Making a difference with law: achieving justice for ethnic minority women

Hi, my name is Maleehah and I'm currently in my third year of LLB (Hons) Law. In this blog, I'll talk about what law means to me and the difference I hope to make.

What difference do I want to make?

My aim in becoming a solicitor is to help women from ethnic minority groups overcome barriers and access the rightful justice they deserve. Many cannot afford to fund their own cases at the litigation stage and the costs of an application for a financial order can be over £300 which means they often don't receive the justice they deserve. I believe this is an issue with legal aid and I want to work with the Law Society to make justice more accessible.

Having fair access to justice could make a significant difference in someone's day-to-day life. Individuals in society need to be able to access justice without financial barriers in their way and I believe reducing costs could help bridge the gap between wealthier and poorer clients.

Supporting women from ethnic minority groups is extremely important to me. Many women from diverse backgrounds experience language barriers and don't know their rights - this can lead to them being in abusive marriages and relationships therefore lacking financial independence. This issue is seen in so many domestic abuse cases and when I explore my career plans, I want to change this by contributing to client justice in everyday family law issues.

I also aim to help reshape diversity and inclusion for aspiring lawyers from low socioeconomic backgrounds as I believe mentorship and work experience opportunities for young people are not enough. Financial barriers are often a difficult obstacle that many aspiring lawyers experience in qualifying as solicitors.

Society needs to change

I value financial independence and education in all aspects of life. Understanding your rights regardless of gender is key. From a woman’s perspective, it is imperative that we have a fair chance of justice in situations like domestic abuse. Knowing your rights and being able to attain justice without financial barriers could help so many women.

Coming from a low socioeconomic background myself, I understand that people can struggle to fund their own cases. I want to make a difference and reform the law surrounding legal aid by contributing my services in pro bono work ('pro bono' generally refers to legal representation being free of charge). We need to break the stigma of costly legal services for ordinary people who do not come from an educated or affluent background. I will always be a big advocate for free legal advice for vulnerable clients.

Changing the way the world works

I think there should be less hustle culture and fewer working days. I would like to see a law reform on our working days and holiday entitlement in the UK. Mental health is a massive topic in today’s society and an increasing number of us are experiencing work-based stress and lack of life fulfilment. The everyday nine-to-five routine has caused a decrease in physical activity and extracurricular activities.

To increase morale and economic efficiency, I believe the Government need to work on improving our work-life balance and introduce smarter ways of working.

Choosing Bradford to make that difference

I chose to study Law at Bradford due to the exciting placement and employability prospects. It's amazing that you can receive support from the Career and Employability service five years after graduating. I have benefitted from support from the Assessment Centre and one-to-one meetings with consultants about my CV and cover letter.

It wasn't just the career prospects but also, the facilities within the School of Law. The Lady Hale Court allowed me to develop my advocacy skills and I learned how to create skeleton arguments, and judicial references and form legal opinions.

How is Bradford helping me make that difference?

Bradford has helped me make a difference by enabling me to secure my placement year at the Government Legal Department. Being able to do the four-year route allowed me to develop professional experience and I will be able to stand out from the crowd in my employability prospects.

I've loved being close to home and I feel as though I have been able to utilise every opportunity on campus to the maximum extent possible. The Students' Union awarded me Council Member of the Year in 2023 and I received Kickstart 1, 2 and 3. Without the Students' Union and the Government Legal Department, my university experience would not have been fulfilling. I am so grateful for the opportunities and growth presented to me here at Bradford.

How would you like to make a difference?

Learn more about how studying Law at Bradford could help you make a difference.