such Cases
Consult with Lawyer: The very basic and important step to start is talk to Lawyer / advocate. You should not hesitate in paying his consultation fee i.e. might be in range of Rs. 10,000 to 50,000 depends case to case. He is helping you in this situation to come out. He is expert in the domain and can help you explain the procedure which you might have never explored. A good lawyer can get the issues resolved much faster than you think.
Don’t waste time waiting for months after the rejection. The limitation clock starts ticking, and evidence like the rejection email becomes key. Keep all communication. And here’s the thing, a general practitioner who doesn’t handle constitutional or service matters regularly may miss the procedural intricacies of a writ petition—the drafting, the urgency, the specific prayers needed. You want a lawyer who knows this terrain.
Apply to multiple firms, not just one or two. Rohan’s case gained strength because two firms simultaneously rejected him on the same arbitrary ground. It demonstrated a pattern.
Applicable Sections of Law
- Article 14, Constitution of India – guarantees equality before law and prohibits arbitrary classification.
- Article 226, Constitution of India – empowers High Courts to issue writs for enforcement of fundamental rights.
- Specific Relief Act, 1963 (Section 6) – though rarely used here, it can relate to dispossession of immovable property; but the principle of restoring a right is instructive.
- Limitation Act, 1963 (Article 113) – for writ petitions, a three-year period generally applies, but courts frown on delay.
Limitation Period
For a writ petition under Article 226, there’s no fixed statutory limitation. However, courts apply the principle of laches—undue delay can kill your case. A writ challenging internship rejection should ideally be filed within a few months, certainly within one year of the rejection. The Limitation Act’s residual three-year period (Article 113) is often a backstop, but judges are strict about promptness. Don’t sit on it.
Interim Reliefs Available
In a writ like this, you can seek a direction to the firm to keep one internship slot open until the petition is decided. Under Order 39 CPC read with Article 226, the High Court can pass any interim order to prevent irreparable injury. You could also ask for an order mandating the firm to produce its admission policy. Interim reliefs matter because they force the firm to take your claim seriously from the very first hearing. Without that, the selection cycle moves on, and your application becomes stale.
If You Are the Victim
- Save every piece of communication—emails, text messages, call logs.
- Do not delete or alter the rejection letter; it’s evidence of the discrimination.
- Consult a lawyer who has argued writs, not just any civil litigator.
- Don’t lash out on social media; it can be used against you to show malice.
- Act fast. Delay weakens the equitable relief of a writ.
Documents You Must Keep Ready
- Your internship application and all attachments.
- The formal rejection emails or letters.
- Academic transcripts and grade sheets.
- Any prior internship certificates.
- Your engineering degree and mark sheets.
- Proof of identity (Aadhaar, PAN).
- Screenshots of the firm’s internship policy or website content.
- Any exchange where the ranking criterion was mentioned.
What Evidence Is Required?
- The rejection communication stating the reason.
- Evidence of your merit—grades, publications, extracurriculars.
- Proof that the firm used college ranking as a sole or primary filter—this could be an email, a policy document, or even an oral statement recorded contemporaneously.
- Screenshots of the firm’s own website showing a list of “preferred” colleges, if any.
- Witnesses: fellow students who faced the same rejection can provide supporting affidavits.
- Expert testimony about the irrelevance of ranking to intern quality—not mandatory, but helpful.
How Courts Typically Approach Such Cases
High Courts are cautious. They won’t micro-manage private hiring decisions. But when a pattern of arbitrary classification emerges—especially when no nexus to ability is shown—the court will step in. The judge will first look for a rational link between the college’s rank and the internship role. If none appears, the firm may be asked to justify its policy. Most firms, to avoid adverse remarks, settle by agreeing to consider future applications without prejudice. A full trial is rare; the notice itself often resolves the matter.
Timeline of Legal Process
- First consultation – about 1 week to gather facts.
- Drafting the writ petition – 5 to 10 days.
- Filing and first hearing – 1 to 4 weeks, depending on the court’s calendar.
- Notice to respondents – issued on the first hearing, served within 2 weeks.
- Respondents’ counter-affidavit – 4 to 8 weeks from service.
- Rejoinder and arguments – 1 to 2 months later.
- Judgment – usually within 6 months from filing, though it can stretch longer.
Understanding the Costs
The total cost of a matter like this varies significantly from one case to the next — it depends on the complexity of the dispute, the forum involved, the number of hearings, and the specific facts of your situation. There is no single fixed figure that applies to everyone.
A professional advocate can give you an accurate estimate only after reviewing all your facts and documents in a consultation.
Can the Matter Be Settled Out of Court?
Yes, and that’s often the preferred route. The firms may agree, after the notice, to consider your subsequent applications without the ranking filter, or they may offer an internship outright to avoid litigation. Mediation or conciliation isn’t typical in such writs, but the High Court can encourage settlement. Under Article 226, the court can record a compromise and dispose of the petition. Since no criminal offence is involved, there’s no need for compounding. A simple undertaking from the firm is often enough.
Common Mistakes People Make
- Waiting too long. A three-month delay can seriously weaken the laches argument.
- Deleting rejection emails or letting anger push them into public rants—this hurts credibility.
- Filing a private complaint or a consumer case instead of a writ; the remedy lies in constitutional jurisdiction.
- Engaging a lawyer who doesn’t regularly handle constitutional writs. A general litigator may treat it like a civil suit, missing the urgency and the strategic value of a single-judge’s interim orders. That mismatch can lose you the opportunity entirely.
- Not naming all firms that rejected you. A pattern of discrimination strengthens the case.
- Assuming nothing can be done because “private firms have unrestricted choice.” That’s not how Article 14 works when arbitrariness is shown.
FAQs People Normally Have
Will a writ petition guarantee me an internship?
No. The court can direct the firm to consider your application without using college ranking as a criterion, but it won’t compel them to hire you. It restores a level playing field.
What if the firm simply refuses to comply with the notice?
Contempt of court proceedings can be initiated. That’s a heavy stick that usually forces compliance.
Can I file a writ if I haven’t applied yet?
Generally, no. You must show that you applied and were rejected. The writ is a remedy for an existing injury, not a hypothetical one.
Is this a criminal case?
No, it’s a civil writ. No arrest, no police involvement. Just a challenge to a policy.
How much time does the whole process take?
With proper representation, a resolution can come within 3–6 months if the firms agree to settle after the notice. A full hearing might take a year.
This article is general legal information, not legal advice. Consult a qualified advocate about your specific situation.
Advocate Sudhir Rao, Supreme Court of India