Queen Mary University of London – LLM Human Rights Law
University of Cyprus; University of Vienna – LLB Law
Christina Ioannou is a Legal Advisor in the UK for Latin American Women’s Aid and London Black Women’s Project where she advocates for women fleeing domestic violence, human trafficking and sexual slavery. She supports women from Latin American and BAME backgrounds in navigating the housing system and attempting to get back on their feet, a difficult situation made all the more complicated by language barriers, immigration status and a convoluted legal system. Christina holds a bar qualification as a lawyer under the Laws of the Republic of Cyprus, which she gained in 2016.
“The heart-warming messages I receive from my clients after their case is closed and they are settled and safe is the greatest gift for me.”
Why did you decide to become a lawyer?
I have always been interested in human rights law. However, my passion for law appeared when I was taking my history classes in high school and I realised how the past is affecting our lives today. Patriarchy, colonisation, wars and climate change are all consequences of human history and today we are able to see the tremendous impact they have on our society. For this reason, I decided to become a lawyer: to serve justice and equality and ensure advancement in the legal field that ultimately affects many lives around the globe.
How did you get to where you are today?
Getting where I am today required 6 years of studying and another 3 years of dedicated work as a young professional. It has not been an easy ride for me as I had to leave everything behind and follow my heart. However, I have been blessed enough to have the greatest support system, and for this I am really grateful.
How does your career give you a sense of purpose and meaning?
The most rewarding part of my career is to know that I affect lives positively. My clients includes young girls, elder women and women who have been victims of human trafficking and exploited into prostitution. I am striving to provide the best legal advice possible to help them find their way to freedom from abuse and violence by assisting them to obtain a safer home. The heart-warming messages I receive from them after their case is closed and they are settled and safe is the greatest gift for me. Every time it reminds me why I have chosen to be in this sector and that all the sacrifices I have made to get where I am today are totally worth it.
What’s the most challenging aspect of your job?
Perhaps, the most challenging aspect of my job is to switch off after I come back home. I have spent many nights thinking about how I am going to help a client, whose story has been very complicated and it really seemed like a dead end. Of course, I am receiving the right support from work and I am in a good position now to differentiate personal life from professional.
Which celebrated lawyers have inspired and influenced you?
A person I really admires is Amal Alamuddin-Clooney. Although her legal career has been extremely fascinating and has been influencing many international discussions, she is down to earth, humble and most importantly she never forgets where she comes from. She seems like a person who is true to herself and will always serve the promotion of justice despite her high-flying lifestyle.
How would you like to see your career progressing?
I really want to become an expert in my field. My short-term target is to stay up to date about the latest developments in the human rights field at an international level. In the long-term I would like to get back into academia and obtain a PhD. But there is still time for this!
What advice would you give to a lawyer struggling with the demands of their profession?
Have trust in your capabilities! When I took my first steps into the legal field, I felt like a fish out of the water. It might seem a scary, competitive world out there and it is. The only thing you have to do is to know your case and have faith in what you are capable of achieving!