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This story originally appeared in the latest edition of Hearsay, the Schulich School of Law’s annual alumni magazine.

When Adrienne Graham began her search for a Schulich School of Law summer internship, she was determined to gain hands-on experience in criminal defence. Her goal was to deepen her understanding of what makes a criminal defence practice successful, while applying and further developing the legal skills and knowledge she had acquired through her studies.

With internship opportunities typically reserved for students working at not-for-profit organizations, she knew it could be challenging to find this specific type of position. As a result, she spent her second year of law school reaching out to as many lawyers as possible, including in her hometown of Kingston, Ont., in hopes of finding someone interested in hiring her.

Graham’s persistence paid off when she connected with Sarah Black, founder and lead lawyer of the small, all-female team at Kingston-based Black Criminal Law. She discovered that the firm focused exclusively on criminal defence and assisted many marginalized clients trying to navigate the criminal justice system, particularly those struggling with mental health and addiction.

She quickly realized she could make a pitch to the law school for internship funding and met with Schulich Law Dean Sarah Harding (LLB ’89) to share her idea.

“Dean Harding was fully on board and recommended that I propose a specific project I could work on during my internship that would benefit the community. I am very grateful for Dean Harding’s support and that my internship proposal was accepted.”

Graham started at Black Criminal Law in late April 2025. From her very first day she was immersed in every aspect of the firm’s practice. “My involvement spanned the full spectrum of criminal defence work, from client meetings to reviewing disclosure to Crown pre-trial meetings.”

She also worked on a research project focused on the deteriorating conditions in provincial jails including overcrowding, excessive lockdowns due to staffing shortages, and access to justice issues. Researching and writing the report helped inform her of some of the ongoing challenges that defence lawyers and clients are experiencing.

Graham shares that the most memorable moment of her internship experience was going on the record for the first time. “I sat in on many case management court proceedings where Ms. Black, and her associate Ms. Pollard, helped encourage and prepare me for this next step,” she recalls. “I made a total of five appearances and each time I felt more comfortable thinking on my feet. While they were all brief, it was an important milestone in my career!”

The internship also taught her how to approach each file with the utmost care. She watched Ms. Black tailor her meetings for each client – from the complexity of the explanation she provided to the emotional support she offered to the community partners she recommended.

“I learned that clients appreciate being told the hard truths, no matter how difficult they are to hear, and it often made a difference in how they engaged with the rehabilitative steps they were taking.”

Participating in Crown pre-trial meetings also taught her about the art of negotiation: how to be firm yet fair, how to advocate without compromising ethics, and how to highlight the meaningful steps clients have taken to turn their lives around.

Graham also gained firsthand experience navigating the profession as a woman and managing the difficult situations and cases often prevalent in criminal law.

“I learned from two amazing female lawyers who were invested in my development and valued my contributions. They were so dedicated to their clients and to achieving the best outcome.” She felt support from the criminal Bar in Kingston as well, with other lawyers making time to speak with her and inviting her to watch proceedings.

Through her experience at Black Criminal Law, she deepened her understanding of what it means to be an effective, ethical, and compassionate defence advocate. “This internship was truly invaluable, shaping the kind of advocate I aspire to be,” she shares.“I had an idea going into law school that I wanted to pursue criminal law, but this experience confirmed that it is the right fit for me. Seeing people in this field who enjoy and feel passionate about their work, even on challenging days, was truly inspiring.”

Graham graduated in May 2026 and is clerking at the Federal Court in Ottawa for a year, after which she hopes to move into a career in criminal defence.

The Schulich School of Law’s Internship Program has awarded $3.3 million in support and placed over 557 students with 295 organizations since launching in 2009, making it the largest paid summer law internship program in the country.