INTRODUCTION
The post-pandemic ecosystems in education as well as workplaces have undergone massive exposure to the potential of cyberspace. In fact, many opportunities offered nowadays provide an option to work from home and many internships that were previously held offline have become virtual after the Covid-19 pandemic. The legal profession is no exception.
A virtual internship, also known as a remote internship takes place entirely online, allowing one to complete his or her work assignments from the comfort of their own chosen location. It allows people to gain hands-on experience while working comfortably from their own home or any other place of residence.[1] It also gives one a brilliant way to get a glimpse inside the organization or role one is uncertain about. Virtual interns work and communicate with their seniors and coworkers via advanced technology features such as email, video chat, and other online work tools.
In this article, Team YLCC aims at decoding some of the pros and cons that virtual internships have brought forth into the professional sphere. Read on!
PROS
- Real-Work Experience At Your Chosen Location
As Virtual internships take place through the internet, any student from anywhere in the world can engage in these internships provided they comply with the eligibility criteria. As long as one possesses a reliable Internet connection, the required hours, and complete all tasks on time, one is fine to proceed with the virtual internship.
- Saves Money And Time
When you choose an offline internship in a city away from your home, you have to find adequate accommodation for which you pay a significant sum of money, especially if it is in a big city. At the same time, there are additional costs such as travel, food and other personal expenses. However, this is not the case with virtual internships because one is not required to visit a certain location to do the task. In other words, virtual internships go a long way in saving time and money.
- More Options To Choose From
Virtual internships open up the opportunity to explore several career choices in the field of Law. One can explore by interning in different professional fields of Law such as Ed-Tech, Advocates, Law Firms, Research and Policy, Research Assistantship, and similar other opportunities. Through virtual internships, one can intern not only in India but also abroad. Virtual internships are a brilliant way to get knowledge of the field you would indulge in. This has been especially advantageous for law students in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities that do not have access to premier law firms and where one would have to necessarily relocate in search of good internships.
Expand The Connection Network
Among other things, virtual internships offer the opportunity to expand one’s connections sitting at a location of convenience. Networking is the most essential skill which is required in the field of law, it helps you gain knowledge, referrals, jobs, internships, and similar other opportunities. A good connection at times opens the door to more opportunities going forward.
Build Confidence
Virtual internships can assist you in shaping your thinking and increase your creativity. If you have not done any internship before, a virtual internship can help you to build confidence, and improve your communication as well as presentation skills. You will be able to gather the attention of meeting attendees easily.
Adds Value To Your Resume
You can improve your resume, gain new skills, and broaden your portfolio by doing virtual internships from any part of the world in the field of law. You will be able to gain new skills that you would not be able to learn in an offline internship.
Gives Independence And Flexibility
Students gain independence through virtual internships as it gives them the ability to work from home. You are not required to work for the standard set hours of the workplace. Generally, the timing is flexible. You will be able to learn to work independently with your senior’s assistance. You can work whenever it suits you, adhering to all of your deadlines, and maximizing your productivity.
CONS
No In-Person Experience And Limited Networking
One of the primary disadvantages of a virtual internship is that it allows for less human engagement. Personal interaction allows people to connect with one another and expand the network. In offline internships, you develop several new connections, but a Virtual Internship eliminates the opportunity to interact with coworkers and socialize at work as you will be limited to only a restricted number of people.
Lack Of Office Culture Exposure
Offline internships provide you with a different culture that you had never experienced before, it provides you with a new learning environment, access to new documents, several senior co-workers, and the time period of working hours. But in virtual internships, you only get the opportunity to interact with a limited number of people and access to limited resources.
Possibility Of A Greater Workload
In a virtual internship, the line demarcating fixed working hours often gets blurred. Interns are sometimes forced to shoulder the brunt of the workload. At times you might also be asked to do an important task at inconvenient hours.
Glitches In Technology And Mandatory Access To Gadgets
As a virtual internship is dependent entirely on technical devices, there might be some technical glitches at times which might hinder your access to meetings and other aspects during the internship.
May Experience Distractions
At times there are no set working hours and you are not required to attend to the workplace every day so there is a possibility that one may be less enthusiastic about the internship with each passing day. In these kinds of situations, distractions are fairly common.
Miscommunication
There are chances of miscommunications due to the process of communicate with someone, typological errors, or not understanding the task clearly. Since there is no actual virtual interactions, interns may often find it difficult to get the attention of their senior or make an actual impression on the workplace. In addition, misinterpretations are common in virtual internships which might hinder your performance.
Lack Of Access To In-Office Study Materials
Due to the remoteness of the location, certain materials such as case files, bare acts, books for research, legal documents, and similar other things will not be available to the intern which leads to a disadvantage in a virtual law internship.
CONCLUSION
While choosing and applying for a virtual internship one needs to understand the work requirements, the timing involved, eligibility criteria, and the learning opportunities it offers. Each internship has its own merits and demerits. There are several virtual internships on offer nowadays but it is important to choose the right one wisely which is inconsistent with one’s goals. Choosing the right field might take time but till then one may choose to explore different fields by doing a virtual law internship.
YLCC would like to thank Anam Khan for her valuable contribution in this article.
[1]VIRTUAL INTERNSHIPS, https://www.virtualinternships.com/what-is-a-virtual-internship/ (last visited June 12, 2022).
