What was your route into the profession?
At primary school, I loved a good debate and was forever challenging my teachers. One of my school reports when I was just eight years old predicted that I would grow up to become a barrister. Remarkably, that prediction proved correct.
After school, I chose South Bank University because I knew it offered a scholarship programme that provided opportunities to marshal (or intern, as it is now more commonly called) with leading legal figures in New York. In my second year, I was fortunate enough to secure a place on the programme. I immediately requested to work with a Black woman judge, something we simply did not have in the UK at that time, and was privileged to intern with the Hon Michelle Weston Patterson.
No one in my family was a lawyer, but I had always wanted to help people and stand up for others. Some of my earliest memories growing up in Wimbledon Park involve helping to paint over racist slurs sprayed across our front door. Those experiences instilled in me a deep sense of justice and a determination to challenge unfairness wherever I encountered it.
I went on to complete my Bar studies, secure pupillage and begin my career at the Bar. Since then, I have been fortunate to serve as a barrister, King's Counsel, Crown Court judge and Family Court judge.
What has been your biggest career challenge so far?
In 2000, when I was seven years’ call, I was instructed to represent Barry George, who had been charged with the murder of BBC presenter Jill Dando. I asked Michael Mansfield KC to lead the defence team.
The case attracted enormous public attention and there was considerable hostility, much of it openly directed at the fact that someone who looked like me was defending in such a high-profile case, alongside a young Black female solicitor.
My approach was simple: keep your head down, focus on being the best lawyer you can be, and do the very best for your client. The rest can be hurtful, but it should never distract you from your professional duty.
We represented Barry George for many years. Following a successful appeal, his conviction was quashed and he was ultimately acquitted after a retrial. One of the most touching moments came afterwards, when one of his first actions was to come to my chambers looking for me. It was a reminder of the importance of standing by a client throughout the most difficult of circumstances.
Which person within the legal profession inspires you most?
It is difficult to name just one person. There are many inspirational figures within the legal profession, including Linda Dobbs, Baroness Hale, Helena Kennedy and, of course, Michael Mansfield KC.
However, the person who has inspired me most was not a lawyer; it was my beloved mother.
She dreamed of me becoming a barrister, but sadly passed away suddenly the day before my Bar Finals. The Council of Legal Education refused to move my examinations, so I sat them while carrying that loss with me. I have thought of her every day since.
My earliest memories are of accompanying her to meetings and conferences where she spoke passionately on behalf of refugees and those whose voices were not being heard. Although she trained as a teacher and devoted herself to raising her family, she possessed an unwavering sense of justice and compassion.
She taught me to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. More than anyone else, she shaped who I am today, both as a lawyer and as a mother.
If you weren't a lawyer, what would you choose as an alternative career?
I have always loved creating and building things, so if I had not become a lawyer, I think I would have been either an architect or a film director.
Both professions involve shaping a vision and telling a story, which is something I have always enjoyed. In many ways, that is not entirely different from what I do now. Whether appearing before a jury as an advocate or sitting as a judge, my role is often to help present a clear narrative so that people can properly understand the evidence and reach a fair decision.
Who is your favourite fictional lawyer?
Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird.
Created at a time when the Civil Rights Movement was gaining momentum, Finch embodied the ideals of justice, courage and moral integrity. His commitment to doing what was right, even when it was unpopular, remains one of the most powerful portrayals of what a lawyer should aspire to be.
What change would you make to the profession?
I would make the profession and the judiciary more representative of the society they serve.
I have often written and spoken about the fact that you cannot aspire to be what you cannot see. Representation matters because it broadens horizons and encourages talented people from every background to believe that they belong.
I was one of the first Muslim women to become a judge. I remain one of the few Muslim women silks and one of the very few who both prosecute and defend, something I do deliberately because I believe it makes me a better lawyer.
I am proud of those achievements, but they should not be exceptional. Diversity is not a dirty word; it is simply a reflection of society. The wider the range of experiences and perspectives we bring to the profession, the stronger and more effective it will become.
How do you relax?
When I have the time, I love dancing, particularly Bollywood and salsa. I also enjoy cooking and consider myself a real foodie.
My greatest source of relaxation, however, is spending time with my children. At the moment, we are all learning languages together on an app, which has become a surprisingly very enjoyable family activity.
Maryam Syed KC, Church Court Chambers.
