Kerala High Court internship eligibility has been narrowed. Under an amended policy notified on 17 October 2026, only students in the last two years of their law courses can intern at the High Court. The Delhi High Court had already taken a similar step in August 2026.
Kerala High Court Internship Rules: What the Amended Policy Says
Eligibility under Clause 6(a)
The Internship Policy for the High Court of Kerala-2026 (Amended) supersedes the earlier policy that took effect on 1 July 2026. Clause 6(a) makes only students in the last two years of their law courses eligible to intern.
Internships permitted at the discretion of individual judges are exempt from this restriction. See the reports in Bar and Bench and The Bar Bulletin.
Application and conduct rules
The policy also lays down the following:
- Applications go through an online module under the Public Relations Officer, and stay offline until it is ready.
- Applications must come through the principal or head of the student’s institution. Incomplete or improperly routed applications will not be considered.
- Internships under a judge need that judge’s consent, obtained through the Private Secretary.
- Interns attend a pre-induction briefing and follow the rules on conduct, dress code and confidentiality.
- Phones, cameras and recording devices are barred in courtrooms, and recording proceedings can lead to immediate termination.
- Only days of physical attendance count towards the certificate, and none is issued on premature termination.
- The Chief Justice may amend, modify or relax any provision.
The policy covers internships under the court’s judges and sections. It also covers offices such as the Advocate General, the Additional Solicitor General, the Directorate of Prosecutions, the Kerala State Legal Services Authority, the Mediation Centre and the Bar Council of Kerala.
How the Kerala High Court Internship Policy Follows Delhi
The Delhi High Court moved first. A circular dated 24 August 2026, issued on the directions of the Chief Justice, restricted entry passes and ID cards for law students interning with advocates. Passes now go only to third-year students of the 3-year LL.B. course and to fourth- and fifth-year students of the 5-year integrated course. Bar and Bench and LiveLaw reported the change, and the circular is on the Delhi High Court website.
The circular also asked the Delhi High Court Bar Association not to issue identity cards or entry passes to interns on its own.
Kerala’s approach is similar but not identical. Delhi names the exact years that qualify. Kerala uses a general rule: the last two years of the course. On a plain reading, that covers the fourth and fifth years of a 5-year course, and the second and third years of a 3-year course. Delhi, by contrast, allows only the third year of the 3-year course.
The two courts also use different tools. Delhi controls who gets an entry pass. Kerala sets eligibility for the internship itself, along with application, attendance and conduct rules.
Kerala High Court Internship vs Delhi High Court at a Glance
| Particulars | Kerala High Court | Delhi High Court |
|---|---|---|
| Instrument | Internship Policy for the High Court of Kerala-2026 (Amended) | Circular |
| Date | 17 October 2026 (notified) | 24 August 2026 |
| Eligible students | Students in the last two years of their law courses | Third-year of the 3-year LL.B.; fourth- and fifth-year of the 5-year integrated course |
| Scope | Internships under judges, sections and listed offices; judges’ discretionary internships exempt | Entry passes and ID cards for students interning with advocates |
What the Kerala High Court Internship Change Means for Law Students
Students in the early years of law school can no longer plan on a Kerala High Court internship, apart from placements that a judge allows at their discretion. Delhi’s rule leaves them in the same position.
There are other routes: chambers work that does not need court entry, legal aid clinics, NGOs and research-based internships. Our law schools coverage tracks opportunities of this kind.
Senior students should plan early. Applications must pass through the institution’s principal, and only days of physical attendance count towards the certificate. For more rulings and circulars, see our High Court updates.
Conclusion
The Kerala High Court internship policy, notified on 17 October 2026, restricts eligibility to students in the last two years of their law courses. It replaces the policy that took effect only on 1 July 2026, and it follows the Delhi High Court’s circular of 24 August 2026, which limits intern entry passes to senior-batch students. Two High Courts have now moved in the same direction within about two months.
There are still differences. Kerala keeps room for judges to take interns at their discretion, and the Chief Justice can amend, modify or relax any provision of the policy. Delhi’s circular, on the other hand, names the exact years that qualify and works through entry passes issued with the advocate’s documents.
For students, the practical steps are clear. Check whether your year of study qualifies, route any Kerala application through your institution’s principal, and keep a record of the days you attend, since only physical attendance counts towards the certificate. Students in earlier years should look at chambers, legal aid clinics, NGOs and research-based internships.
Whether other High Courts adopt similar restrictions remains to be seen. We will update this article if they do.
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