Modern Law Magazine Issue 69

IN-DEPTH
Co-founded by Rukhsar and Maryam,
the Legal Lynk (CIC) is a community
interest company dedicated to
promoting empowering women
in law and overcoming barriers.
Currently, Rukhsar is studying the
Barrister Training Course at BPP in
Leeds, while Maryam is a trainee
criminal defence solicitor at Fraser
Masood Solicitors in Huddersfield.
Through The Legal Lynk we aim to
create opportunities and foster a
supportive community for women in
law, especially those from a minority
background. Our organisation is
more than just a company, we want
to be a catalyst for change in the
legal networking landscape focusing
on the Yorkshire region.
In this article, we will delve into how
we achieve our goals by sharing
insights about our legal journeys,
the barriers we faced, and our
efforts to create inclusive spaces
and opportunities for women. This
piece aims to highlight our ongoing
efforts to eliminate barriers in the
legal profession, especially for the
next generation of women in law.
Additionally, we will provide insights
on the benefits of creating inclusive
spaces and offer guidance on how
others can foster more inclusivity in
their respective spaces.
We have faced many struggles
during our legal journeys that have
inspired and pushed us to create a
change. Rukhsar and Maryam both
come from a background of no
legal connections and the first in
their families to attend university.
Both of us grappled with where to
begin with research and gaining
access to opportunities necessary
to excel in a career in law. Rukhsar
encountered challenges due to her
sudden deterioration in health during
university which led to accessibility
issues for external opportunities,
such as networking events. Maryam
is a first-generation immigrant and
found quite early on being the
first person in her family to study
law posed a unique challenge.
Her parents, who did not have the
opportunity to study at degree level,
were not able to provide the support
that she needed, through no fault of
their own, they simply did not know
how.
The Legal Lynk seeks to actively
cultivate not only an online
community but host educational and
social all women exclusive events.
This is because we recognise the
significance of fostering connections
and empowerment within our
community. We purposely organise
women only events because
we acknowledge the historical
dominance of men in networking
events and business discussions.
Whilst we respect all opinions on
this matter, The Legal Lynk and the
members firmly believe in providing
women with dedicated spaces
for networking and professional
growth. We women face a distinct
set of barriers in the legal world
and our events and platform open
discussions about these challenges.
To enhance our inclusivity even
further, The Legal Lynk takes a
deliberate approach not to serve
alcohol at any events. This decision
stems from our understanding that
attendees for several reasons may
choose not to drink, creating a more
comfortable environment. This
commitment aligns with our values
and forward-thinking perspective
by challenging the traditional
norms in the legal profession. We
believe this shift is needed and
essential, especially considering that
preferences are constantly changing.
People are no longer looking to drink
and network, they seek events that
are going to benefit them, whether it
is career advancement or creating a
stronger network.
Our multifaceted approach is based
on the belief that a strong network
and opportunities are what women
need to succeed in the world of
law. In addition to our women only
events, we create opportunities
for the students in our network by
actively working with universities
and hosting events where female
students can meet women who are
already practising and are in senior
positions. Our most recent example
of this is our event with Bradford
University where we held a panel
event allowing students to ask
panellists any questions they had
regarding application processes.
In addition to our student-centred
events, The Legal Lynk offers a
unique benefit to those attending
our events. We raffle prizes free of
charge to those who simply attend
because we believe that networking
should not just be done for the
sake of networking; individuals who
attend should benefit. It is also a nice
way for both Rukhsar and Maryam to
give back to the community. Some
of our prizes include shadowing a
barrister, a free CV review, and work
experience with a trainee solicitor.
The benefits of what we are doing
have been evident through the short
period of time The Legal Lynk has
been established. Many individuals
were able to access networking
events for the first time due to
the inclusive approach. The online
community along with the events
have led to professional growth and
collaboration across the organisation
as the space has provided a positive
environment for everyone to thrive
and work with one another. We are
committed to ensuring everyone,
regardless of their journey, has
access to a thriving legal community.
Our approach and work has been
extensively recognised by esteemed
establishments providing us the
opportunity to participate in
roundtable discussions for changes.
We recognised the difficulty in
27
securing legal experience while
juggling other responsibilities, hence,
have expanded the team. This
expansion aims to provide women in
law with flexible roles, such as social
media assistants, allowing them to
showcase their legal research skills.
We have seen ambassadors reaching
out to potential leads, enhancing
their negotiation skills.
The legal world should embrace
inclusivity because doing so
addresses field wide issues. A
legal environment that encourages
inclusivity becomes a hub for
innovation, creativity and resilience.
The Legal Lynk, spearheading these
efforts, sets an example for the legal
industry. Our approach stands as a
powerful way to effectively combat
barriers and create a more dynamic
legal landscape for all.
Others could take various steps
to promote inclusivity within the
legal community. While organising
all women’s events may not be
appropriate or necessary for
everyone, they can assess existing
barriers and identify ways they
could help. This might include
offering events for free, providing
work experience opportunities,
hosting inclusive events at their
firms. Additionally, recognising and
participating in religious holidays
beyond Christmas contributes to
a more inclusive and accepting
environment. By actively addressing
these, individuals and organisations
could play a significant role in
breaking down barriers and fostering
a more diverse and inclusive legal
environment.
To conclude, through all-women
events, innovative approaches,
and commitment to inclusivity,
The Legal Lynk is reshaping the
legal landscape. Will you join us in
fostering a diverse and dynamic
future for women in the legal
profession?
Maryam Razzaq,
Director at The Legal Lynk and Trainee
Solicitor at Fraser Masood Solicitors,
Rukhsar Jahangir,
Director at The Legal Lynk and Advocate
at Cloverleaf Advocacy