Career at ELP | Economic Laws Practice India 2026 | Internship, Salary & How to Join
Economic Laws Practice | known universally in Indian legal circles as ELP | is one of India's most distinctive and respected full-service law firms. Established in 2001 with a deliberate vision to build a uniquely multi-disciplinary legal advisory practice, ELP today stands as the country's go-to firm for tax, competition law, international trade, and regulatory work. For law students and young lawyers evaluating their career options, ELP represents an exceptionally high-quality destination | combining Tier 1 global rankings, a rare multi-professional team culture, and a breadth of practice areas that few Indian law firms can match. This is the complete, up-to-date guide to building a career at ELP in 2026.
Economic Laws Practice (ELP) is a Tier 1 full-service Indian law firm with 250+ professionals across 8 offices, best known for its market-leading Tax, Competition Law, and International Trade practices. For internships, email internships@elplaw.in with your CV and preferred location/practice area | apply 5–6 months in advance. Associate salaries start at approximately ₹11.5 LPA. ELP's key differentiator is its multi-disciplinary team model (lawyers + CAs + economists) and its unique litigation culture where associates actively appear in court. ELP holds consistent Chambers Global and Legal 500 Tier 1 rankings and is a member of the Taxand global network.
🏛1. About ELP | What Makes Economic Laws Practice Unique
Understanding what makes ELP different from other Indian law firms is essential before deciding whether ELP is the right career destination for you. ELP is not simply another full-service law firm | it was built around a deliberate, unconventional philosophy that continues to define its practice two decades after its founding.
Economic Laws Practice was established in 2001 by eminent lawyers from diverse professional backgrounds, with a founding vision that was distinctive in the Indian legal market at the time: to bring together lawyers, chartered accountants, cost accountants, company secretaries, and economists as equal professionals within a single integrated firm. This multi-disciplinary model was | and remains | a genuine differentiator. Most Indian law firms are pure lawyer organisations; ELP's team of chartered accountants and economists working alongside lawyers on tax, trade, and competition matters creates a cross-practice synergy that clients cannot easily replicate elsewhere.
Over the two decades since its founding, ELP has been involved in some of India's most complex and high-impact legal matters. The firm advises an extensive client base spanning Fortune 500 multinational corporations, domestic blue-chip conglomerates, public sector undertakings, startups, and government bodies. Among ELP's clients is the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) itself | a testament to the firm's regulatory credibility and the depth of its expertise in financial and capital markets law.
ELP's Defining Characteristics
- ①Multi-Disciplinary Team: ELP uniquely employs lawyers, chartered accountants, cost accountants, company secretaries, and economists as full professionals | not just support staff. This integrated advisory model is particularly powerful for tax, competition, and international trade mandates where legal, financial, and economic analysis are inseparable.
- ②Taxand Global Membership: ELP is India's representative in Taxand | the world's largest independent tax organisation, with member firms in 50+ countries. This global network gives ELP (and its lawyers) international reach and cross-border tax advisory capability unmatched by most Indian law firms.
- ③Litigation Culture: Unlike most corporate law firms in India where litigation associates rarely appear in court themselves, ELP is one of the few full-service firms where associates on the Litigation team actively appear before courts, tribunals, and regulatory authorities. This creates a qualitatively richer training experience for litigation-focused candidates.
- ④Policy & Regulatory Engagement: ELP actively collaborates with governments, regulators, legislators, and industry associations to shape legal and policy frameworks | not merely advising clients on existing law but participating in its development. This policy engagement gives ELP lawyers early exposure to law-making processes.
- ⑤Regulatory Depth: Given ELP's deep expertise in regulatory matters across sectors | customs, competition, securities, data privacy, defence, and IBC | the firm can provide integrated solutions that span multiple overlapping legal areas in a way that narrowly specialised firms cannot.
- ⑥GIFT City Presence: ELP's office at Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) positions the firm at the forefront of India's emerging International Financial Services Centre | a growing hub for cross-border financial transactions, international arbitration, and investment fund work.
Why ELP's rankings matter for your career: ELP holds consistent Tier 1 rankings from Chambers Global, Legal 500, IFLR 1000, and AsiaLaw Profiles | placing it alongside India's most prestigious legal institutions. For a young lawyer, an ELP credential on your CV is a nationally and internationally recognised signal of quality. ELP's name opens doors to in-house roles, international opportunities, and senior positions at other leading firms in a way that mid-tier law firm experience does not.
