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Dereen Kakabra Talks to Legal Women UK About Her Interest In the Law and Journey to Legal Qualification
My interest in law was not sparked by courtroom dramas or an early certainty that I would become a solicitor. Instead, it grew quietly and persistently from lived experience.
I came to the UK at the age of eight from the war-torn country of Iraq, unable to speak a word of English, without any friends, connections or a roadmap. I started school in Year 4, navigating an unfamiliar education system, culture and language while carrying the weight of adaptation and expectation at a very young age. I remember feeling unheard and unseen, and the uncertainty that surrounded my family’s new reality, yet within that uncertainty, I also sensed possibility. I learned early on that access to information, guidance and the ability to communicate can be transformative and this became an essential part of my development. My own experience helped me to understand how vital it is to have people who can explain, advocate and guide me through my journey.
As a first-generation aspiring lawyer, I had no blueprint- so curiosity, research and asking questions became an integral part of my everyday curve. I navigated both Academia and the legal job market, learning through resilience and persistence and forging my own path to where I find myself today.
My Journey So Far
My journey towards qualification has been far from linear, but it has been deeply intentional. After completing my GCSEs and A-levels, I gained early exposure to law through the PRIME Committee, an initiative determined to improve access to, and socio-economic diversity within, the legal profession. Through this programme, I secured a one-week work experience placement with a regional firm, where I gained insight into areas of Property Law and Development. This experience provided me with a valuable introduction to legal practice and confirmed my interest in pursuing a career in the Law. I later went on to study my undergraduate law degree at the University of Southampton before receiving a fully funded scholarship from the Aziz Foundation to pursue my LPC LLM at the University of Law. The Aziz Foundation is a UK-based family charitable foundation established to support British Muslims to bring positive change to their communities and wider society. It primarily offers fully funded Master’s scholarships to talented British Muslim students to improve access to postgraduate education and career opportunities. Over the past decade, the Foundation have invested over £9 million in British Muslim communities and aims to reduce equality gaps and nurture confident, articulate leaders who can engage with public narratives and drive social impact. The Foundation also create paid internship opportunities with employers and partners to help address under-representation in various sectors.
Alongside my studies, I worked consistently in law firms gaining experience across Family Law, Immigration, Property Law and Enfranchisement. I also spent time working with a Judge and Barrister on Family and Immigration matters which sparked an interest in Contentious law. These experiences allowed me to see the law beyond theory as something that directly shapes people’s lives.
Like many from non-traditional backgrounds, I faced repeated rejections when applying for training contracts. I noticed how few people in the profession looked like me: a hijab-wearing Muslim woman from a minority ethnic background. I knew representation would be a challenge, but it never deterred my ambition. If anything, it strengthened my resolve to belong in a space where voices like mine were underrepresented. During this time, I actively sought guidance through mentorship programmes such as GROW mentoring and leaned on the support of my LinkedIn network, connecting with professionals who offered perspective and practical advice that helped me navigate the process with confidence.
Alongside my professional aspirations, I became a wife and a mother in a short space of time. Balancing motherhood, marriage and a legal career was far more challenging that words can explain. Revision often happened late at night after my daughter had gone to bed, applications were drafted between work shifts, the constant guilt and self-criticism of whether I’m even good enough clouded my thoughts and exhaustion became constant. Despite this, I knew this was temporary, and that I had come far too far to give up now.
Despite working harder with each Training Contract application cycle, the outcome remained the same and my efforts were fruitless. With no Training Contract on the horizon, I eventually made the conscious decision to reassess my approach and pursue a route where I could prove myself internally, grow in confidence and build credibility within a firm before qualifying.
I joined my current firm as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal in the Employment Team in November 2024, with a clear vision of building a long-term career. Within a year, I successfully completed probation and progressed to a Trainee Solicitor role where I joined the Employment Litigation team in November 2025. This opportunity has provided me with invaluable exposure to a broad range of employment law matters and a realistic insight into legal practice. I am particularly drawn to the varied nature of this area, which combines advisory work with contentious and procedural elements, and offers the opportunity to work with both employer and employee clients. Employment Law also resonates with me because it sits at the intersection of dignity, financial security, wellbeing, diversity and inclusion.
Throughout my legal roles, I often struggled in silence, masking how I was really feeling and not knowing I was doing it. I often found myself overwhelmed, exhausted and close to burnout, despite performing well and meeting expectations. It was not until I received a neurodivergent diagnosis that I was finally able to make sense of these experiences and understand myself better. This diagnosis gave me the language and clarity I had been missing for years; after navigating these challenges without adjustments or support, and provided me with the closure I needed. This experience strengthened my commitment to championing neurodiversity, mental health awareness, and more inclusive practices within the legal profession. I actively use my social media platforms, particularly LinkedIn, to share insights, personal reflections, and resources that promote open conversations around these issues within the legal community. Through engaging with professionals, students and organisations online, I am proud to contribute to shaping a more equitable and inclusive future for generations to come.
Beyond my formal legal work, I am deeply passionate about widening access to the profession and using my lived experiences to foster meaningful dialogue and understanding for aspiring solicitors. I have been fortunate to be mentored by professors, judges and qualified lawyers who generously shared their wisdom and supported my journey. This has inspired me to give back in the same way, where I regularly support sixth-form students, law undergraduates and aspiring solicitors from low socio-economic and minority ethnic backgrounds through mentoring, content creation and guidance. I aim to demystify routes to qualification, challenge the notion of a single “correct” path into law, advocate for mental health and awareness and remind others that regardless of the background or journey, they too belong. Mentoring others who find themselves facing a similar challenges has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey.
My Future Aspirations In Law
Looking ahead, my immediate goal is to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales.
Longer term, I want to continue advocating for diversity, accessibility and inclusion within the legal profession and to help build platforms that provide clear, culturally sensitive legal information for underrepresented communities.
The opportunities I now find myself in were not handed to me lightly but were earned through perseverance, hard work and an unwavering belief that I belonged even when doubt crept in.
The law has given me a voice and the ability to use my experience and skills to help others. I am a firm believer that the Legal Profession is stronger when it reflects the diversity of the society it serves and it is only through open dialogue and sharing our lived experiences that we can be part of the change.
Dereen Kakabra
LLB, LPB LLM
Trainee Solicitor, Warner Goodman LLP