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December 2024

How My Policy Engagement Internship Engaged My PhD Journey

When I first embarked on my PhD, I focused on studying the shortage of younger criminal legal aid solicitors in England and Wales, hoping that my research would speak for itself. I soon realised, however, that knowledge alone, regardless of its relevance to the Ministry of Justice, would not necessarily drive change. This realisation became clear when I secured a three-month internship with the University of Bristol’s PolicyBristol department in March 2024, a moment that reshaped how I viewed my research and its broader impact.

Policy Engagement: From One PhD Student to Another

After completing an internship at PolicyBristol, I delved deeper into the concept of policy engagement. This blog post is a reflection of what I have learnt about its importance and how it has shaped my approach to research.

First Steps for PhD Students in Understanding Policy Engagement

As a PhD student, you’re focused on deep research, often within your specific discipline. However, the value of your research extends beyond academia, and engaging with policy can be a powerful way to ensure real-world impact. Policy engagement connects academic research with decision-making, bridging the gap between theory and practice. Whether you’re interested in influencing public policy, advising governments, or working with NGOs, navigating this space is crucial.

In this blog post published on UPEN, I provide a guide to help PhD students get started with policy engagement.

My PhD Journey: Finding Passion in the Process

Whilst I was applying for my PhD, I found it extremely easy to get caught up in blog stories of sleepless nights, imposter syndrome, tears, endless revisions, and other challenges and frustrations that almost stopped me from applying. However, as I near the completion of my PhD, I have spent some time reflecting on my journey and realised it was far more positive than I ever anticipated at the start. Given that many are now considering PhD applications, I feel it is important to share this perspective and highlight the positive aspects of the experience.

Where to Next After a PhD?

Finishing a PhD is a momentous achievement, one that marks the conclusion of years of intense research, late nights, and personal sacrifices. Yet, for many of us, the excitement of earning a doctoral degree is quickly tempered by the uncertainty that follows. What comes next? How do you progress from years of specialised study and research into a research career?

From Written Off to Writer: My Journey of Resilience and Rediscovery

In June 2021, I was just a regular Year 10 student, happy and focused on my GCSEs. Life was moving along as expected, until one fateful day, June 23rd, when everything changed. In an instant, I lost my mum.

I still remember the moment clearly. After finishing my shift at the beach café where I worked weekends, I came home to find my dad waiting to tell me the heartbreaking news. The shock and devastation that followed are still vivid, though much of the following months remains a blur. What is clear, however, is how that day set the course for the person I am today.

What Has Changed for Criminal Legal Aid Solicitors FourYears Since Lord Bellamy’s Independent Criminal Legal Aid Review?

September 2024 marked the three-year anniversary of the publication of the Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review (CLAIR), led by Lord Bellamy KC. A pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for fair remuneration and better working conditions for criminal legal aid (CLA) solicitors, the review set out a series of ambitious recommendations to tackle the chronic underfunding of the sector. While the past three years have seen some progress, it is clear that the work is far from complete. This article takes stock of how far the profession has come, and the distance still to be covered, in delivering the reforms promised by the review.

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