Hear from our interns

 
Policy pertaining to the UK justice system was a key component of my degrees in Law and Criminology. Therefore, I took the opportunity to work for JUSTICE – an organisation I have long admired – the moment it arose because they are focused on legal issues current and crucial to our society. The fact that Linklaters would sponsor the programme and offer mentorship made it all the more appealing.

I feel especially fortunate to have Dame Alison Saunders as my mentor – someone who can offer invaluable support and advice for obtaining Pupillage. I hope to improve my knowledge of policy and develop a long-term relationship with Linklaters. The Fellowship has been rewarding on an academic level and the culture and personalities at JUSTICE have made the experience all the more enjoyable.

Interning at JUSTICE was an incredible opportunity. I was involved in a wide range of interesting work: from research to assist the recently launched Hybrid Orders Working Party, to attending meetings with stakeholders to implement the recommendations in the Solving Housing Disputes Report.
I also drafted a briefing for the House of Lords on the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill and assisted with JUSTICE’s response to the Human Rights Act Reform: A Modern Bill of Rights Consultation. These experiences really helped to improve my skills, gave me invaluable experience for job applications and without doubt helped me to obtain pupillage for next year.

The organisation itself is fantastic. Even though I interned remotely, I was made to feel welcome right from the start. The working culture at JUSTICE is inclusive and non-hierarchical, so everyone’s contribution is valued. Flexible working is also embraced, so my transition from interning full time to part time was seamless.

I cannot recommend the experience highly enough!

I absolutely loved my internship at JUSTICE. Whilst at JUSTICE, I assisted with JUSTICE’s briefings on the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, conducted research for JUSTICE’s Working Party on Improving Access to Justice for Separating Families, and assisted with JUSTICE’s response to the Human Rights Act Reform Consultation. These experiences gave me a unique insight into a wide range of issues facing the justice system. I also found it immensely rewarding to contribute to work that makes the legal system fairer and more accessible.

It was a privilege to work alongside such a friendly and supportive team. I was supervised by Ellen who was wonderfully supportive and generous in taking time to create additional opportunities to nurture my education and develop my skills, such as organising for me to deliver a presentation to JUSTICE’s policy team to develop my advocacy skills and giving me a mock pupillage interview.

Overall, my internship at JUSTICE was instrumental in helping me to secure a pupillage by equipping me with an understanding of the challenges facing the justice system; improving my research, drafting and advocacy skills; and boosting my confidence.

I spent a year (and a bit!) with JUSTICE as the Scottish Legal Fellow, while I completed my Diploma in Professional Practice. Despite working from home in Scotland, I was always made to feel part of the team and as valued a member of staff as those who had been there for years. JUSTICE is a very supportive place to work and I was always encouraged to think about my personal development and what I hoped to gain from the role.

In terms of the work, the Scottish Legal Fellow role is a funny position because it is both niche and broad at the same time. Rather than focussing on criminal or civil or administrative law, I got to work across all areas, just with a specific Scottish context. With that in mind, the projects I worked on while at JUSTICE were extremely varied, and I gained exposure to stakeholders and practitioners from across the field, all working on the most prescient issues in the country.

I have learned so much from the whole team and have a much greater understanding of how an NGO like JUSTICE operates. From a glimpse into the effort that goes into securing funding, arranging events and increasing membership, engaging with stakeholders, and of course the work of the policy team in constantly keep abreast of developments in the law, running working parties and implementing past recommendations – I feel very lucky to have been part of the team, even for a short while.

I am grateful to have been able to undertake this internship at JUSTICE. Despite working remotely, the staff at JUSTICE made sure that I felt part of the team. I saw a real change in my confidence over the three months and learned a lot about the criminal justice system.
During my time at JUSTICE, I managed to secure a training contract at Bhatt Murphy, and a scholarship to fund my Legal Practice Course, which both commenced in September 2021.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to kick off my legal career at such a brilliant charity and hope that in twenty years’ time I will be an expert Working Party member myself!

I really enjoyed my time at JUSTICE. The highlight of my internship was working on JUSTICE’s responses to some of the Government’s legislative proposals such as the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. I found the work incredibly interesting and varied with a mix of research, legal analysis, and drafting.

JUSTICE is a highly respected organisation: the briefings it produces on Bills are taken seriously, considered carefully, and are often referred to explicitly during debates in Parliament. It felt exciting and meaningful to contribute to this work.
Everyone at JUSTICE was so friendly and welcoming and this hugely contributed to my enjoyment of the internship in the slightly strange remote working times.

I really enjoyed my time at JUSTICE. The highlight of my internship was working on JUSTICE’s responses to some of the Government’s legislative proposals such as the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. I found the work incredibly interesting and varied with a mix of research, legal analysis, and drafting.

JUSTICE is a highly respected organisation: the briefings it produces on Bills are taken seriously, considered carefully, and are often referred to explicitly during debates in Parliament. It felt exciting and meaningful to contribute to this work.
Everyone at JUSTICE was so friendly and welcoming and this hugely contributed to my enjoyment of the internship in the slightly strange remote working times.