The 10,000 Black Interns programme: Meet Bonnie

Where did you first hear about the 10,000 Black / Able Interns Programme and what interested you?

Since joining UCL, I have been a member of the African Caribbean Society (ACS), and they encouraged us to apply for the programme. The corporate world, especially the legal field, can be very difficult to break into as a person of colour. Therefore, I was both impressed and interested by a programme that not only recognised this difficulty but was also working to increase diversity.

What about BDB Pitmans appealed to you before you accepted your internship?

Definitely the firm’s culture! Their values align with many of my own and I hoped that would result in a welcoming work environment – which it certainly did.

What have you enjoyed most about your internship so far?

Law is obviously a very broad field, and our internship is structured to allow us time in three different departments. So, coming from a non-law background, I have enjoyed this breadth of understanding of how varied a legal career can be, depending on your department.

What do you hope to achieve by the end of your placement?

I hope to have a genuine understanding of what it is lawyers do on a day-to-day basis and how this cumulates into their finished projects. I believe that this understanding will help me know what area of law I would like to specialise in.

How would you describe your first experiences of working in the legal sector?

Fast-paced yet enriching! The Public Law, Infrastructure, and Planning Department has lots of incredibly interesting projects, and I was lucky enough to be part of their meetings and discussions. At first, the terminology and technicalities were a little overwhelming, but by the second week, when you start to understand and contribute, it is a very rewarding feeling.