Start-ups: The magic of new beginnings

Mayank Garg, a student of UPES School of Law, is the founder of start-up JRTC Intern. He strongly believes that his idea will be a milestone in facilitating internships to law students all over the globe

An optimist sees an opportunity in every difficulty, they say, and the students of UPES continue to create solutions that benefit the society at large. Mayank Garg, a student at the School of Law, UPES, is the mind behind the successful start-up JRTC Intern. It is India’s first-ever internship governance platform for the legal sector. This platform will serve as an interface between law students seeking quality internships and top law firms looking for deserving interns. The idea promises to bring relief to thousands of law interns in the country who struggle in the absence of any organized forum or channel.

The idea germinated in a quest of helping a friend to secure an internship in 2017. The struggle then helped in identifying the big challenges concerning internships like the lack of awareness about opportunities, no proper processes to apply for internships, the lack of trust and willingness on the part of big law firms and nepotism.

It took immense hard work and toil in the form of rigorous research, numerous brainstorming sessions, hours-long interactions with the students, top law firms and mentors at the School of Law, UPES, to lay the foundation of JRTC Intern. The start-up is being patronized by nationally acclaimed law firms like Cyril Amar Chand Mangal Das, Shardul Amar Chand Mangal Das, L&L partners, Lakshmi Kumaran Sridharan and top lawyers namely advocate Kapil Sibbal, Salman Khurshid to name a few.

“We have a well-designed process to benchmark the skills and aptitude of the aspiring interns, comprising eligibility examination, the General Law Internship Test, and an interview.  This initiative will go a long way in altering the way we talk about law internships in India and help us in nurturing a better breed of lawyers, strengthening the legal system of the nation,” said Mayank Garg, founder JRTC Intern.

Talking about their strategies in reference to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on internships Mayank informed that owing to their proactive approach towards artificial intelligence and machine learning, they have all the systems in place to ensure internship opportunities continue via online mode. They are set to deliver.

He also mentioned that with joining of Mr. Parikshit Chandgothia, (alumni, School of Law UPES), a technology enthusiast, they have high aspirations for automation, improved technology interventions and collaborations with international law firms of repute in the future.

Among many accolades, the team has also received a letter of appreciation by the former president of India, Mr Pranab Mukherjee.

Mayank expressed his gratitude towards his mentors at the School of Law and the UPES Council for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (UCIE), for their constant support and incubation mentoring, instrumental for this soaring success.