AG was a firm on my radar since my university days, but I always had a degree of apprehensiveness as to how I would fit in at the firm. I spoke with a number of members of the Employment team as part of the interview process and I found the whole process a breath of fresh air. They each made me feel like I belonged in the business, and by the end of the process I was really excited about the possibility of working for AG.

After passing all the interview stages I finally joined the firm and spent a week in the office before we were sent home in the 2020 lockdown. While it was unexpected, I actually enjoyed seeing everyone on Teams and I took it as an opportunity to meet people from across the business. 

The personal investment I have received at AG has been great from the start, and I find that the partners are fantastic at being open minded to new ideas or new ways of working – no idea is a bad idea here! This small gesture can have a huge effect on employees and clients alike. 

For me, that supportive environment has given me confidence and freedom to think laterally and to always consider the bigger picture in my work. This has ultimately benefitted our clients in terms of how we work with them, and what we can offer them that perhaps our competitors cannot. 

Being part of AG Embrace has also been a hugely important part of life at the firm and I am always working hard to make the network more visible, to highlight diversity and to encourage more of it across the business. I am a firm believer that everyone should be able to bring their true authentic self to work. 

As a practising Muslim, I am currently in Ramadan. 

My team and the firm generally has been incredibly supportive during each of the previous years, including keeping fasts with me to show solidarity. 

I recall a particular experience last year where I had a call scheduled at the time I was due to open my fast that day. I felt empowered to have a conversation with my colleague about that, so I asked if we could move the call by fifteen minutes. This would have allowed me time to pray, open my fast and come back to have the meeting. They were absolutely brilliant about it and the call moved immediately. It was a positive experience and one that has encouraged me to be more open about my life with the people I work with. 

I am part of an excellent team full of great lawyers and great people!