Balancing life as a Muslim and Trainee Solicitor at Shoosmiths

Nurul Amin joined Shoosmiths in September 2024 and is currently a first seat trainee in the Commercial Insurance team based in Manchester. Here he shares an insight into his new work life and how he balances this with his religious beliefs.

Navigating the journey of becoming a Solicitor is a challenging endeavour and doing so while adhering to the principles of Islam adds a further layer of complexity. As a Muslim Trainee Solicitor at Shoosmiths, I have needed to learn how to strike the perfect balance between my professional aspirations and my faith to ensure that neither is compromised. Here are my experiences at the firm so far and how I have successfully upheld my religious beliefs.

Prayer

A fundamental pillar of Islam are the five daily prayers (Salah), some of which are performed during working hours. With the legal profession’s reputation for demanding hours and deadlines, this may often conflict with a Muslims religious obligation. Fortunately, the inclusive culture and supportive colleagues at Shoosmiths have made it possible to integrate my faith within my professional life, with access to contemplation rooms across the offices to accommodate my prayers. This ability to balance prayer with work demonstrates the firm's commitment to diversity and inclusion, reinforcing my belief that with the right support, it is possible to thrive both professionally and spiritually.

Networking and social events

As a trainee solicitor, networking and social events are integral to building a successful legal career, especially through forming connections and building your personal brand. However, such gatherings often involve environments that do not align with the religious beliefs of Muslims, such as the prominence of alcohol. From my experience, Shoosmiths hold a variety of events, some of which do not focus on drinking. By openly communicating my boundaries with my colleagues, I have been able to be selective about the events I attend, enabling me to still establish relationships. For example, during my trainee induction week, I participated in mini golf with fellow trainees, and more recently, I spent an away day with the Commercial Insurance team playing the Crystal Maze.

Ramadan

Ramadan, where Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, presents another challenge. Maintaining productivity at work while fasting can be tough, and reasonable adjustments are often necessary. Shoosmiths' colleagues are extremely accommodating and mindful of the needs of Muslims during this month. Open conversations with my team have enabled arrangements such as increased working from home, flexible start and end times, and extended annual leave on short notice. Additionally, the Manchester office (and other offices) held iftar events where both Muslim and non-Muslim colleagues broke their fast together, fostering a sense of community and togetherness. This commitment to inclusivity is further evidenced by lunch and learn sessions held in the office for Black History Month and Diwali.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion initiatives (DE&I)

Furthermore, Shoosmiths fosters a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace through three key pillars: Accountability, Opportunity, and Community. With accountability, the firm have set up the Shadow Board to bring diverse perspectives to senior management and implemented policies and initiatives like the Race Equity Action Plan. For opportunity, Shoosmiths has introduced reciprocal mentoring programs and revamped the vacation scheme into the Discover Placement to help underrepresented groups enter the legal profession. Lastly, community is showcased through various inclusion networks like Balance (gender equality), Embrace (culture & heritage), Proud (LGBT+), Mental Health & Wellbeing Champions, and Unique (health & disability), celebrating the diverse identities of their employees. These are some of the many initiatives Shoosmiths are involved in to encourage DE&I within the workplace. Balancing life as a Muslim Trainee Solicitor at Shoosmiths, while difficult, has been made easier by the firm’s commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive environment. With DE&I being a key focus of the firm, exemplified by its various initiatives, employees from all backgrounds can thrive and contribute to the firm’s success. Therefore, Shoosmiths is and continues to make great progress on Diversity and Inclusion.

Learn more about Diversity & Inclusion at Shoosmiths.

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