LLB – University of Birmingham
LLM – University College London
Shanzé Shah works in the Government Legal Service for the UK’s Department of Education, and is currently applying for pupillages. In summer 2019 Shanzé spent time in Athens with our partners Goodwill Caravan, where she trained in immigration law with Greek lawyers and assisted on the asylum process. Thousands of people fleeing war and persecution are currently being held in appalling conditions in Greece as they navigate the legal minefield of their asylum applications. Here Shanzé tells us about her experience working as a lawyer for good in Greece.
“Working with Goodwill Caravan gave me hope that with the right skills and motivation we can help people in this crisis.”
What made you decide to volunteer in Athens with Goodwill Caravan?
Over the years I have completed several internships globally – from China to Israel. However, most of my internships have had a commercial focus, so I wanted an experience where I could help in a way that was separate from contracts and companies, and directly connected to the people in difficult situations. I also wanted to see first-hand what the situation was like in Athens, as Greece is still receiving a great number of refugees but without getting the aid and attention that the crisis needs.
Why did you become a lawyer?
I did work experience in court as a 14-year-old, and after that I guess I wanted to do nothing else but pursue the Bar. As I grew up and experienced more areas of law, I realised a lawyer isn’t just as an oral advocate but also an academic, an intellectual, a problem solver and a mediator. These are all things I want to be in life and being a lawyer allows me to pursue them all.
What did the experience of helping refugees on the ground mean to you?
Recently the refugee crisis hasn’t been given much heed on the news, and we don’t hear about it as often as we use to. This experience therefore felt immensely important – now more than ever – and I wanted to understand the process a refugee has to go through from start to finish, holistically. While I was in Athens I was able to understand the difficulties refugees face in trying to gain some form of permanent status within Europe, simply trying to establish any sort of certainty within their lives, and saw how difficult pure survival is within their circumstances.
For me this experience meant seeing how my legal skills could be put to use in helping refugees that are going through this process. Due to the differences in UK law and Greek law, however, this is not a simple task. But even being able to help by raising awareness and funds for Goodwill Caravan was important to me.
What do you enjoy about your legal career?
I enjoy all things academic, but I am also an extroverted people’s person – so I like working with others and helping resolve issues. I have just finished studying so I am just at the foot of my career, but what excites me most is how diverse law is as a profession with copious opportunities to make a valuable impact.
How did this experience compare to your professional life?
This was nothing like any previous experience of mine. I was able to understand the hardships of being an immigration lawyer in Greece and how arduous the process of getting a client through this process can be. It also showed me how much resilience is required by both the refugees and the lawyers, but also gave me hope that with the right skills and motivation we can help people in this crisis – even if that is on a smaller scale.
Would you recommend volunteering with Goodwill Caravan to help refugees?
I would recommend anyone who is able to take part in this experience to do so, as we are so used to reading about these issues through a screen that we sometimes forget this is the living reality for some. Going to Athens with Goodwill Caravan allows one to see the true realities of the refugee crisis and understand in what ways those who are going through this crisis can be helped.
Get involved in our partnership with Goodwill Caravan. This is a two-week volunteer placement in Athens, during which you’ll receive immigration law training and work on asylum cases. You’ll be hosted by Goodwill Caravan’s legal team, who will support you in managing your own cases with some of the most vulnerable asylum seekers in remote detention camps. Our lawyers are working on the frontlines to get people moving on to a place of safety, dignity and the chance to rebuild their lives, and YOU can help. For more information, please send an email with your CV and the subject line GOODWILL CARAVAN to info@lawyersforgood.net