Category: Story

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!

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

LLB – Chancellor College, University of Malawi
BSc International Studies – Open University

Kumvana Mlumbe is a lawyer for good in Malawi, where she does wonderful things as General Counsel for human rights organisation WOLREC – the Women’s Legal Resources Centre. Malawi has one of the world’s highest poverty rates, with a worrying level of child marriage and gender-based violence. WOLREC was founded by Maggie Kathewera Banda, a women’s rights pioneer in Malawi.  The organisation offers legal advice and representation to women who wouldn’t otherwise have access to justice. The NGO also supports a number of projects aimed at the social, economic and political empowerment of women, including encouraging women into positions of leadership.

“I was exposed to extreme cases of injustice towards women, especially those without legal representation.”

Why did you decide to become a lawyer?

At first it was just a childhood dream. There was only one female judge in Malawi at that time, Justice Anastasia Msosa. I admired her and decided I wanted to be like just like her when I grew up. But in my third year of law school I started interning at WOLREC and I was exposed to extreme cases of injustice towards women, especially those without legal representation. I made up my mind at that point, that I wanted my career to be worthwhile. I decided I wanted to be a human rights lawyer.

How did you get to where you are today?

I believe it was God’s grace. Determination, hard work and self-belief also played a big role. I have always believed that everything is possible. But it was not a straight-forward progression – I studied International Studies and worked for about seven years in Management and Project Coordination before I applied to law school.

How does your career give you a sense meaning?

It is such a rewarding experience when you see the law work for people.

And what do you find challenging about being a lawyer?

The long hours. And family law cases – I find them very emotionally draining.

Which celebrated lawyers do you most admire?

Amal Clooney. I admire her profile in international human rights. I’m very inspired by all female lawyers, especially those who have become influential in their different capacities. I admire some because of their tenacity to make a difference and some because of their respective achievements.

How do you see your career evolving?

I would like to continue working in human rights, as well as lecture at university. At some point before I retire, I want to become a judge.

Any advice for overwhelmed lawyers?

Breathe, just breathe. The goal is not completing twenty cases in one month, but rather getting your client the justice they deserve. It is not a marathon. This advice is actually from me to me!