A graduate of the College of Law LPC course following LLB (Law), with some in-depth experience, spoken Bengali and a Cambridge address, is looking for a paralegal vacancy or a training contract. Her CV is below.

Fatima Rahman
69 Green End Road, Cambridge CB4 1RS
01223 394905
07917274024
fatimarahman06@yahoo.co.uk
DOB 13/05/1985

Education and Qualifications

The College of Law, London 2006-2007
Legal Practice Course: (Pass)
Employment law, Family law and Commercial Dispute Resolution
University of Westminster, London 2003-2006
LLB Law (2:1)

Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge 2001-2003
A Levels: Sociology (B) Politics (C) English Literature (D) History (D)
Key Skills: Communication (Level 3) Information Technology (Level 2)

Parkside Community College, Cambridge 1999-2001
GCSEs: 11 subjects 1 Grade A, 6 Grade B, 3 Grade C and 1 Grade D

Legal Employment History

Citizens Advice Bureau, Cambridge Sept 08 – Present
Work Experience
Helping out the team one day a week on a voluntary basis with administration.

Irena Spence & Co, Cambridge May 08 – June 08
Work Experience (Family Law)
Assisting the senior solicitor on a family law case involving a mother wanting the return of her three young children that have been taken into care.

• Solicitor-client interviews; took notes for the case and provided full Bengali translation as the client had difficulty speaking and understanding English.
• Barrister-client conference prior to the Directions for Trial at Cambridge County Court.
­ Briefed the barrister beforehand as to the factual details of the case, and also the comments noted to me by the senior solicitor – the solicitor could not be present at court that day and so sent me on his behalf.
­ Responsible for ascertaining the concise wishes of the client as to how she wished the trial to be conducted - ie. the number of witnesses and experts and also the length and duration of the trial.
• Sitting in conference between the Local Authority, the barrister, and the adjoining party’s solicitors noting the agreements and concerns that were highlighted by all.

Bablu Rahman – v – Salaheddim Elbishari & 1 other Oct 07 – May 08
Involved me independently conducting this case on behalf of the Claimant (Bablu Rahman) at Cambridge County Court.

• Case involves a landlord and tenant dispute whereby the tenant failed to pay the landlord 4 months rent amounting to a total sum of £3245.16 including interest charged at the rate of 6% a year.
• Instructed by the Claimant to pursue the Defendant for the rent arrears; issued the Claim Form via money claim online on the HMCS website.
• Issued and completed the Claim Form, Particulars of Claim, Allocation Questionnaire, Reply to Counter Claim and Case Summary.
• Attended a Preliminary Hearing, and recently attended the Case Management Conference; I asked the Judge to grant mediation as the Claimant wished to settle the case in pursuant of the overriding objective.
• The Judge agreed to grant the request for mediation in which the case was stayed for a period of 6 weeks.
• Mediation recently took place in which I reached the decision to come to a compromise and settle the case and subsequently complete a Tomlinson Order; mediation required me to use my negotiating skills and weigh up the differences and assess the best course of action.

King & Co Solicitors, Cottenham, Cambridge (Probate & Convenancing) Oct 07

Crossmans Solicitors, Cambridge (Probate & Convenancing) Oct 07

Willcox & Lewis Solicitors, Willingham, Cambridgeshire (Private Client) Sept 07

Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridge (Family Law) July 07
Working as a legal assistant providing cover and assistance in administrative matters.

• Typing up a Schedule of Deed, Standard Conditions of Sale (4th Edition), and a receipt of acknowledgement.
• Creating an AP1 and dealing with documents such as TR1, TP1, leases, SDLT forms and tax returns – using Laserform software.
• Creating and amending a Declaration of Settlement, Statutory Declaration, Declaration of Trust, will questionnaire, living will, Codicil, general will, receipts for beneficiaries and an Enduring Power of Attorney.
• Providing advice to clients queries regarding Enduring Power of Attorney in
Connection to the new law which came into force on 1st October 2007.

Irena Spence & Co Solicitors, Cambridge July 2006 - Sept 2006
Work Experience (Civil Litigation and Family Law)
Shadowing the senior solicitor and providing assistance on a voluntary basis over the summer period.

• Researching material on restrictive clauses using LexisNexis Butterworths in relation to a case involving a hairdresser. The issue being whether the restrictive clause was enforceable; my research was subsequently used in the Cambridge County Court whereby the opposing party agreed to settle the case at our terms.
• Completing a Statutory Demand Order.
• Researching information from reliable sources and materials on the reasons why women delay leaving their abusive partners.
­ The case involved a woman who delayed leaving her partner even though she endured years of abuse. The Judge suggested that the violence may not have been as severe as the woman suggested due to her delay in leaving; my research subsequently assisted and enabled the Judge to understand that the reasons were due to having no contacts or accommodation, and in some cases, having the fear of being tracked down and killed.
• Providing Bengali translation in solicitor meetings involving Bengali clients.
• Observing family law cases at Cambridge County Court, and sitting in on solicitor-client interviews.

Sarfo Solicitors, Cambridge Oct 2005 - Jan 2006
Work Experience (Crime and Motoring) Following through and providing assistance on a GBH case, working once a week during university in a three partner law firm on a voluntary basis.

