UK Supreme Court to offer paid internship for aspiring lawyers from underrepresented communities for a second year
29 July 2022
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom will continue its partnership with charity Bridging the Bar for a second year, offering a paid internship in Autumn 2022 for aspiring lawyers from underrepresented communities at the Bar.
The internship is part of the new Bridging the Bar Academy, which launches on 1st August. This is a programme run by Bridging the Bar, a charitable organisation committed to increasing the equality of access to opportunities at the Bar across all underrepresented groups.
The Academy will allow 100 Bridging the Bar candidates to access advocacy, pupillage–focused and personal development workshops, as well as mentoring and internships. One of these paid internships will take place at the Supreme Court, and will offer eight candidates selected by Bridging the Bar the opportunity to take part in the five-day placement.
Lord Reed, President of the Supreme Court, said:
“I am delighted to announce that the Supreme Court will once again be working with Bridging the Bar to offer paid internships at the Court this autumn, following a successful pilot in 2021. The internships were a particular highlight of last year and form an important strand of our Judicial Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. The Supreme Court’s partnership with Bridging the Bar is one of the ways in which we are driving forward our ambition to help build a legal profession in which diversity is valued and respected.”
Following on from the format of the successful 2021 programme, this year’s programme will assign each intern to a Judicial Assistant, giving them a unique insight into the workings of the UK's highest Court. Over the course of the week, the interns will observe cases, discuss legal arguments with Justices, and gain insights and guidance from our Judicial Assistants.
Last year was the first time the Court had run such a programme and it was well–received by the interns, Justices, and wider Court. One of last year’s interns said, “This experience has intensified my love for law and desire to be a barrister. It has raised my aspirations and given me self–belief. Most importantly it has demonstrated that it is not merely lip service when the profession speaks on improving diversity and inclusion”.
The Supreme Court is committed to diversity and inclusion, and to increasing the diversity of the judiciary. This internship forms part of the Court’s Judicial Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2021–2025 and spotlighted in the annual update on the Strategy.
Internships are expected to take place during the Michaelmas Term (October – December 2022), with exact dates to be confirmed. To take part in this programme, candidates are required to have completed or accepted an offer to complete the Bar Professional Training Course.
For further information about the internship programme and how to apply, please visit the Bridging the Bar website.