Annabelle Phillips – Olliers Summer Internship 2026

Annabelle Phillips describes her experience on Olliers’ 2026 Summer Intern Programme  

Before starting my week at Olliers, I was unsure of how much I would get to experience but I was eager to learn more about criminal defence. I was pleasantly surprised by how varied the week was, with opportunities to gain a first-hand insight into several aspects of criminal defence.  

Monday 17th August 

My morning began with an induction from Aimee Darbyshire-Ellison where she introduced me to Olliers and the work that they do. I then had the opportunity to meet the rest of the team who were extremely welcoming. They all gave time out of their busy days to tell me about their experience working in criminal defence, as well as answering any questions which I had.  

Next, I attended Longsight police station with Martha Whitehead as duty solicitor. The client had been arrested the previous evening on suspicion of domestic violence related common assault and theft. It was particularly insightful to observe the in-depth questioning Martha conducted with the client to draw out the relevant information. Martha carefully explained to the client the three different routes the police could take before giving her advice on how she believed it was best to proceed. This highlighted the importance of ensuring the client has a full understanding of the responses they make during an interview and how it could impact criminal proceedings.  

I later had the opportunity to attend Manchester Magistrates’ Court with David Philpott. Spending time with David on duty and attending sentencing hearings showed me how fast-paced criminal defence can be. He explained how often little information is given and there is little time to prepare. This taught me the importance of being adaptable and able to work effectively under pressure. Additionally, I noted the wider circumstances some clients are facing and the importance of providing effective advocacy for them. 

Tuesday 18th August  

I began the day by meeting Nathalie Potter who taught me lots about the DBS team and the important work they do. I later had the opportunity to attend a DBS conference with Sonia Dias Lourenco regarding an application to delete PNC records. The client had previously submitted an unsuccessful application, which I was able to review. During the conference, Sonia was thorough in her questioning which allowed for a clear understanding of the events leading up to the client’s arrest. She also gathered information about his background and how the arrest had affected him.  

Later, I attended Manchester Crown Court with Martha Odysseos for a sentencing hearing of a client who was charged with being drunk on an aircraft. Before the hearing, I had the opportunity to read the prosecution’s opening statement and the client’s basis of plea. Martha also explained the uncertainty of the outcome due to there being no sentencing guidelines for this offence. It was insightful to meet with the client, alongside their partner and gain an understanding of the difficulties they were facing. Hearing about their circumstances provided a valuable reminder of the personal impact of criminal proceedings. This reinforced the importance of the work of criminal defence and providing advocacy for clients.  

Wednesday 19th August  

Following yesterday’s DBS conference, I was able to draft representations to ACRO to delete the client’s PNC records. Sonia was extremely supportive throughout this and provided advice on what a strong application should look like. This helped me to consider including any evidence that the client was willing to provide such as medical records, the client’s CV and a support statement. Sonia also answered lots of my questions about DBS and the importance of this work.  

It was then an honour to work with Alex Close-Claughton on one of his recent cases, involving multiple offences and defendants. I read through the summary of evidence and then identified which evidence was relevant to Alex’s client. We then discussed which questions would be appropriate to ask the client regarding the initial evidence that had been provided. Alex was extremely informative in explaining how he would lead the client through the upcoming process. He also spent time explaining the sentencing guidelines for the offences the client has been charged with and possible legal arguments that could be put forward. It was insightful to see how much preparation is involved even before meeting with the client.  

Thursday 20th August 

After attending sentencing hearings earlier in the week, it was insightful to observe initial hearings with David. We met with a client at Tameside Magistrates’ Court who had been arrested on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Getting the opportunity to observe this taught me the importance of asking clear purposeful questions and listening to the client’s responses. Seemingly small details can be significant when building an understanding of a case. David then explained to the client the bail conditions he would propose to the court including a condition of residence and a non-contact condition with the alleged victim and witnesses. He explained to me why these would be appropriate conditions and the likelihood of success considering the client’s previous convictions with the same complainant.  

Friday 21st August 

During my time in the office, I developed a greater understanding of the responsibilities involved in working with different types of clients. Reading policies regarding working with children and vulnerable adults emphasised the importance of safeguarding and protecting the well-being of clients involved in legal matters. It demonstrated the need to identify signs of abuse and respond where necessary. I found it interesting to learn about the importance of understanding the unique circumstances of each individual client and the most appropriate ways of working with them. I will definitely take this knowledge with me moving forward in my career. I was grateful to have the opportunity to meet with Matthew Claughton to discuss my week as well as the future steps I should take to pursue a career in criminal defence. 

This week has allowed me to achieve a much greater understanding of what a career in criminal defence involves. I am extremely grateful to everyone at Olliers for taking the time to involve me throughout the week, answer my questions and share their experiences with me. The week has been invaluable in developing a first-hand insight into criminal defence and has confirmed my interest in pursuing a career in this area.