Paid internships at LFC, City Council, LJMU and leading law firms

“I was fortunate enough to complete my internship during the time when Liverpool were in the FA Cup and Champions League final, and still in the title race."

Law students in Liverpool have been swapping the lecture theatre for the office as part of a major employability push.

Fifteen undergraduates were sent out into the world on 140-hour internships, fully paid by the School.

Students worked at Bell Lamb and Joynson, NextGen Solicitors, High Street Solicitors, Liverpool City Council, Privilege HR, Liverpool Football Club and also at the Legal and Governance department at LJMU.

Dr Shane Sullivan, Programme Leader for the Law Undergraduate Programmes at LJMU, said “Investing in our students' future by creating fifteen internships with leading employers offers students a big boost in their employment prospects.

“Feedback was excellent which can only helps foster stronger relations with a range of organisations.”

Hira Shariff, who interned with Liverpool City Council, said: “I was attracted to the internship opportunity with Liverpool City Council as it focuses on improving both sociological and community values. This hands-on experience has enabled me to put the skills and knowledge I had learnt during my time at LJMU into practice and understand how legislation operates in a legal workplace.

“I’ve helped on a civil case at a coroner’s inquest and dealt with several educational issues. I'm extremely grateful for this opportunity, and I feel it has taken my legal skills to the next level.”

James Timmins, who interned in the Legal Services department of Liverpool Football Club, said: “As someone who completed a Sports Law module and researched a Sports Law dissertation it was a great insight to see the practical workings of in-house lawyers at a football club.

“I was fortunate enough to complete my internship during the time when Liverpool were in the FA Cup and Champions League final, and still in the title race. This opened my eyes to a lot of behind-the-scenes action that spectators would not necessarily consider when watching sport and enabled me to gain a greater commercial understanding as I was involved in discussions considering the legality of certain actions as well as the potential public reaction to them.

“An experience like working at LFC helped me to stand out when applying for graduate roles and was often the biggest talking point of subsequent interviews.”

Thomas Ali undertook his Internship within Legal and Governance Services at LJMU. He said: “The internship really exceeded my expectations and has given me a better understanding of how to progress in a legal career.

“It has not only given me more confidence but has provided me with great experiences that will benefit me moving forward. I have gained valuable networking opportunities and, also, reassurance and confirmation that a legal profession is the career I wish to pursue.”

Professor Carlo Panara, Director of the School of Law, said: "I am delighted and proud that the School of Law was able to support so many promising lawyers-to-be and to boost their employability skills and prospects.

“I wish them all great success with their future careers where they will certainly benefit from the skills and knowledge gained during the internships. We will continue to fund Law internships during this academic year."  

Internships are spread over a number of weeks so as to not interfere with studies.