• Sitting in on the initial solicitor-client interview taking notes and typing them up for the file.
• Telephoning legal aid to request help for the client to help fund a barrister.
• Audio typing the police interviews, proof reading and page turning.
• Constantly managing and updating the file.
• Attending Pre-Trial Review at Cambridge Magistrates with the solicitor.
• Also attending the Plea of Hearings along with the legal executive, barrister and the client at Cambridge Crown Court.

General Employment History

Ashwell PLC, Cambridge Oct 07
Executive Assistant to the Director of Strategic Planning

Milton Road Primary School, Cambridge April 2007 – July 2007
Volunteer Helper (during the LPC final half)

John Lewis, Cambridge
April 2004 – March 2006
Secretary in Personnel (Part-Time During University)

I.T Skills

Competent: Microsoft Office, Word Pro, Lotus Notes, Laserform, Digital Dictation, LexisNexis Butterworths, Westlaw, Lawtel and Mainframe. Typing speed: 70 words per minute.

Languages

Fluent: Spoken Bengali (Sylheti dialect).
Moderate: Spoken and written German.
Basic: Written Arabic.

Activities and Interests

I enjoy attending the gym on a weekly basis and doing aerobics. It allows me to physically challenge my limits and to build up my stamina. I also enjoy doing yoga which enables me to keep my mind and body in balance and helps release any stress.

I also enjoy socialising with family and friends regularly going out to restaurants, cinema and travelling abroad.

Additional Information

Full UK current clean driving licence

Referees available upon request.

A recent graduate from Nottingham University with a 2:1 in Law is looking for part-time employment in the District while studying part-time for the LPC. With paralegal and administrative experience, and a Histon address, she is ready to start from September 2008. Her CV follows.

Holly Young

21 New School Road, Histon, Cambridge, CB4 9LL
Tel: 01223 23 4998 Mob: 07854156921 Email: holly_y@hotmail.co.uk
Date of birth: 30/07/1987 Nationality: British

Availability: Part-time; any weekday, excluding Wednesdays. Available to start from September 2008.

Education and qualifications

2005-2008 The University of Nottingham, LLB Law Degree
Grade: 2:1

2003-2005 Hills Road Sixth Form College
A-levels: History (A); Psychology (A) (top 10 in the country); Biology (A); English (B)

1998-2003 Impington Village College
GCSEs: 1A*, 6A, 3B

Employment and work experience

Legal

Dec & Sep 2007 Sarfo Solicitors, Cambridge
Two weeks voluntary work experience and one week paid paralegal work.

Main Duties
Shadowing solicitors, compiling briefs for court, page-turning cases, taking notes during crown court trials, general administration.

Experienced Gained
• Greater understanding of the criminal justice system, the Legal Aid Scheme and a solicitor’s role.
• Understanding of how the law applies in practice.


Jul-Aug 2007 Legal Mission to East Africa
Five weeks in Uganda, Rwanda & Kenya working with the Ugandan Christian Lawyers’ Fraternity, Lawyers of Hope for Rwanda and the Kenyan Christian Lawyers’ Fellowship.

Main Duties
Providing legal educational to rural community leaders on topics, such as Child Rights. Visiting prisons to encourage prisoners and commencing the construction of a library at a rural prison in Kenya. Attending private meetings with the Commander of Investigations for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Senior Officers of the Rwandan Gacaca Courts and the Heads of the Ugandan High Court and Commercial Court.

Experience Gained
• Learned to work quickly and under pressure, as part of a team, and to communicate clearly with people that have little (or no) legal knowledge or education.
• Further understanding of international law and justice, and issues of conflict and reconciliation and corruption and integrity in East African justice systems.

General

Summer 2007 & 2008 Spirit Group, The Bridge, Waterbeach
Waitressing and Bar work.

Experienced Gained
• Increased confidence in dealing with customers, complaints and managing other members of staff.
• Ability to work long and irregular hours.


September 2006 Cross Cultural Solutions, US based non-profit organisation
Three weeks volunteering at San Peroba Orphanage in Brazil, Salvador.

Experience Gained
• Increased patience and experience in addressing the needs of disadvantaged children.
• Abilities and skills in overcoming cultural barriers.

Achievements and activities

Nov 2007 Organised a University Student Union Society weekend away for 200 people in Wales.

Oct 2007- May 2008 Prison Ministry Team Member: meeting, talking and serving prisoners in Nottingham Prison.

Jun 2007 Awarded a full Prof. Sir JC Smith Travel Scholarship.

Jun 2007 Human Rights Lawyers’ Association Bursary.

May 2006 – April 2007 Small group leader of a University Student Union: leading a group of 8-12 students, supporting them through their first year at University and encouraging them in their faith.

1999 Scuba Diving: BSAC Ocean Diver Qualification.

Skills and languages

• Full clean UK driving licence.
• Good with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Windows.
• GCSE French and German.

References

Professor Paul Torremans
University of Nottingham
Law and Social Sciences Building
The Law School
Please contact by email:
paul.torremans@nottingham.ac.uk

Elfreda Sarfo
Sarfo Solicitors
99 Victoria Road
Cambridge
CB4 3BS
Tel: 01223 305551