⚖️2. ELP Practice Areas | All 14+ Covered
ELP's breadth of practice areas is one of its most compelling advantages for career aspirants. Whether your interest lies in tax, competition, corporate transactions, or dispute resolution, ELP offers a high-quality home | and often a Tier 1 home | for your specialisation.
Which ELP practice areas are best for career growth in 2026? ELP's Tax practice is its crown jewel and the most competitive in terms of both quality of work and internal career trajectory | but also the most selective. Competition Law and International Trade are ELP's other standout niches and genuinely market-leading at the national level. For 2026 aspirants, Data Privacy (DPDP Act 2023 driving intense demand) and Export Control & Sanctions (rising national security regulatory activity) are the two fastest-growing and least-competitive entry points for a high-quality ELP career.
📍3. ELP Offices Across India | Where to Apply
ELP operates from 8 offices strategically located across India's major legal, commercial, and regulatory centres. Your choice of internship and career location matters significantly | different offices have different practice area strengths.
Which office should you target? Match your office preference to your practice area interest. Tax and Capital Markets → Mumbai. Competition Law and Policy → Delhi. International Trade → Delhi or Mumbai. Tech and PE/VC → Bengaluru. Gujarat-based students at GNLU → Ahmedabad or GIFT City, which are particularly accessible for Gujarat domicile candidates and offer excellent quality of work for ELP's regional client base. The GIFT City office is an emerging opportunity | IFSC regulation and cross-border work experience here is a rare and differentiating credential.
📈4. Career Path at ELP | From Intern to Partner
ELP's career structure follows the established Indian law firm model but with a distinctive feature: the Early Career Programme, which is ELP's structured on-ramp for all newly qualified professionals joining the firm. Understanding the full trajectory helps you set realistic expectations and build the right foundations at each stage.
📩5. ELP Internship | Complete Step-by-Step Guide
ELP's internship programme is one of the most sought-after among Indian law students | and also one of the most competitive. Here is the complete, authoritative guide to applying successfully.
Eligibility Criteria
| Programme Type | Eligible Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Year Integrated LLB (BA LLB / BBA LLB) | 3rd, 4th, or 5th Year | Earlier year applicants may also apply with strong academic performance |
| 3-Year LLB | 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Year | All three years eligible |
| LLM Students | 1st or 2nd Year LLM | ELP explicitly welcomes LLM applications across practice areas |
| CA / CMA / CS Students | Final or Post-Qualification | ELP's multi-disciplinary model | non-law professionals are eligible for relevant practice areas (Tax, Competition) |
Step-by-Step Application Process
Subject: [Month Year] | [City] | [Year of Qualifying] | [Practice Area]
Example: October 2026 | Mumbai | 2027 | Tax
Example: March 2027 | Ahmedabad | 2028 | International Trade & Customs
Example: January 2027 | New Delhi | 2027 | Competition Law
Common ELP internship application mistakes to avoid: Using a generic cover email that doesn't mention ELP's specific practice areas. Applying to multiple offices simultaneously with the same email (ELP offices share candidate records). Applying only 4–6 weeks before your target month (too late for competitive slots). Listing practice area preferences that contradict your academic record or prior internships. Submitting a CV with formatting inconsistencies or typos | ELP is a precision-oriented firm and a careless CV signals poor drafting culture.
💰6. ELP Salary & Compensation 2026
ELP's compensation is competitive and positioned appropriately for a Tier 1 full-service firm that is not in the "Big 6" tier of Indian law firms (CAM, SAM, AZB, Khaitan, JSA, Trilegal) but is consistently ranked above most other full-service firms.
