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Early Careers Series- Raha Hariri talks to Legal Women about her aspirations in the Law
My Background
My name is Raha Hariri. I have just turned 18 and will be going into the Upper Sixth form this year, aiming to take my ‘A’ levels in 2026. I study Maths, Chemistry, and Geography. I also have a strong interest in the social and environmental challenges facing our planet.
Throughout my education, I have thoroughly enjoyed all my subjects, especially the variety in learning that they offer. Moving between the structured reasoning of Maths and the thoughtful debates of English lessons sparked my passion for subjects that challenge me in different ways. In Year 11, when choosing my ‘A’ levels, I realised there was not one subject I wanted to study for the rest of my life, nor one clear ‘favourite’. The variety in my ‘A’ level choices reflects this. I love Geography, an essay-based subject that fascinates me with topics like Human Rights, Migration, Coasts, and the Carbon and Water Cycles. I have also always enjoyed Maths and Chemistry; the logical reasoning required to reach an answer appeals to me. Each subject develops different skills: Maths sharpens logic, Geography encourages big-picture thinking, and Chemistry demands precision. Despite my strong interest in all three, I did not want to focus on just one.
Why Law?
Following this idea, I was in search of a career pathway that was multidimensional, one that would allow me to have the option to work in a wide variety of areas that affect the world we live in. I then found the Law. After exploring many specific career pathways, I realised that the Law would allow me to make a difference in any aspect of society I felt strongly about. The choice of law stood out to me due to its wide scope and the wide range of potential the career held. Areas such as Animal Rights Law, Human Rights Law, Immigration Law, and Environmental Law caught my eye, as they are topics I have developed a strong passion for; law is a pathway that allows me to have an impact and make a difference in those areas.
In summer 2024, I volunteered at a school in rural Cambodia. While the children were engaged and curious, I saw how limited access to resources shaped their opportunities. It wasn’t about individual ability, but about the systems and structures that affected their lives, a reality that felt deeply unfair. It made me think about how the Law can address inequality, whether in Education, Migration, or other areas where people’s rights are at stake.
I’m equally drawn to Environmental Law, as it combines my interests in Science, Geography, and Policy. Environmental Law sets out Rules and Regulations to protect the natural world and promote Sustainable Development. It faces complex challenges, tackling issues like Climate Change and raising difficult ethical questions. One idea that stuck with me from my reading, was whether it is right to limit individual freedoms to protect future generations. Thinking about these legal and philosophical complexities, alongside my passion for the planet, inspires me to see law as a tool for meaningful change, balancing human activity with the health of our world.
These two reasons, my desire for a career that embraces variety, and my commitment to making a real difference in issues I care deeply about, are what led me to the Law. It is a profession that will allow me to work across many fields while giving me the tools to stand up for the causes that matter most to me.
Raha Hariri
Student-Tormead School, Guildford
https://www.linkedin.com/in/raha-hariri-399949373/
September 2025