
International law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has welcomed a new intake of interns under a revolutionary programme aiming to improve diversity and inclusion within the legal industry.
Six interns joined the firm as part of its collaboration with the 10,000 Interns Foundation, an organisation working to increase the representation of under-represented groups across sectors including finance, law, and professional services.
The organisation, founded in 2020, hopes to facilitate 10,000 paid internships which will go to under-represented groups, with the firm's involvement in the programme in line with its continued commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as part of it's responsible business strategy.
Now in its second year of operation with the firm, the programme expanded in scope to include members of the 10,000 Able Interns programme alongside its continued support of the 10,000 Black Interns programme, with six interns joining WBD for a six-week period at its offices in Bristol, Newcastle, and London.
Interns were embedded in a number of fee-earning and business services teams across the firm, including Employment, Planning & Infrastructure, Responsible Business, Core Real Estate, Energy & Utilities, and Operational Property.
Morenike Kuye, who completed their internship in the firm's London office, said:
"Right from the first day of my internship, I was given adequate support and guidance. Being my first major legal role, I was initially worried about what to expect. However the support I received helped me in navigating every task.
"During my internship, I also had the opportunity to help lawyers from other teams like Professional Risks and Banking which significantly improved my knowledge of the different practice areas and the roles of lawyers in these areas.
"During their six week internship, the intake spent time working across and supporting teams to gain a better understanding of the day-to-day work in the legal sector, but also get an insight into some of the specifics of the legal process"
Morgan Sawyer, who worked in the Bristol office, said:
"I began my time at WBD in the responsible business team, which was a part of business services I didn't even know existed before the internship. I found this very exciting and was really grateful for all the trust placed in me to be able to complete tasks independently.
"One of the projects I really loved was designing and organising the EnviroNovember campaign in the Bristol office, this allowed me to talk to a range of people throughout the business and I learnt so much about sustainability within the legal sector."
Naomi Oladini, who completed their internship in London, said:
"Throughout my time here, I've been overwhelmed by the kindness, support and well wishes from everyone. This experience has taught me so much – not only about myself and the career I want to pursue, but also about the impact I hope to have on the world.
"I particularly enjoyed learning about planning laws, including section 106 agreements and compulsory purchase orders, as well as drafting lease reports and gaining insights into professional negligence claims. Every task has broadened my understanding of the legal field."
Hannah Sharps, senior early talent advisor at WBD, said:
“These six talented individuals have made fantastic contributions to the business in their short time with us, and their energy, creativity and innovative perspectives has added enormous value.
"We are thrilled to be able to support the 10,000 Interns Foundation in working towards their vital goal and it's fantastic to see the positive experiences and knowledge gained by our intake during their time spent at WBD."
The programme represents a crucial element of WBD's commitment to building an ever more sustainable, inclusive, and progressive business, and works alongside the firm's drive to support a more diverse profession.
For more information on the 10,000 Interns Foundation, please visit 10000internsfoundation.com.
This article is for general information only and reflects the position at the date of publication. It does not constitute legal advice.