| Level | Experience | Approximate Salary (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intern (Law Student) | 3rd–5th yr LLB | ₹10,000–15,000/month | Varies by office; Ahmedabad ~₹12,500/month reported |
| Entry Associate (ECP) | 0–1 yr PQE | ~₹11.5 LPA | Early Career Programme; structured training and evaluation |
| Associate | 1–4 yr PQE | ₹11.5–18 LPA | Annual increments; performance-linked |
| Senior Associate | 4–8 yr PQE | ₹20–35 LPA | Leadership + specialisation premium; significant range |
| Counsel / Of Counsel | 8–12 yr PQE | ₹35–60 LPA | Practice area expertise premium; business development component |
| Partner | 12+ yr PQE | ₹80L–₹3Cr+ | Variable; includes profit share, client portfolio-linked earnings |
ELP vs Big 6 Indian Law Firms on Compensation: ELP's entry-level compensation (~₹11.5 LPA) is lower than the Big 6 NLU campus packages (~₹18–22.5 LPA). However, this comparison requires context. ELP typically does not participate in standardised NLU campus drives the way Big 6 firms do | it recruits more through internship conversion and targeted lateral hiring. The quality of legal work, the breadth of practice exposure, the multi-disciplinary learning environment, and the Tier 1 global ranking make ELP an exceptionally attractive career investment whose long-term trajectory in terms of salary, reputation, and career options competes strongly with many Big 6 firms.
ELP also provides a range of non-salary benefits including professional development funding (conferences, publications, certifications), a structured mentoring programme, and | for relevant practice areas | global exposure through the Taxand network's international conferences and cross-border collaboration. For Tax specialists in particular, access to Taxand's global network of member firms creates international secondment and collaboration opportunities that are a genuine career differentiator.
🎯7. Who Fits at ELP | The Ideal ELP Candidate Profile
ELP is not the right fit for every law student | and understanding this honestly is the foundation of a successful application. The candidates who thrive at ELP share a specific constellation of interests, skills, and professional values.
ELP is an Excellent Fit if You…
- ✓Have a genuine intellectual interest in economic law, taxation, competition policy, or international trade | not just as exam topics but as substantive disciplines. ELP's work requires lawyers who care about the intersection of law and economics.
- ✓Value multi-disciplinary thinking and are comfortable | or curious | working alongside chartered accountants and economists on complex financial and regulatory problems.
- ✓Want to work at a firm where regulatory engagement and policy work are part of the professional culture | not just private client advisory.
- ✓Are interested in litigation and court appearances in a corporate law firm setting | ELP's Litigation team offers this in a way most corporate firms do not.
- ✓Want Tier 1 global rankings and a brand that is recognised internationally | particularly in tax and competition law circles worldwide via Chambers, Legal 500, and Taxand.
- ✓Have strong academic performance, analytical writing skills, and genuine curiosity about the commercial and economic dimensions of legal work.
- ✓Are building a career in Tax, Competition Law, International Trade, or Data Privacy | ELP's strongest and most distinctive practices.
ELP May Not Be the Best Fit if You…
- ✗Are primarily interested in large M&A and Private Equity transactional work | firms like CAM, AZB, Khaitan, SAM, and JSA have deeper deal teams and higher deal volumes for this.
- ✗Are seeking the highest possible entry-level law firm salary | Big 6 NLU campus packages are higher than ELP's entry point.
- ✗Want to work in a very large team with a high volume of routine transactional work | ELP's culture is quality-over-volume and its teams are leaner.
The Economics Advantage: One of ELP's most underappreciated differentiators for career candidates is that students with economics, finance, or commerce backgrounds alongside their law degree have an outsized advantage at ELP compared to most other law firms. A BBA LLB graduate from GNLU or a BCom LLB graduate with strong economics coursework is particularly well-positioned to contribute to ELP's integrated advisory model. ELP genuinely values this background | not just as a box to tick but as a core competency for the work the firm does.
🗺️8. Strategy: How to Get Hired at ELP in 2026
Getting into ELP | as an intern or as an Associate | is competitive but not opaque. The following strategy is grounded in what ELP's hiring signals actually reward.
Build Subject Matter Depth in ELP's Core Practices
The single most effective investment you can make in your ELP career is genuine expertise in one of ELP's core practice areas | Tax, Competition Law, or International Trade. This means more than studying them in class: read GST Council notifications, follow CCI orders, track Anti-Dumping Authority (DGTR) investigations, and engage with India's trade policy positions at the WTO. Students who demonstrate this depth of engagement | through papers, moots, or substantive internship experience | are the ones who stand out in ELP's review process.
