Back in 2021 as part of our anti-racism strategy, we created The Azra Kemal Legal Internship Programme, which is a paid part-time internship for women from Black, Asian and/or minoritised backgrounds.
Currently around 18% of all lawyers working in England and Wales are from a Black, Asian and/or minoritised background. We are committed to promoting and increasing diversity in the legal profession and creating an inclusive culture in which everyone regardless of their ethnic background can reach their full potential.
We have had four interns come through the programme since it started. Sannam, our first intern, and Sado, who is halfway through her internship, have kindly written about their experiences so we can share them with you.
Sannam Kerley
I first heard about CWJ while I was doing an LLM focusing on women’s rights in the UK. Reading about all the work CWJ does to challenge the state to uphold women’s human rights and change the law made me want to be a part of such an organisation. When I saw they were offering a paid internship, I immediately applied as up until that point I had been unsuccessful in getting a role in the legal sector due to a lack of experience.
I was lucky to be selected as the first Azra Kemal legal intern. Throughout my internship I gained valuable experience, such as taking part in meetings with counsel and clients, undertaking legal research and I even got to attend an inquest allowing me to get hands on experience of both the inquest system and to develop my client care skills. I also enjoyed being surrounded by those passionate about women’s rights and actively working towards improving the system for women.
As someone of mixed ethnicity, specifically Iranian/English, I think that this internship is important as Black, Asian and minoritised women are underrepresented in the legal profession as well as those who did not attend a Russell group university. Which is why it is important that this internship is only open to those groups.
I have had the opportunity to work with amazing lawyers and campaigners seeking justice for women’s rights, which is an area that I hope to specialise in. I would recommend the Azra Kemal Legal Internship to women looking to get their first step into the legal sector, in particular those interested in the area of women’s rights.
Sado Ali
I had faced significant challenges in securing work experience in the legal sector and upon completing my Law degree at the start of the Covid pandemic, there were not many opportunities readily available. Despite applying for various roles such as legal assistants, legal admin, and paralegal positions, I consistently received rejections. This led to self-doubt, as I wondered if factors like my Muslim identity, wearing a hijab, and ethnic background were limiting my chances in the legal field.
Another obstacle I encountered in my pursuit of legal work experience was my lack of connections and sufficient legal experience. Unlike some, I didn't have family members who were lawyers that I could shadow or seek advice from. In my efforts to gain experience, I reached out to high street law firms seeking volunteer opportunities and even applied for volunteer legal roles at community centres. Unfortunately, I received no responses.
I was deeply inspired by CWJ’s mission and the positive impact they were having on the lives of women and girls who had suffered terrible abuses and injustices.
I'd also heard about young girls and women, especially in the Somali and neighbouring communities, facing issues like domestic abuse, honour-based killings, forced marriages, and female genital mutilation. I often felt powerless to help these survivors due to my lack of knowledge. So, when the opportunity to apply for the Azra Kemal Legal Internship arose, I applied thinking that it would not only provide me with invaluable legal experience but also offer a unique insight into CWJ's impactful work in ending violence against women and girls.
I am enjoying the diverse tasks in my internship. I've worked on a complex legal case, where I prepared extensive evidence for the lawyer involved, and I also contributed to a project proposing amendments to an area of law which I am passionate about.
I'm continuously learning about changes to the law and their impact on CWJ and their clients. This internship has also equipped me with valuable skills that will help me advance my career.