A Birmingham Muslim woman has become the first Asian and first Muslim president of the Law Society of England and Wales.
Lubna Shuja, a sole practitioner from Birmingham-based Legal Swan, said she was honored to serve as Law Society president, adding that she has taken on the role at a “difficult time” for the legal profession.
“The rule of law has been in the spotlight as never before in recent history. The UK’s economy is on a knife-edge and businesses are having to deal with rising interest rates and high inflation,” she told Global Legal Post.
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Shuja succeeds Stephanie Boyce, marking the first time the Law Society has had two consecutive women presidents.
Diversity
She promised to build on Boyce’s work on improving diversity, social mobility, and social inclusion.
“I am the first Asian, first Muslim and only the seventh female president of the Law Society. I am a Northerner, originally from Bradford and I am from a working-class background,” she said.
“Diversity, social mobility and social inclusion are very important to me.”
With this feat, Shuja follows in the footsteps of other Muslim women who have achieved success in the legal field.
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Earlier in 2022, Laila Ikram made history by taking the bench as the first Muslim judge in Arizona.
Also in this year, US President Joe Biden picked eight judicial nominees, including Nusrat Choudhury who would be the first Muslim woman to serve as a federal judge.
Michigan’s solicitor general Fadwa Hammoud also made history in October 2021 by becoming the first Arab American Muslim woman to argue before the US Supreme Court.