Do a Relevant Practice Internship Before Applying to ELP
One of the most reliable ways to improve your ELP shortlisting odds is to do at least one internship at a firm that specifically practises in your target ELP area. A prior internship in a tax boutique, a competition law advisory firm, or an international trade practice signals that you have been tested in | and enjoyed | the relevant work. It also gives you specific matter experience and vocabulary that makes your ELP application immediately more credible.
Publish in Your Area of Interest
ELP is a thought-leadership firm | its professionals publish extensively on tax, competition, trade, and data privacy developments. Law students who write and publish well-researched pieces in these areas demonstrate the same intellectual curiosity and analytical rigour that ELP values internally. Student publication on an NLU journal, a legal blog, or a practitioner publication specifically covering tax, competition, or trade matters is a genuinely differentiating credential for ELP applications at both internship and associate level.
Leverage Your NLU Network
ELP has strong connections with the NLU system and recruits consistently from NLSIU, NLU Delhi, NALSAR, GNLU, NUJS, and other leading law schools. Your law school alumni network | both current students who have interned at ELP and senior alumni now working there | is a valuable intelligence resource and potentially a referral channel. Reach out to ELP alumni from your institution on LinkedIn for informational conversations. A genuine professional conversation with an ELP alumni | not a cold request for a referral | can provide insight into what the firm is currently looking for and occasionally leads to a direct connection to the relevant recruiting contact.
Target the ECP Specifically
ELP's Early Career Programme is the structured front door for newly qualified professionals joining the firm. Unlike ad hoc lateral hiring, the ECP has a defined process, timeline, and evaluation framework. Monitor ELP's official website and LinkedIn page for ECP announcement windows. Ensure your profile is complete and updated on professional platforms so that ELP's team can find you. Students who have done ELP internships have a significant advantage in ECP selection | the firm consistently prefers candidates it has already evaluated in person.
The GIFT City opportunity: ELP's GIFT City office is less competitive than Mumbai or Delhi for internship applications | but the quality of work (IFSC regulation, cross-border financial transactions, international arbitration) is genuinely high-calibre. For students at GNLU Gandhinagar and other Gujarat-based law schools, the GIFT City office is a strategically smart target: geographic advantage, less competition, Tier 1 firm name, and exposure to an emerging and fast-growing practice area. Few competitors for ELP internships specifically target GIFT City | which means your application stands out more.
⚖️9. ELP vs Other Indian Law Firms | Where It Sits
For a law student evaluating career options, understanding how ELP fits within the broader Indian law firm landscape is essential context for making an informed choice.
| Criterion | ELP | Big 6 (CAM/AZB/Khaitan/SAM/JSA/Trilegal) |
|---|---|---|
| Global Tier 1 Rankings | ✓ (Tax, Competition, Trade) | ✓ (Multiple practices) |
| Entry Salary | ~₹11.5 LPA | ₹18–22.5 LPA (NLU campus) |
| Multi-disciplinary Team | Unique | lawyers + CAs + economists | Primarily lawyers |
| Litigation Court Appearances | Associates appear in court | Mostly litigation-only firms |
| Tax Practice Depth | Market-leading; Taxand global member | Strong at most; none match ELP + Taxand |
| Competition Law Practice | Top-tier India; CCI-facing | Strong at CAM, AZB; varies |
| International Trade Practice | National leader; DGTR + WTO work | Limited depth at most Big 6 |
| M&A Transaction Volume | Moderate; Corporate practice present | Much higher deal volume |
| NLU Campus Recruitment | Limited formal campus drives | Formal NLU campus placement visits |
| Policy Engagement | Active | government, regulators, legislators | Advisory-focused; less direct policy work |
| Team Size | Leaner (~250 professionals) | Larger (500–1,200+ at largest firms) |
| GIFT City Presence | Yes | IFSC regulatory + cross-border | Partial |
The most accurate framing for ELP's market position in 2026: ELP is India's premier law firm for tax, competition law, and international trade | not a general-practice firm competing with the Big 6 on deal volume, but a deeply specialised advisory firm that leads its own category. For students whose career objectives align with these practice areas, ELP is not a "second choice to the Big 6" | it is the first choice and the best choice. For students oriented toward high-volume transactional M&A and PE work, the Big 6 remain the primary target with ELP as a complementary option for specialist secondments.
