Shahenoor Saiza Ali of Sarava in Ba has lived up to her father’s dream by becoming the link between the legal justice system and the community.

The new legal practitioner was admitted to the Bar on Friday making her father proud.

She was one of 33 newly admitted legal practitioners during the Bar Admission held at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva on Friday.

Ms Ali, 23, studied law through a scholarship provided by Muslim Aid Australia who fully funded her four years of Bachelor’s Degree.

She completed her Bachelor of Arts in LLB from the University of the South Pacific (USP) and pursued her Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice at the University before her admission.

Ms Ali said her father, Harun Faiyaz Ali had seen the gap between their community and law. He then encouraged and motivated her to pursue law to bridge the gap between her community and the legal system.

She said living up to her father’s dream was a proud moment for her and her family.

“I did not have an intention to become a lawyer but when I was in Year 13, my father told me of difficulties faced by our community,” Ms Ali said.

“My father told me that he needed me to become a lawyer for the community to serve the community so people can have someone to approach and seek assistance from.”

She also said there were times she wanted to give up as she cried in her study room during her law journey, but she could not.

“Law is not easy and there are so many cases, principles, and law regulations that one has to know,” Ms Ali said.

“However, I did not give up for my family, my community.”

Edited by Losirene Lacanivalu