Mohsin Zaidi

 

I never imagined I’d get into Oxford. I didn’t even think I’d get the requisite grades but at the end of my first year of A-levels, I did much better than expected. My parents then pushed me to apply. I recall vividly telling them that the university was for people like Benazir Bhutto, Bill Clinton and Imran Khan – not people like me. They insisted and so I applied, and now of course I’m glad that they did. 

 

 

A fear of gang violence meant that, on the last day of secondary school, there were police waiting outside the gates to conduct ‘stop and searches’ on the people in my year. I recall feeling helpless in the face of officers stopping us and I think it was this feeling that planted the seed of wanting to know and understand the rules that governed the relationship between state and citizen. 

 

 

I most enjoyed the tutorial system itself, which is remarkable. The opportunity at 18 years old to have proper conversations with some of the world’s leading academics is a true luxury. I wish I had fully appreciated this at the time. 

 

 

Linklaters is a place that strives for excellence in everything it does and it taught me to do the same. I worked on some high-profile cases, including the phone hacking scandal, and, amongst other things, learnt an immense amount about the importance of commerciality in advising clients. I will always be very grateful for my time at the firm. It taught me how to be a professional, allowed me to travel the world and helped me make life long friends.  

 

After working as a Judicial Assistant, you then moved to the Bar, and have been a Barrister with 6KBW for 5 years now. How did that shift come about?  

 

While working for them, Lord Wilson and Lord Sumption both suggested I consider a career at the bar. I had worked with 6KBW whilst I was a solicitor and was extremely impressed by them and by the mixture of cutting edge work they did. I felt very fortunate to be offered pupillage there. Although I’ve been lucky enough to work on some high-profile cases, including during my time at the Supreme Court, the cases that have most shaped my view of the criminal justice system are those I’ve prosecuted and defendant in the magistrates’ court. Unfortunately, I witnessed people being treated differently by the bench depending on the way they were dressed, the way they spoke and the colour of their skin. These experiences leave a lasting impression.  

 

 

The book is as much about class and race as it is about sexuality and faith. But more than any individual theme, I hope the story collectively demonstrates what it means to be young and British today. We have become such a divided society and I believe that storytelling is the most powerful way of instilling compassion for others. It is this collective compassion that will overcome the barriers that divide us. None of us are just one thing and I wanted to write the book to help demonstrate ways of finding common ground where there is seemingly none.

 

 

The book’s dedication reads as follows: 'To every young person struggling with their identity. You are not alone.'  Since publication, I have been overwhelmed by messages of support and solidarity from all over the world but also with messages from people who have struggled with some of the themes I address. It is humbling to think that the book has helped someone feel just a little less alone or given them the strength to speak truthfully with their loved ones. 

 

There is a saying about the best books having windows, so you can see into another world, and mirrors, so that you can see yourself. Albeit a niche journey, I hope readers recognise a universality in the story and are able to relate to it even if they come from completely different backgrounds to my own.  

 

 

As Audre Lorde put it, ‘there is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not lead single-issue lives’. The biggest change I would like to see across the diversity spectrum is a greater focus on intersectionality. Instead of just looking at how the legal profession treats queer people or brown people or women, we should think comprehensively about creating professional legal environments that are accepting regardless of background. 

 

 

Having the time to sit down and learn something as an adult is a luxury. Make the most of it. 

 

 

It’s ok not to want to be a lawyer. There are plenty of interesting and challenging jobs out there and it is worth taking a moment to have a proper look before reaching for a training contract. If the law is for you, choose an area of it that you find interesting and enjoyable, regardless of how lucrative it may or may not be. In the long run, you’ll be wealthier for it. 

 

 

Outside of the law, having A Dutiful Boy published by Penguin feels like something I can be proud of. Outside of everything professional, I am most proud of having danced in the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games.  

 

 

My ideal weekend would be sitting on a beach with sunshine, good music and the company of family and friends.