ARFA ASIF

LLM LEGAL PRACTICE COURSE, UNIVERSITY OF LAW

Through volunteering within my local community, I have gained an insight into the undeniable lack of access to justice within marginalised communities.

This was particularly highlighted in my work as an Asylum Case Analyst, in which it was clear that the basic human rights of asylum seekers and refugees are often denied.

I believe there are three main reasons for the lack of access to justice, namely that: individuals do not feel empowered enough to demand their rights, there is a lack of representation within the legal profession, and a lack of understanding of the overly-complex justice system within our communities.

The Aziz Foundation has provided an opportunity for these issues to be tackled; through increasing representation within the legal sector, Muslim communities will, in turn, be empowered to enforce and understand their rights. Over time, this will help diminish the strong barriers individuals face when accessing justice.