Israeli Law Students Can Begin Legal Internships Before Completing Degree Due to Reserve Service

The Knesset Constitution Committee approved a temporary provision easing requirements for law students serving in military reserves. Under the new arrangement, students who have not yet completed all degree requirements can start their legal internships, avoiding delays of several months or even a full year. Specifically, students scheduled to begin internships between September 1 and December 31, 2026, may register and start even if they are missing up to four courses and four exams needed for their law degree.

This relief applies to students in their final academic year who served at least 59 days of reserve duty between September 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026. Previously, students had to complete all degree requirements before starting internships, and reserve service often caused exam absences that delayed internship start dates by up to a year. Now, eligible students can complete remaining academic obligations concurrently with their internships.

The Constitution Committee expanded the benefit beyond the initial proposal. The Israel Bar Association initially sought to limit the relief to those serving 90 days, but following a request by committee chair MK Simcha Rothman, the threshold was lowered to 59 days and the qualifying period extended to a full year. Dana Blum, representing the Bar Association, noted the provision targets a well-agreed group needing support: reserve soldiers with significant service. The rule allows up to four full courses (eight grades) to remain incomplete, a broader relief than before but limited to a specific population.

MK Rothman emphasized that even about two months of reserve duty during exam periods can severely disrupt students’ ability to finish their degrees on time, justifying the adjusted criteria to reflect realities since the outbreak of war.