Introducing Olliers’ New Student Mentoring Scheme for Aspiring Criminal Defence Lawyers

We are delighted to announce the launch of Olliers’ Student Mentoring Scheme, specifically designed for undergraduate law students passionate about criminal defence. This initiative aims to provide invaluable guidance and support to the next generation of defence lawyers, with a particular focus on empowering students from backgrounds underrepresented within the legal profession. 

Why Criminal Defence? 

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. We remain passionate about attracting new entrants to the profession. 

We are currently running our sixth consecutive summer intern scheme of eight-week-long, 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 during 2023 we employed five trainees and three paralegals, and two new training contracts were awarded. 

However, entering this challenging yet rewarding field can be daunting, especially for students who face socio-economic barriers. The aim of the mentoring scheme is to encourage people from groups of people who are under-represented within criminal defence law to pursue careers as a solicitor.  

Our Vision 

We believe that talent and potential individuals should not be hindered by socio-economic circumstances. Our mentoring scheme is crafted to bridge the gap, providing aspiring criminal defence lawyers with the tools, knowledge, and network they need to succeed. We aim to nurture a diverse and inclusive generation of legal professionals. 

What the Olliers mentoring scheme will involve 

Successful applicants will be allocated an individual mentor. Each student will be paired with an experienced criminal defence lawyer who will provide one-on-one mentorship. This includes guidance on academic and career choices, insights into the day-to-day practice of criminal law, and advice on navigating the legal profession. 

The Scheme will run between October 2024 and July 2025. During that period, mentees will be offered the following:

• Between three and five one-on-one meetings with your mentor
• A workshop on applications for training contracts
• A social event for mentors, mentees and other colleagues at Olliers
• The above sessions will take place in person at our Manchester office to the extent possible; otherwise, they will be held via videoconference (and if mentees prefer, meetings with mentors can always take place via videoconference). 
• Where sessions are held in person Olliers will reimburse reasonable travel expenses. 
• After the end of the mentoring period, mentors are not obliged to (but may agree to) continue to provide assistance to mentees. 

The scheme will facilitate networking with professionals in the field. Students will have the meet practising lawyers and build long-term connections that could be pivotal in their future careers. 

Who Should Apply? 

We are looking for dedicated and passionate law students who aspire to make a difference in the field of criminal defence.  

We especially encourage applications from students who:

• attended state schools, in particular non-selective state schools, for the majority of their secondary education (i.e. between the ages of 11 and 18 years); or
• people who were in the first generation in their family to attend university; or
• people from less advantaged socio-economic backgrounds (as indicated, e.g., if an applicant was eligible for free school meals, or comes from a family on income support); or
• belong to underrepresented groups in the legal profession.

How to Apply 

To apply for the student mentoring scheme, please:

• Submit your CV together with a personal statement explaining your interest in criminal defence and how you believe this scheme can help you achieve your goals to  aimeedarbyshireellison@olliers.com. 
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a remote interview to further discuss their aspirations and suitability for the scheme.

Application Deadline 

The application deadline is Friday 26th July 2024.

We encourage you to submit your application as early as possible to ensure consideration. 

For more information on careers with Olliers visit www.olliers.com/careers.