When it comes to passion, motivation, and enthusiasm, there’s no better role model and advocate than Maryam Razzaq.
Undeterred by examples of prejudice, she’s now firmly establishing her career as a lawyer and recently scooped the prestigious Yorkshire Trainee Solicitor of the Year Award at a sparkling awards ceremony recognising the best in regional legal talent.
But being a young Asian woman in the traditionally male-dominated legal profession has meant a sometimes rocky road for the start of Maryam’s career journey.
Now her experiences have instilled a passion within her to fly the flag for women and give them the help and support she feels she missed out on.
Maryam explains her early years and the route she took into the legal training.
She says: “I was born in Pakistan in 2000. I’ve got a few memories of Pakistan, being raised by my family in a small village.
“When I arrived in England aged 4-years-old, I lived with my uncle in Huddersfield. I attended an all-white school and so it was the first time I’d seen white people in my life!
“My family is very academic – everyone has to do A Levels and then a degree.
“I started taking my A Levels in English, Philosophy and Sociology but I soon realised this wasn’t for me and I wasn’t enjoying it.
“I had a bit of a crisis and decided to drop out of A Levels. This was really a big deal for the family as no one had ever dropped out before. Everyone else in my family my age was in college, working, or doing something with their lives whereas I just dropped out with absolutely no plan or idea of what I wanted to do.”
With so much time on her hands, Maryam realised she needed to find something to do, and eventually secured an administration job at Ridley & Hall Solicitors in Huddersfield.”
She took a keen interest in the firm’s work and, undeterred by her lack of formal qualifications, she set her sights on a legal career.
She continues: “Through my work there I met lots of solicitors and I suddenly thought ‘Oh I could do this!’ Then I suddenly realised I didn’t have any A-Levels and if I approached universities to do a degree then they’d say I needed them.
“I came across Leeds City College which does Access Courses for people without A-Levels but who want to study. So, I did my Law Access Course through the college and then went to The Open University to do a law degree. So, it wasn’t the traditional route of A-Levels and then University, but it worked out in the end for me!
“I started my degree later than other people which I think helped as I was more mature. I’d also actually had experience of working within a law firm which really helped with the theory side of it all.”
It wasn’t long before Maryam started experiencing barriers and challenges along the way.
She explains: “Law is very old fashioned as it’s a case of not what you know but who you know. I struggled with this as I was the first member of my family to go down the legal route and all my close friends who I mixed with didn’t know anything about the subject.
“Coming from a working-class background, I simply didn’t have those connections. I didn’t know any solicitors, judges, or barristers. So, I sat there thinking what do I do from here and who can I approach.
“I reached out to people I worked with, but I also went on LinkedIn and made so many contacts. I asked if I could shadow them, or work with them.
“Whilst I was doing that, I realised there were lots of people like me who didn’t have those professional connections or even didn’t know how to get into law because it’s not just a case of doing your law degree. There are Solicitors Qualifying Exams (SQEs) and you have to do two years’ experience. There’s also a lot of networking involved.”
Wanting to champion the cause of people in the same position as her, Maryam set up Legal Lynk – a new networking platform – with a close friend of hers, Rukhsar Jahangir, a trainee barrister.
Maryam outlines their reasons for setting up Legal Lynk.
She says: “We did this for women in particular because as South Asian women we felt we were getting left out.
“A lot of the events are alcohol centred. So, you’ll have cheese and wine tastings or evening drinks. There were some events held at a local club. We’d never think of going there and if we did then we’d feel really out of place!”
“So last year we started doing events which were alcohol free and women only to bridge this gap.
“The group has proved extremely successful. We get lots of people, from women who own firms through to students. Many are getting work experience through people they meet at our events.
“I see Legal Lynk growing and one day we’d like to create a scholarship to help someone who’s not in a great financial situation but still wants to do their higher education.”
Maryam’s big break came last year.
Again, fired with passion and not wanting anything to stand in her way she applied for a legal training contract.
She explains: “I saw a post on LinkedIn saying Trainee Solicitor required at Fraser Masood Solicitors in Huddersfield and I thought this was my time to shine. I actually emailed the firm and said I don’t have any experience, I haven’t qualified, and I probably don’t have anything you’re looking for – but what I do have is the passion and motivation!
“I was invited for an interview which I was really shocked about as there were over 100 applicants! I told them I had enthusiasm and was open to them moulding me into the trainee they wanted.
“I was so excited and proud when I got the job.
“I’ve recently become police station accredited which means I can represent clients at police stations, and I deal with a lot of our Magistrates’ and Crown Court files as well.
“I’m also working closely with the Job Centre to help local people looking for work come to our offices for work experience.”
She adds: “It was a great accolade to be nominated by my firm for the Yorkshire Trainee Solicitor of the Year. I think this was in recognition of the networking group and my work with the Job Centre.
“With trainees, they tend to start you off quite slowly perhaps just giving you one case file to deal with. I was working on Crown Court files within my first couple of months. The average time for police station accreditation is 8 to 9 months but I achieved this in 4.”
Aiming to become fully qualified in summer 2026, Maryam’s passion for sharing her experiences and helping others overcome their struggles and challenges, is clear for all to see.
She says: “I think the biggest problem for people from working class backgrounds is that we immediately think that we’re not going to make it, and then when we do actually make it we’re still second guessing ourselves.
“For example, when I first started as a trainee, throughout the first week I kept thinking what am I doing here, and I don’t belong here.
“But that’s the imposter syndrome speaking, that’s me telling myself I don’t belong in this professional environment.
“Criminal defence is extremely male dominated, and you just need to advocate for yourself. You must be extremely assertive. I get it with both clients and professionals. A few weeks ago, I instructed a barrister to deal with one of my clients and so bearing in mind I thought the least the barrister could do was acknowledge me and have basic respect, he wouldn’t acknowledge me in the room, speak to me, or respond to any emails I sent! I don’t know if it was because I’m a woman, because I’m Asian, or because I’m young. Or maybe it’s plain and simply because he’s a rude person!
“I think age is a big thing. People say, ‘oh you’re so young.’ I respond, ‘yes I might be young but I’m here, I’ve got a Law degree, and I can do the job.’”
She concludes: “I’m extremely proud of what I’ve achieved, but there’s still a long way to go. My vision is to help as many people as possible who for whatever personal reasons don’t see themselves becoming lawyers.
“I put weekly posts on social media about challenges I’ve faced and how I’ve overcome them.”
