My Week At Olliers As An Intern – Molly Chesters

Day One 

Heading into the internship at Olliers, I was definitely a bit nervous, but more than anything, I was looking forward to getting stuck in. The day started with a short tour around the office, which gave me the chance to get my bearings and meet some of the team. After a brief introduction from Rebecca Diamond, I was whisked away to the Magistrates’ Court with David Philpott, one of the solicitors at Olliers. It was a fast start, but it was exactly what I had hoped for during the internship. 

On the way to court, David mentioned that we had a particularly busy day ahead. This meant that we had many clients to see to take their instructions before their court appearances. Many of the clients were being held in custody, so it was especially interesting to see what that process was like. The cases covered a broad range of issues from possession of a firearm to burglary. Even with so much going on, David still took the time to explain each case to me and answer all my questions.  

After we managed to deal with all the day’s cases, we headed back to the office. There, I had the chance to meet Nathalie Potter, the head of the DBS department. As I had limited knowledge of the work the DBS department does, Nathalie kindly took the time to explain it to me. It was insightful to see how this side of Olliers plays such an important role in protecting clients’ rights beyond the courtroom. 

Day Two 

After such an eventful first day, I was looking forward to what day two would bring. The day began with a scheduling task. I was given the responsibility of reviewing/organising large batches of case evidence and creating short summaries for each piece of evidence. This was for an ongoing case, where Alex Close-Claughton, working on the case, was considering whether to advance a basis of plea. I expected that I would be doing something more hypothetical as an intern, so it was great to be trusted with a task that directly supported a live matter.  

After this, I had the chance to attend a client conference with Martha Whitehead, a solicitor at Olliers. We were joined by counsel, and the client, who was held in custody. The case concerned the import of a large amount of Class B drugs, and the meeting focused on preparing the defence ahead of an upcoming court appearance. It was a brilliant opportunity to observe how Martha and the barrister worked together to build the case for the client. They discussed the possibility of using the defence of duress, as the client claimed threats were made against him. Both Martha and the barrister concluded that it would likely be a weak argument. They then explored how the threats made against the client could instead be used as a mitigating factor during sentencing. Throughout the discussion, both Martha and the barrister remained realistic and honest with the client regarding his options and the likelihood of success. 

Day Three 

Day three began with reviewing case files ahead of a client conference I had scheduled for later in the day, with Connor Brylczak, a trainee solicitor at Olliers. This gave me the chance to gain a better understanding of what the case involved. In short, the client was held in custody for several different offences, one being strangulation.  

Connor explained that the purpose of the conference was to go over the evidence that the Crown should have served and gain instructions from the client. This would allow counsel to start drafting the defence, that was due next week. However, the Crown had required an extension on serving the evidence which was not ideal as it meant that Connor had little new material to go through with the client. This highlighted the realities of working in criminal defence, where last-minute changes and delays can disrupt preparation and require flexibility. Instead, Connor focused on reviewing the complainant’s video interview, which had recently been uploaded. During the meeting, Connor explained the current situation, set expectations, and ensured the client understood what progress could be made at this stage. 

Throughout the day, I also had the chance to speak with various solicitors in the office, many of whom kindly took time to chat with me about their work. Several shared details about some of the recent cases they have been working on. These informal conversations gave me a broader sense of the variety of criminal defence work at Olliers.  

Day Four 

Day four started off with a trip back to the Magistrates’ Court with David Philpott. Although it wasn’t as busy as Monday, there was still important cases to deal with, including one client in custody who had been arrested for shoplifting. David had previously represented this client for similar offences, so it was interesting to observe how prior history plays a role in court proceedings. 

What made the case particularly interesting was the outcome. Despite the value of stolen goods being well over the custody threshold, and the client already having received a custodial sentence for a similar matter in the past, our client received a suspended sentence. It was a reminder that sentencing decisions aren’t always straightforward, and that mitigating factors and advocacy can make a huge difference. 

In the afternoon, I attended the Crown Court, with Jack Tomlinson, an associate at Olliers. There, we met with counsel ahead of the hearing. Before the matter was called on, Jack and the barrister spoke with the client, who was held in custody, via a video link. They explained what was likely to happen during the hearing and discussed the recent developments in the case. Originally, our client had been charged with robbery, however, after review, this was reduced to attempted theft. During the hearing, the judge expressed concern about the change, stating that, in her view, the facts pointed more to a robbery. This led to discussions in court, but ultimately the prosecution agreed that attempted theft was the appropriate charge. This was the outcome that Jack had been hoping for, as it better reflected the circumstances of the case, and carried a difference in sentencing. 

Day Five 

Day five was the day I had been patiently waiting for, and looking forward to, all week. That was, attending a police station. Attending a police station is not something you get the chance to do every day, so I was eager to attend.  

I attended North Manchester Police Station with Aimee, a trainee solicitor at Olliers. We were there to advise a client who had been arrested on suspicion of common assault. Before arriving, Aimee briefed me on what to expect during police station attendance, including the structure of a police station interview, and the options available to the client. Once at the police station, we reviewed the disclosure provided by the officer. As English was not the client’s first language, a translator was required. After Aimee spoke to the client regarding her version of events, Aimee advised the client that the best option for the client was to answer all the questions that the officer would ask. The client took Aimee’s advice, and ultimately Aimee hoped the client would be cautioned, or, in the best-case scenario, no further action would be taken. 

Concluding Remarks 

I have had a brilliant week at Olliers, and I am extremely grateful to Olliers for giving me this opportunity. I want to thank all the staff at Olliers who took time out of their busy days to speak with me and share their experiences. From the start, I felt incredibly welcomed. 

To any future students thinking of applying for the internship; definitely do it. I have learned so much over the past week, and it has absolutely confirmed my interest in pursuing a career in criminal defence. Olliers is definitely a place I would be keen to return to the future.