Alice Ratcliffe has just graduated from Bristol with a 2:1 in Law this July. In this interview Alice talks about why she chose to volunteer for the summer internship in the Law Clinic.

Why did you apply for the summer internship?

Having been a member of the Law Clinic for the past two years, I have thoroughly enjoyed the work that is involved. The summer internship was therefore extremely appealing as it offered me the chance to undertake such work, but during a period where academic studies were on hold - this sounded great. I therefore applied because I liked the idea of experiencing the Law Clinic in an environment where I could be fully committed to the vast number of cases, and could spend my working time focusing purely on the work of the Clinic.

On top of all the interesting work, the opportunity to spend my summer in Bristol (the best city in the UK!) couldn't be missed.

What is involved in the summer internship role?

There are a huge range of tasks involved in the summer internship! The main task is meeting with clients, as well as potential clients, and ensuring that their cases are progressing smoothly; the exposure to face to face client contact demonstrates that the work undertaken is exciting, and it proves that the summer interns have a high level of responsibility from day one. In addition to this, the summer interns have been working on advice sheets, for example, and I have been helping with the design and production of this years' Law Clinic Annual Review. Ultimately, no two days are the same!

What and how many cases have you been working on?

It is difficult to say the exact number of cases that I have been working on because different issues arise in relation to each open case, and so I work on the needs of each case accordingly. However, the number of open cases during this period is roughly around 30, with new enquiries coming in every week. The legal queries that typically crop up include consumer disputes, employment law issues, tenancy disputes, benefits appeals and so on. There is a variety of different legal issues to resolve!

I have also been fortunate enough to attend the first drop in session at Bristol Drugs Project where we meet with members of the community to discuss any legal questions that they may have, and subsequently the Clinic can take on further cases.

How have you found the experience overall?

The University and the Law Clinic have been extremely supportive and have allowed me to complete exciting work in a collaborative environment - it has been great. As well as improving my confidence and practical legal skills, the summer internship has enabled me to give back to the community, and to provide help to those who really need it. The experience and lessons learned from this role will be invaluable in the development and progression of my legal career.

Would you recommend the experience to others?

Absolutely - if you want to improve your legal skills and gain experience in a fast-paced, client-focused environment, then applying for the summer internship with the Law Clinic is a sensible decision! I have genuinely enjoyed everyday that I have worked with the Clinic, and I am grateful for the opportunities that the organisation has given me.