My week at Olliers as an intern – Dylan Taylor

Having applied for the Olliers internship program after attending their student open evening, I was sceptical if I’d hear anything back. With it quickly becoming apparent to me in my job searching post-university that there existed very little opportunities to begin a career in criminal law; with legal aid cuts meaning that most firms simply didn’t have the capacity to be training new talent. Olliers, however, was different. With them consistently having new trainees, and of course having an internship program, I knew it would be a competitive process.  

To my surprise, I was invited back for a weeklong paid internship. My expectations for what it would look like were akin to my previous experiences at other firms; lots of admin and lots of making teas and coffees. So, I was caught off guard when on my first day, after a brief introduction, I was thrown right into it.  

Crown Court Trial 

I was to shadow a solicitor, Jack Tomlinson, in the Crown Court who was representing someone charged with stalking and assault. Their trial was on the day, and it was our job to prepare him for what it would look like giving evidence. After rushing over, we’d go straight down to the cells to greet the client. If you have ever been to the Crown Court before as a student to watch a case, it does not prepare you for what lies just below. The security is tight, and the atmosphere tense. Despite how nervous I was, Jack was wonderful at showing me the ropes. Though I was just an intern, I was treated like a peer.  

Our client was staying steadfast in his innocence, despite strong evidence against him. Yet after hours of back and forth between the defence and prosecution, we were able to secure a plea to a lesser offence. It was a massive reduction in the possible charges and a massive win for the client. This was just day one, and yet it felt I had managed to glean so much insight into how the criminal justice system worked. I’d studied, and watched hearings but it didn’t compare in the slightest to experiencing it first-hand.  

Olliers’ DBS department 

The day flew by, with us only getting back to the office late in the afternoon. Here I was asked if I wanted to learn the ropes of how to do DBS. I’d say yes and was walked through all the basics by the team. Everyone once again was patient, and compassionate. This internship intends to show you a lot in a very short period of time so it’s important that you speak to the supportive team around you in order to fully take advantage of everything this internship can offer.  

The Magistrates’ Court  

The next day was just as busy as the last. I followed David Philpott, another solicitor, to the Magistrates Court. Here, I’d gain insight into just how busy the legal system can be. With us striding up and down the court floors, talking to a range of different clients about a range of different issues. Here, I’d begin to get a feel for what every day looks like while working in criminal law; hectic, snap decisions and different.  If you’re looking for something slower paced and stable, Olliers might not be for you. But if you’re looking to be on your feet, helping real people with real issues, then you have the opportunity to thrive here.  

Attending the police station 

The internship continued in this fast-paced way, with me spending my entire Wednesday in a police station interview room. Here we were the duty solicitors at Cheadle Heath police station and meant that I was given the opportunity to participate in disclosure of evidence with the police, the interview with the client, and the subsequent police interview. The opportunity to work on legal aid cases was something deeply important to me, and being given the opportunity to assist so early on is demonstrative of the trust and goodwill Olliers gives you from the start. With Martha Odysseos, the solicitor with me, being excellent at talking me through how to handle the diverse array of cases that get put before you while on duty.  

Over my whole week I had the opportunity to ask dozens of questions, and from that I’ve learnt more here than I likely did in my first year of university. The sort of lawyer you want to be will clearly be nurtured here. So, if you are interested in something specific, burglary, fraud or any other sort of crime, make it known and you’ll have lawyers all across the office sending you interesting cases you can engage and ask questions about 

Thursday, I was returning to the Magistrates’ Court and even over this short period of time I was beginning to feel more confident. The courts were no longer this obscure labyrinth, and the Judges were becoming familiar faces. Here, I was really beginning to get to terms with all the distinctions between the Crown and Magistrates’ Court. My degree had only painted half the picture of how significantly different the two are.  

With advocacy, procedure, and effective representation all being entirely different. For instance, having watched David’s advocacy in the magistrates the necessity for concise precision in a defence cannot be overstated, due to the time constraints of any given trial. This has been a point of reflection for me in regard to what effective legal advice looks like. You cannot win every case, but you can get a win for your client; what that looks like depends case to case, but can be anything from getting life-saving drug rehabilitation to simply avoiding custody.  

What this internship has done for me is help break some of the binary understandings of the Law I had and enable a more nuanced perspective of what a life in Criminal Law looks like.  

Discussion with Matthew Claughton 

By my final day, despite being exhausted, I was ready for more. I’d get the opportunity in the morning to chat with Matthew Claughton, the Managing Director of the firm, and would be once again assured that Olliers was in a league of its own when it came to nurturing the next generation of solicitors. I was told of how collaborative the workplace was in relation to skill sharing, and considering everything I had experienced over my internship, I attest to that workplace mentality. From the administration team to experienced lawyers, everyone was eager to assist me in my understanding. Working here for a week has been nothing short of brilliant; and I cannot recommend it more for any aspiring criminal lawyers.