Sana, a student at Middlesbrough College, completed a paid internship at Cygnet Law in Middlesbrough. This is her story.
“My favourite moment of my internship was attending a court hearing and being able to experience the legal process firsthand,” says Sana.
Her internship with Cygnet Law was so successful that she stayed an extra week – gaining a wealth of hands-on experience in the type of career she plans to pursue.
“I was able to shadow someone different every day and gain an insight on the different areas, aspects and specialisms of family law,” say Sana. “I now have an understanding regarding the core legislation that is involved within family proceedings.
“I attended hearings at Teeside Magistrates Court, joined phone consultation meetings with clients, filed emails and documents on numerous software platforms, filled out forms and listened to and summarised audio recordings used as evidence.”
Through the internship, Sana also built her communication, networking, adaptability and problem-solving skills.
“Moreover, my confidence has improved drastically and I feel a lot more comfortable talking to and working with new people,” she says.
Advice from a mentor
Sana’s mentor, Beverley Sorsby, is an HR Director.
“Having a mentor was really valuable because I could reflect on the masterclasses in more detail, ask questions, and get personal guidance,” says Sana.
“Having monthly meetings with Beverley gave me extra confidence and allowed me to hear advice from someone with real experience.
“She has helped me prepare for the future by giving me advice and guidance that I can carry forward. For example, in one our meetings, we discussed how to prepare for an interview and this has helped me to feel more confident about handling interviews in the future.”
Prepared for my future career
“Career Ready has helped me to feel a lot more prepared for my future career,” says Sana.
“I now know what a professional workspace looks like, and what would be expected of me in that environment. I’ve become a lot more confident, and I can say I’m definitely more comfortable working with new people.
“I’m going into my second year of college, and plan on going to University after that to study Law. After University, I would like to do my SQE and qualify as a solicitor.
“Thanks to my internship, I have gained work experience at a law firm which will help me in the future, and I know now I want to specialise in family law.”
