10,000 Black interns
Successful applicants will take part in an innovative scheme designed to provide opportunities for young Black people at the Bar of England and Wales. We are pleased to support the Bar’s steering group for the 10,000 Interns Foundation.
Applications are now closed for the 2026 programme.
Applicants will be contacted in mid-November for next steps. Chambers and AETOs are still able to sign up to host on our chambers page
The internships will be paid at the London Living Wage. Interns will be given the chance to work in a number of different chambers and organisations to develop their skills and build their professional network.
What is 10KBI?
10,000 Black Interns (“10KBI”) is a programme designed to support Black students and graduates and address chronic under-representation of Black talent across various sectors. The aim of the programme is to broaden horizons and ambition by giving interns confidence in a professional environment, to allow them to make contacts and to increase diversity in under-represented areas of industry, the city, and professions.
Our participation in the 10,000 Intern Foundation programme is to encourage applications to the Bar. The programme has been running since 2022.
We support this initiative in line with the aims of the Bar Council’s Race Panel: to address barriers faced by Black barristers and challenge systemic disadvantage faced by the Black community.
Apply for our 10,000 Black interns programme
How to apply and what the process is
Information for chambers and AETOs
How to get involved
Hear from past interns
The 10,000 Black Interns (10KBI) Programme: ‘A unique platform to break through barriers’
The 10,000 Interns Foundation provides paid internships for Black students and graduates through the 10,000 Black Interns (10KBI) Programme. The exposure to life at the Bar from an array of perspectives has proven to be invaluable to interns. Here, some of 2023’s interns share their thoughts and reflections on their experiences.
10,000 Black Interns scheme has been a "defining moment" in my legal career
Khaliq Martin is the winner of the Bar internship blog competition
From internship to pupillage: my journey through the 10KBI scheme
Pupil barrister Corey Boothe recounts his experience of the Bar’s first paid internship and how it shaped his career.
Timetable
Application process
You can apply for internship through 10,000 Interns Foundation.
Submit your application under the “The Bar” workstream by 19 October to be considered for an internship at the Bar.
Applications will be reviewed by our steering groupShortlisted candidates will be invited to complete a written assessment.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit a video presentation aimed to assess their oral advocacy.
Offers to successful candidates will be made.
Preparation
Interns will be asked to complete an allocation form to confirm their preferred location of placement and practice areas of interest.
They will be put in touch with their group lead to begin confirming internship dates.
A save the date for the induction day in early June will be sent.
Internship
6-week internships to take place over the summer dates of each internship will be agreed with the intern and their hosts via their group lead.
Closing day
An event to reflect on internships with this year’s cohort and hear from barristers.
