Wilsons is so proud to partner for a third year with the 10,000 Black Interns (10KBI) programme

Wilsons is so proud to partner for a third year with the 10,000 Black Interns (10KBI) programme, founded in 2021 with the aim of addressing the underrepresentation of Black talent across many industries including law. 

This year we host our third and fourth interns, Darnell Lawrence and Keturah Christie, for a paid summer internship. They have fully immersed themselves in the work of all three departments, learning more about the role of a solicitor and meeting some of our clients, and impressing everyone they’ve met with their legal minds and keen engagement. 

We are especially grateful to the Law Society, Detention Action and 1 Pump Court for facilitating an intern ‘exchange’ with us this year, so our interns were able to experience even more during their six weeks. And a huge thank you to our Wilsons mentors Adam Spray, Imogen Townley and Serena Fassò, and especially the incredible Shahailya Stephenson for her role in interviewing, mentoring and supporting Darnell and Keturah and all of our interns over the years.  

Darnell reflects on his internship:

‍From entering the reception of Wilsons to completing the 6 weeks internship, I have left as a new person. The team at Wilsons have really supported and given me a taste of what being a solicitor will be like. The 10K Black Interns scheme came to my knowledge when overhearing conversations in the lecture hall and I’m very glad I took the opportunity to apply. 

Throughout the internship I have had the pleasure of shadowing solicitors and trainee solicitors in highly intense and important client appointments, and observing several court hearings. I’ve been given the freedom to contact clients, local authorities, prisons and detention centres and have gained a real insight into legal aid and private work. Although an intern, the team at Wilsons have valued my presence asking for my input and answering any question I may have, and I have learnt there are no stupid questions. 

A key highlight was visiting Brook House Detention Centre, a very eye-opening experience as I observed client appointments and an advice surgery. Although the detainee clients are not in best predicaments, it was amazing seeing the impact good advice and service can provide, as I witnessed a successful bail hearing. Katy Robinson and Shahailya Stephenson, utilising the amazing network of 10KBI, organised visits to the Law Society and Detention Action where we were able to meet other organisations and share knowledge with their interns. 

Social mobility and representation in the legal field has not always been the most forthcoming but organisations such as 10KBI and Wilsons committing their efforts to changing this is imperative. Getting people like myself, from low socio economic backgrounds who are often overlooked, a foot in the door, is crucial and can make real change. I look forward to going back to University in September, taking on all the tremendous advice from people I have met during my time here.  I would like to thank Wilsons and 10KBI for this opportunity and hope anyone wishing to partake in 10K Black Interns programme in the future to make the most out of it. 

And Keturah adds: 

‍Interning at Wilsons has been an invaluable and life-changing experience. As someone who came out of university feeling very disillusioned with the whole process of qualifying as a solicitor, and struggling to find an area that best suited me, having the opportunity to experience the work done at Wilsons has brought back the excitement and joy for pursuing a career in law and given me so much clarity and direction on my legal journey to qualifying.  

‍During my internship I have shadowed client meetings, I have had direct communication with clients and service providers, I have shadowed detention centre advice surgeries and watched multiple types of hearing across the three departments. This has opened my eyes to the world of legal aid and as difficult as the current context is surrounding legal aid, I have found the drive and the passion that people here at Wilsons have for their clients has inspired me to a whole new level.

‍I am glad to have experienced such a wonderful community of individuals here at Wilsons, who have welcomed me, encouraged me, advised me and been cheerleaders to me.  I am also grateful to 10KBI and for Katy Robinson and Shahailya Stephenson for engaging with the scheme and widening the access to participation in the legal field and would highly encourage anyone considering applying for the 10,000 Black Interns Scheme to go for it.

‍Shahailya Stephenson, Associate Solicitor and Team Leader in the firm’s Immigration department, who has been instrumental in establishing and running the 10KBI partnership at Wilsons, says: 

‍Keturah and Darnell are simply fantastic! It has been a real privilege to work alongside them and to hear about the work and experience they have gained at the firm. There is no doubt in my mind that they will succeed in all that they do. We are truly thankful to 10KBI for this partnership as their ethos aligns with the firm’s ethos of breaking down barriers to widen access to all to the profession. It is through 10KBI that the firm has been honoured to have talented interns across the years; interns that we can also learn from.  

‍Katy Robinson, partner and joint Head of Public Law and Human Rights, who leads the firm’s internship and work experience partnerships says: 

‍It has been an absolute pleasure to host Keturah and Darnell over the last six weeks and to watch them grow in knowledge and confidence, learn from and impress everyone in the firm, and expand their external networks along the way. Our partnership with 10KBI is hugely important to Wilsons, as part of our efforts to support the best talent from underrepresented backgrounds into the legal profession, alongside our other work experience, internship and mentoring partnerships. We look forward to watching them thrive in their next steps and to seeing their onward legal careers develop! 

‍