Aisha Khokhar

Host Organisation: Bristol Law Centre

I have always possessed a strong and innate sense of social justice undoubtedly influenced by my upbringing as a first-generation Pakistani. My mum arrived in the UK with little or no English. Growing up as an Asian female in the inner city from a low-income background I became aware from an early age of what disadvantage meant realising things were not as they should, or could be.

I completed my Law degree in 2013 at the University of the West of England during this time I worked as a Aimhigher Associate where I was allocated mentees of secondary school level. I provided support, encouragement and raised aspirations and awareness of further education. In 2019 I completed my LPC specialising in employment, family and advance criminal litigation. Prior to taking up my training contract through the Justice First Fellowship Scheme at Bristol Law Centre January 2022 I worked as a paralegal at Bristol Council and Irwin Mitchell.

Becoming a social welfare solicitor had never been on my radar but I have always wanted to help people, however my various employment and personal life experiences inspired me to develop a career in social welfare law.

For me, becoming a social welfare solicitor is a further means by which I can continue championing justice for the disadvantaged and vulnerable especially those who are facing difficult situations and would have no other recourse to exercising their rights.