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If you work hard, anything can be achieved

Northamptonshire Law Society’s president reflects on the inspirations behind his career

The new president of Northamptonshire Law Society aims to use his story to inspire others into the legal profession.

From his initial days as a paralegal, Jabeer Miah (pictured) is now managing partner at the law firm Shepherd & Co Solicitors in Towcester.

“I was the first person from my family to go to university. This responsibility focused my mind on the importance of grasping every opportunity,” he says. A reason behind why he, at the age of 27, became the youngest person to serve as a magistrate on the Northamptonshire Bench.

Jabeer graduated from the University of Northampton in 2006 with a first class honours degree in law. He cites his time studying for his degree as key to his professional and personal mindset… along with his mother who he says still encourages him to pursue his dreams, to continuously break barriers and act as a role model for others. She and his father instilled in him the work ethic that drives him today. “My parents were small business owners. As a family we have always contributed to make the business a success,” he says.

Jabeer has mentored many students and provided work experience to encourage the lawyers of tomorrow. “I hope young people can see the career firsts I have achieved and believe they too can achieve it,” he says. “If you work hard, anything can be achieved.

“Another vital skill you need for a legal career is tenacity. Training contracts and graduate positions are highly competitive and my tutors always impressed upon me the importance of keeping going and proving yourself.”

He grasped opportunities while at university to volunteer and work pro bono with Northamptonshire organisations. ”It gave me good experiences and talking points for the competitive recruitment processes for my early career.”

He still relishes charity and voluntary work, acting as trustee and committee member for several organisations.

Jabeer had begun work as a paralegal before he earned a training contract as a solicitor. “Legal careers can be very varied but every opportunity has its value,” he says, urging students to seize every opportunity available to them.

He hopes too that more will follow him into service as a Justice of the Peace. “At 27 years old, I was perhaps the youngest person to serve on the Bench at Northampton Magistrates Court, an important step I believe. I see a clear need to introduce younger people within the magistracy.

“I also believe it is important for the magistracy to be reflective of society. As a young man of colour and being a devout Muslim in faith, I think that it is important that the judicial process has good representation.”

Jabeer believes his time at the University of Northampton set him on the path to a successful career. It was, he says, inspirational. “Highflying solicitors have to take off from somewhere. For me, that was the University of Northampton. That was down to the quality of the lecturers. They were excellent at teaching and inspiring me through my studies. The Northampton law degree is very versatile, the way the programme develops your critical and academic thinking is excellent.”

Today Jabeer heads the team at Shepherd & Co, where he specialises in property, dispute resolution and personal injury cases. As Northamptonshire Law Society’s first president of colour in its near 150-year history, he takes his responsibility seriously and remains as determined as ever to help others into a career in the law.

“I want to see a more representative legal profession. As president of the NLS, I hope to use my role to inspire more young legal professionals. I have spent my career opening the doors to the legal profession – now I want to use my influence to bring others to the table.”

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