The 10,000 Black Interns programme: Meet Nabil

As part of the 10,000 Black Interns programme, Nabil reflects on his time as an intern at BDB Pitmans.

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

Seeing the focus that the firm places on its Charities and Planning, Infrastructure and Public Law (PIP) departments put BDB Pitmans in a unique position when compared with other law firms you can see in the City. These departments are far from ubiquitous, and a firm with an offering extending beyond commercial areas resonated with my previous voluntary and pro-bono experiences.

What did you enjoy most about your internship with BDB Pitmans?

I have enjoyed the opportunity to gain a tangible insight into what exactly a lawyer does in an incredibly welcoming firm. I feel that being able to apply this insight alongside the knowledge I have gained academically has helped me make a far more informed decision as to whether a career in law is right for me.

If you were to describe our company culture in three words, what would they be?

If I were to describe the company culture in three words, they would be, ‘friendly’, ‘sociable’ and ‘supportive’. From the first day I have had staff at all levels never hesitate to say hello and have a quick conversation, introducing themselves and demonstrating the friendly and supportive work culture. In my brief time here, I have joined numerous events, socials, and lunches illustrating the effort the firm makes even outside the office.

What project that are you working on in your present role that you’ve enjoyed the most?

As part of the Planning, Infrastructure and Public Law (PIP) team, I have helped work on a general advice note on open space for a client hoping to create a new highway development scheme. The note seeks to explain the legal criteria used to determine whether a piece of land constitutes open space and the practical steps the client can take to identify open space. I was allocated one section of the wider advice note, namely the ‘right to roam’ which describes the historic doctrine allowing members of the public to enter and remain on public land for recreation. This work has improved my legal research skills garnered during my legal education in a more practical sense with different resources. It has also been quite insightful to start developing my legal drafting by seeing how lawyers tailor their writing depending on the audience.