Law alum Sabeena Pirooz addressed hundreds of students and their friends and family at graduations in Bristol Beacon this July. Watch or read her speech below – Sabeena explains her numerous hats, her driving passion and gives graduates 5 top tips for success.
My name is Sabeena Pirooz, and I wear several hats. I am a Senior Clinical Negligence Solicitor at Thompsons Solicitors in Bristol, a Director of The Sky Project, a charity that raises awareness of Forced Marriage and Honour-Based Abuse, and I was recently appointed Vice President of Bristol Law Society, with the privilege of soon becoming its President.
It is an absolute honour to stand before you today, and it is wonderful to see such a diverse group of students. In many ways, you represent exactly what I hope the future of the legal profession will look like.
I would like to share a few of my top tips.
1. Find something you are passionate about and drive it forward
I joined The Sky Project during my trainee seat in family law. Whilst I realised that family law itself was not the career path for me, my passion for the charity and its work opened doors I never could have anticipated.
Through that involvement, I met influential people from across the country and developed valuable skills, including public speaking, training and leadership. Those experiences ultimately led to me receiving the Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Award at the Bristol Law Society Awards and more recently the national Legal Hero Award in 2023.
I do believe that the opportunities that make the biggest difference come from following your passion, even when they sit outside your day job.
2. Find your people – and choose your partner wisely
(I sense my husband squirming in his seat right now!) I am not here to give relationship advice, but I do want to talk about the importance of having the right people around you.
When I became a mother, there were many opportunities I nearly turned down because I worried about how I could manage them alongside family life.
One of them was becoming Vice President of Bristol Law Society. I remember standing there in a mild panic and saying to my husband, “How can I possibly do this with the children?”
His response was simple: “We’ll find a way. Just do it.”
That support gave me the confidence to say yes.
I have been fortunate to have supportive people around me throughout my life. My parents have always championed me—my mum is here today—I still remember her marching into school to ask why I wasn’t on the school netball team! FYI I still play now (and still, not particularly well).
You will need your own support network throughout your career. There will be highs and lows, both professionally and personally, and often the two will overlap. Your friends, family, mentors and colleagues will be the people who celebrate your successes and help lift you back up when things become difficult.
I have known some of my university friends for over twenty years (I know you’re all thinking I don’t look quite old enough!) but they remain some of my biggest supporters. I know there are also excellent lecturers here today who may become part of your professional journey in ways you cannot yet imagine. Remember those who support you—you never know where your paths may cross again.
3. When you reach leadership positions, open doors for others
As you become leaders within your organisations and communities, remember the importance of creating opportunities for others; do not fear those who are different to you.
The legal profession becomes more diverse, more inclusive and stronger when leaders actively support the next generation. The people who opened doors for me have made a lasting difference to my career, and we all have a responsibility to do the same for those who follow.
4. Be authentic
It has taken me time to become comfortable being my authentic self (a shaved head being one of them to my dad’s dismay). Trying to be the person you think others want you to be is exhausting, and ultimately it limits your ability to be the best lawyer—and the best version of yourself—that you can be.
Not every organisation will be the right fit for you, and that is okay. A managing partner once said, “You have to kiss a few frogs before you find the right one.”
When you find an environment where you can be yourself, that is when you will truly thrive.
5. Finally, enjoy the journey
You do not have to follow the same path as anyone else. One of the great things about studying law is that you develop skills that are valuable in countless careers and industries.
Keep learning. Stay curious. Be open to opportunities.
Most importantly, take a moment today to recognise what you have achieved.
Be proud of yourselves. Stand proud. And remember to thank the people who have supported you along the way, because none of us gets here entirely on our own.
Congratulations to each and every one of you, and I wish you every success for the future.
Thank you.
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