Doctoral Researcher
Uzma is a UK qualified lawyer with over 15 year’s professional experience in the commercial and not-for-profit sector. She is currently In-House Head of Legal for a Commercial Company. She completed her LLB (Law) at King’s College London and went on to obtain an LLM (Public International Law) with Distinction at the London School of Economics, where she was awarded the Derby/Bryce Prize; the Higgins Lauterpacht Prize; and the Georg Swarzenberger Prize. She completed the Legal Practice Course with Distinction at the University of Law she was awarded the Roger Leylan Award for most outstanding student. She went on to train and qualify as a solicitor at Clifford Chance LLP, which included a secondment to the civil liberties organisation, Liberty.
Uzma has a deep desire to help the vulnerable in society and has previously worked at the UNHCR, London, and the United National International Criminal Tribunal at the Hague, Netherlands. In recent times, she has volunteered as a researcher at Coram International undertaking research on international children’s rights and currently sits as a Panel Member for One Adoption West Yorkshire and Infinity Foster Care. She also holds a part time Judicial Appointment as Chair of Valuation Tribunal, England. As an adopter and caregiver with lived experience of parenting a child with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), Autism and ADHD for 17 years, she is actively interested in furthering research to help promote an understanding of the needs of those affected with FASD, especially in relation to interactions with the criminal justice system. Her research topic will explore the protective/risk factors of individuals with FASD to encounters with the criminal justice system as suspects or victims of sexual offences. Her research will focus on lived experience of those with FASD as well as the experiences of their caregivers. By exploring this very under-researched area, she hopes her findings will inform development of appropriate and effective strategies, interventions and support before, during and after engagement with the criminal justice system, ultimately providing more a positive outcome for those affected by FASD.