❓10. Frequently Asked Questions | Careers at ELP
What is ELP (Economic Laws Practice)? ▾
Economic Laws Practice (ELP) is a leading full-service Indian law firm established in 2001. With 250+ professionals | including lawyers, chartered accountants, cost accountants, company secretaries, and economists | across 8 offices (Mumbai, New Delhi, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, GIFT City, Noida), ELP advises clients on transactional, advisory, litigation, regulatory, trade, competition, and tax matters. ELP is ranked Tier 1 by Chambers Global, Legal 500, IFLR 1000, and AsiaLaw Profiles, and is a member of the Taxand global tax network.
How do I apply for an internship at ELP? ▾
Email your updated CV to internships@elplaw.in with the subject line: "[Month Year] | [City] | [Year of Qualifying] | [Practice Area]" | for example: "October 2026 | Mumbai | 2027 | Tax". Apply at least 5–6 months in advance, as ELP internship slots are limited and in high demand. Only shortlisted candidates are contacted. The programme is open to students in the 3rd–5th year of a 5-year LLB, 1st–3rd year of a 3-year LLB, and LLM students.
What is the salary at ELP for law associates in 2026? ▾
Entry-level associates at ELP through the Early Career Programme earn approximately ₹11.5 LPA. Senior Associates with 4–8 years' experience earn ₹20–35 LPA. Counsel-level professionals earn ₹35–60 LPA. Partners earn ₹80 lakh to ₹3 crore or more including profit shares. Internship stipends are approximately ₹10,000–15,000 per month depending on office location. ELP's compensation is competitive for a Tier 1 full-service firm outside the Big 6 Indian law firms.
What makes ELP different from other Indian law firms? ▾
ELP's key differentiators are: (1) Multi-disciplinary team model | uniquely combining lawyers with CAs, cost accountants, company secretaries, and economists as full professionals; (2) Market-leading Tax practice integrated with Taxand global membership; (3) Litigation associates actively appear in court | rare at a corporate law firm; (4) National leadership in Competition Law and International Trade & Customs; (5) Active policy and regulatory engagement with governments and legislators; and (6) Presence at GIFT City for emerging IFSC and cross-border work.
Which law schools does ELP recruit from? ▾
ELP recruits from across the National Law University system, with NLSIU Bangalore, NLU Delhi, NALSAR Hyderabad, GNLU Gandhinagar, and NUJS Kolkata being prominent feeders. ELP also welcomes applications from students at other BCI-recognised law schools who demonstrate strong academic performance and targeted interest in ELP's practice areas. The firm's multi-disciplinary model means it also values BBA LLB graduates and candidates with economics, finance, or CA backgrounds alongside their law degree.
Is ELP good for a career in Tax law? ▾
Yes | ELP is India's premier law firm destination for Tax law. Its Tax practice spans direct tax, indirect tax, GST, customs, transfer pricing, and tax litigation with a rare integration of lawyers and chartered accountants on the same matters. ELP is India's Taxand representative | giving the firm (and its Tax lawyers) direct access to the world's largest independent tax organisation and its global network. For any law student or young lawyer serious about building a Tax law career of the highest quality, ELP is the top-tier destination.
Does ELP have an office in GIFT City and is it worth targeting? ▾
Yes. ELP has an office at GIFT City, Gujarat | India's International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). The GIFT City office handles IFSC regulatory work, cross-border financial transactions, international arbitration, and investment fund work aligned with IFSCA regulations. For students at GNLU Gandhinagar and other Gujarat-based law schools, the GIFT City office is strategically valuable | it is a less-competitive internship target than Mumbai or Delhi, yet offers Tier 1 firm quality and exposure to an emerging, fast-growing practice area that very few young lawyers currently specialise in.
What is ELP's Early Career Programme? ▾
ELP's Early Career Programme (ECP) is the firm's structured on-boarding track for all newly qualified professionals | lawyers, CAs, cost accountants, and economists | joining ELP for the first time. All new joiners participate in the ECP, which involves an intensive multi-practice rotation, training modules, and a selection process before placement in a primary practice team. This breadth of early exposure across practice groups is a genuine developmental advantage and distinguishes ELP's approach from firms that immediately silo new hires into a single practice area from day one.
Building your path to ELP? The best ELP candidates come from strong law schools with targeted practice area experience. Explore NLU rankings, CLAT 2027 cutoffs, and law firm career guides on LawGuru India to start building the right foundation today.