Written 7th April 2026 by Olliers Solicitors
Following the success of our previous intern programmes, Olliers Solicitors are offering weeklong paid internships at our Manchester city centre office to graduates and undergraduates who are interested in a career in criminal defence work.
The internship programme will run between late July and early September 2026.
Criminal law is an exciting and challenging area of law and we will provide our interns with an opportunity to spend a week with a leading Manchester based criminal defence firm.
What will I experience during the Internship?
During your week we aim to ensure that you:
- Observe a number of police interviews with suspects
- Observe Magistrates’ Court proceedings
- There is a possibility of observing a trial
- Shadow Counsel in the Crown Court at either Crown Square or Minshull Street, Manchester
- Observe client appointments
- Review files and undergo a mini-induction with our Practice Manager
- Speak to our senior lawyers, Senior Management Team and Managing Director, Matthew Claughton about a career in criminal defence work
The week-long internships will be remunerated.
Olliers’ commitment to attracting new entrants to the progression
Criminal defence work is not for the faint hearted but for many practitioners, it is the most interesting and rewarding area of law to practice. Previous programmes have been an outstanding success.
In Summer 2025 we ran our seventh consecutive summer intern scheme of eight weeklong paid internships. We recruit from the intern programme and have now employed eight of our previous interns.
Many criminal law firms do not offer training opportunities but at Olliers we remain passionate about attracting new entrants to the profession.
Sonia Dias Loureno , 2024 Intern
Sonia was an intern during our 2024 scheme and has since obtained a position with Olliers as a DBS paralegal.
“Before starting my internship at Olliers, I was eager to gain real-world experience in criminal defence but had no idea how much I would learn in one week. From attending a police interview on my very first day to observing court proceedings, drafting representations and even sitting on a high-profile sentencing case, each experience deepened my understanding of the legal system. I was able to witness first-hand the importance of defence solicitors in ensuring fair representation. This week-long experience also provided an insight into the fast-paced and unpredictable nature of criminal defence. The team at Olliers was incredibly welcoming, offering guidance and insight at every step. The internship strengthened my passion for Criminal Law, and I would highly recommend it to anyone considering a career in this field.”
How can I apply?
If you want to experience a week in the life of Olliers Solicitors during 2026, please contact us by email with your CV and a covering letter explaining why you feel attracted to a career in criminal law.
All applications should be by email to: tillyaffleck@olliers.com and the closing date is 4 pm on Friday 8th May 2026.
The internships will be based at our Manchester city centre office at t Fourth Floor, 44 Peter Street, Manchester, M2 5GP.
About Olliers Solicitors
Olliers Solicitors is nationally recognised as an outstanding criminal defence law firm – partnering legal brilliance with unmatched client care.
Olliers specialises in the defence of individuals, businesses and other organisations across a broad range of corporate and financial fraud crime, regulatory offences, serious crime, sexual offences, professional discipline and motoring offences.
We have a formidable reputation for our pro-active approach to the investigative stage of a criminal case focusing on pre-charge engagement, discretion and nipping an investigation in the bud.
Olliers is ranked as a top tier law firm by both the Legal 500 2026 and Chambers Guide 2026. We are a Times Best Law Firm 2026 and the Manchester Legal Awards 2025 Crime Team of the Year, an award we have won eight times since 2011.
Headquartered in Manchester, and with a presence in London, our team of 29 experienced criminal defence lawyers is led by Managing Director Matthew Claughton, Commercial Director Stacey Mabrouk and Business Development Director Ruth Peters.
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