Justice Hub internship
Meet our 2024 interns.
Honey Fisher
Hi, I’m Honey. I have just finished the second year of my Anthropology degree and I have a keen interest in human rights law. Being a Justice Hub intern has been an incredible opportunity to acquire practical experience and key skills needed for a career in law.
We worked in pairs on two Legal Advice Centre cases per week but were given the independence to organise ourselves, find effective ways of prioritising tasks and dividing the workload between us. My partner, Alicia, and I worked on a range of cases, spanning several areas of law, including housing, wills and probate, small claims and family. Through attending client interviews, we were able to see how individuals in the local community experience a wide variety of legal problems and understand how services like those the Justice Hub provide are vital in reducing the legal aid gap.
My personal highlight was speaking on a panel for the Social Responsibility and Sustainability Conference at the University. It was a privilege to be able to share my experiences alongside experts, with a focus on futureproofing and holding ourselves to account for our actions across all academic fields. My internship experience at the Justice Hub is one I am extremely grateful for.
Tze Lin Chew
Hi, I’m Tze Lin and I’ve recently finished second year of the LLB. As part of the Legal Advice Centre pro-bono clinic, I worked with Ella to write letters for a wide variety of clients, who would otherwise have been unable to obtain legal help. As the internship is student-led, we conducted the client meetings, researched relevant statute and case law and the advice letters ourselves, with some input from qualified volunteer lawyers when needed. This experience provided me with the opportunity to demonstrate the responsibility and proactivity needed from a qualified lawyer and I hope to be able to put these skills to use in my future career.
I was particularly pleased that I got along well with my fellow interns – we complemented each other skillsets, meaning that we were able to use our strengths in assisting each other to improve our individual weaknesses. Our unique perspectives brought something different to the table, but we were also able to work seamlessly together to produce quality results for our clients.
For me, the highlight was attending the Clinical Legal Education Organisation roundtable for the North-West, as we were able to observe the behind-the-scenes activities of the academic and professional services staff at the Justice Hub. I gained a newfound appreciation for the advanced planning and collaborative efforts that goes into enhancing our education experiences.
This internship has allowed me to develop not only my skills but also my passion for improving the accessibility of the legal system. I have been able to gain confidence in my communication with clients and understand the approach I will take going into my final year of studies.
Anais Elezi
Hi, I'm Anais, a second year Law and Politics student. The internship at the Justice Hub has given me the opportunity to take part in lots of different and exciting activities. From the Legal Advice Centre to Manchester Free Legal Help, I have experienced real-world legal cases, that have reaffirmed my dreams of becoming a legal aid solicitor. The internship has not only been beneficial to me professionally, but I have also been able to make a difference to people’s lives. Working in the Justice Hub has shown me the demand for free legal services and the importance of young lawyers giving back to the community by assisting those, who cannot access legal help anywhere else, through pro-bono services.
My favourite part of the internship was assisting in the research phase of a new collaborative project with a large corporate firm, as I was able to develop new and interesting connections from within the legal sector and understand the inner workings of a real firm. I would recommend this experience to any second year in the School of Social Sciences, who wants to use their degree to make a real difference, while also developing core skills integral to their future careers.
Karunya Manimaran
Hi, I’m Karunya and I’m a second-year law student. As I have always had an interest in pro-bono legal projects, I thought that this internship would be a fantastic opportunity… and I was right.
With our Legal Advice Centre cases, we were given freedom to lead on client interviews and the drafting process for our final advice letter. I believe this motivated me to be responsible for my own development and maximise the benefits of the internship experience. While there was a level of independence, I felt supported by the other interns and felt encouraged by the positive working environment to ask any questions to the Justice Hub Team for both academic and practical guidance.
Manchester Free Legal Help was a key highlight. I was able to see the complexity of family law first hand and develop my knowledge and understanding beyond reading academic textbooks. It was rewarding to use our skills in helping the community and providing clients and their families with practical step to resolve difficult situations.
This internship has provided me with a new perspective on the scarcity of legal aid and the importance of pro bono work in such a difficult economic climate. I am more motivated than ever to ensure that I help to place social responsibility at the heart of my future workplace.
Alicia Smith
Hello, I’m Alicia, a second-year law student who, alongside five others, was a Justice Hub summer intern. During my second year, I was a Legal Advice Centre volunteer, previously advising on mental capacity and housing cases. My positive experiences with the Justice Hub led to me applying to the internship to gain further legal experience. As well as the usual pro-bono clinics, I have had the opportunity to speak at the plenary session for the Institute of Teaching and Learning Conference and write an article for the Social Responsibility Newsletter.
I believe this internship has prepared me for working in a professional environment, instilling in me essential legal skills, such as client communication, drafting and editing, and legal research. I have also really enjoyed the collaboration with my fellow interns and felt fully immersed into the wider Justice Hub team.
This internship has made me appreciate the positive impact that Justice Hub services have on individuals in the local community. I have seen first-hand how the Justice Hub actions the University’s commitment to social responsibility and hope to take these attitudes with me in my future endeavours.
Ella Francis
Hi, I’m Ella, a second-year law student, who completed the 4-week internship with the Justice Hub in the Summer of 2024. As interns, we were fortunate to work on many different projects, covering a variety of areas of law.
The majority of our time was spent working on Legal Advice Centre cases, advising clients via letter on a wide range of issues. I really valued the independence and responsibility given to us interns, as I was pushed outside of my comfort zone and encouraged me to work on my weaknesses.
Being exposed to such different legal issues and client situations, allowed me to delve deeper into legal research than I had before and gave me an appreciation of areas of law that I initially didn’t think would interest me. For example, I particularly enjoyed working on consumer rights and family cases but have not yet had the opportunity to study these areas.
My highlight was the Employment Tribunal Litigants in Person Support Scheme, where I was involved multiple fast-paced client meetings. I was tasked with taking in-depth case notes, while the practitioner advised clients before their upcoming tribunals. This experience has reinforced my belief that the law should be used to empower individuals facing discrimination and other key societal issues that still need to be addressed.