Hafsa Arif

Hafsa is a passionate and dedicated legal professional committed to empowering the next generation of legal talent. As the Graduate Careers Officer at the University of Oxford’s Faculty of Law, she focuses on guiding students towards successful and impactful legal careers.

With a solid foundation in legal practice, Hafsa has completed and verified her Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) with the Solicitors Regulation Authority and holds a Qualifying Law Degree from Brunel University London. This combination of rigorous academic training and hands-on experience has equipped her with the knowledge and expertise to support students as they navigate the complexities of the legal profession.

Hafsa is deeply committed to fostering diversity, inclusion, and social justice in the legal field. She leverages her extensive experience to provide tailored guidance and career support to students, helping them build pathways to success in an ever-evolving legal landscape.

The Graduate Careers Officer is responsible for staying informed on key trends in graduate recruitment and market intelligence, with a focus on opportunities relevant to our students. The role involves understanding students’ career aspirations, the needs of prospective employers, and leveraging existing resources within the Careers Service to connect students with industry professionals, alumni, and employers. She also provides tailored career support to ensure students are well-prepared for their career destinations. She works closely with various Course Directors and Faculty Officers, and sits at the intersection of multiple functions within the Faculty’s Professional Services Staff (‘PSS’) team.

Student Support:

1. Curate and share legal sector opportunities with students, ensuring compliance with communication and data protection policies.
2. Provide guidance and communications to students regarding career development and opportunities.
3. Promote and coordinate existing careers support, including graduate career events and initiatives.
4. Collaborate with the University Careers Service to implement new programmes and support services for students.
5. Provide one-on-one or small group career support to students.
6. Develop and contribute to a careers strategy in support of the Faculty’s overall strategy; and report to the Faculty when requested to do so on progress against objectives and alumni engagement metrics, and practitioners/recruiters, to evaluate the effectiveness of career support initiatives and guide future improvements.

Networking and Industry Engagement:

1. Represent the Faculty and University of Oxford, building relationships with law firms, institutions, and external bodies.
2. Foster partnerships with law firms and employers to create recruitment and sponsorship opportunities for students. 
3. Liaise with recruitment consultancies specialising in early-career placements to support graduate students seeking lateral moves.
4. Cultivate relationships with alumni to create networking, mentoring, and internship opportunities for students. 
5. Deliver presentations and contribute to career-related events.