North East law firm out to prove value of internships

A North East law firm is backing the region’s youngsters with the development of a unique work placement to build their professional skills, ensuring they are work-ready on completing their education.

Gordon Brown Law Firm, which has offices in Newcastle and Chester-le-Street, has worked closely with a local school – Excelsior Academy in Scotswood – to shape an internship which will add value to its courses and help students understand how businesses operate.

The tailor-made internship provides a strong grounding in all areas of Gordon Brown within the law, marketing and HR departments, across two half days per week. This allows the intern to experience a real business environment while continuing studies at the Academy.

17-year-old Habeeba Haque from the West End of Newcastle has recently taken up the first internship at the law firm alongside studying for her AS Levels at Excelsior Academy, for which she also receives a paid wage.

Habeeba said: “I began my role at the end of November and I feel I’ve already learnt a great deal. It’s exciting being able to establish myself independently in both a professional and academic sense.

“I’ve enjoyed working across different departments and in particular, so far, specialising in family law. For example, by carrying out research into changing a birth certificate, I was able to support on a family case which I found really interesting – it’s certainly something I can see myself pursuing a career in further.”

Martin Farrar, Specialism Lead at Excelsior Academy, said: “Gordon Brown has provided a wonderful opportunity for Habeeba to develop her workplace attitude and knowledge to support her ambitions to work in the legal profession.

“Excelsior is always working with businesses to help our students gain the skills they need for successful careers and we are grateful to Gordon Brown and the Asian Business Connexions who laid the foundations for us to make the initial contact for Habeeba’s internship.”

Deb Tweedy, HR manager at Gordon Brown Law Firm, said: “We are very proud to have developed a unique internship programme with such a forward-thinking organisation as Excelsior Academy, who are right on our doorstep.

“The result is a rewarding, self-sufficient initiative that will provide young people like Habeeba with an invaluable insight into the commercial workplace and the wider legal industry – ultimately improving their future employability.

“We’re committed to addressing unemployment figures in the North East and will continue to forge strong links with local schools and colleges to upskill young people from an early stage so that they are able to fulfil real industry roles – ultimately achieving their full potential.”