Launch of Olliers Summer Intern Programme 2024

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 commitments 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 2023 we ran our fifth consecutive summer intern scheme of eight weeklong, paid internships. We recruit from the intern programme and have now employed 8 of our previous interns.

Many criminal law firms do not offer training opportunities but during 2023 we employed five trainees and three paralegals and two new training contracts were awarded.

We remain passionate about attracting new entrants to the profession.

Eleanor Harris, 2023 Intern

Eleanor was one of our 2023 Summer Interns who in now a paralegal within our DBS department. She has reflected as follows:

‘After feeling as if I was being unwillingly pushed towards commercial law whilst studying at university, this internship was a unique insight into the practical workings of the criminal legal system that I had not seen offered elsewhere. During the week-long internship, I was lucky enough to shadow a solicitor in the Magistrate’s Court – here I observed many people reap the benefits of criminal defence representation, where they otherwise would have struggled hugely. The week also provided a chance to attend a police station interview, view high-profile cases within the firm’s case management system, and to speak to many experienced professionals about their role within proceedings. I would encourage anyone who is interested in criminal law to apply, as this is an invaluable experience that has ultimately shaped my path to working within criminal defence.’

How can I apply?

If you want to experience a week in the life of Olliers Solicitors during 2024 please contact us by email with CV and a covering letter explaining why you feel attracted to a career in criminal law.

All applications should be by email to mariadouglas@olliers.com and the closing date is 4 pm on Friday 26th April 2024. The internships will be based at our Manchester city centre office at Third Floor, 196 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 3WF.