Human rights are a set of freedoms and fundamental rights that are possessed by every human.

They are the foundation of the relationship between the UK Government and the public with the European Convention on Human rights being brought into UK legislation in 1998 in the form of the Human Rights Act.

It is the job of a human rights lawyer to ensure that these rights are upheld by representing those who have had their rights violated, examining new legislation and policies for anything that may contravene the rights of those affected, and conducting research into how human rights law is applied in the UK court system.

Human rights law practices by human rights lawyers fall into three distinct categories: civil-political, socio-economic, and collective developmental.

What is the role of a human rights lawyer?

Human rights lawyers have a job remit wider than perhaps any other type of lawyer. Yes, they do represent their clients in court and in out of court negotiations, but they are also involved in holding institutions responsible for legislation and policy to account.

Some of the rights human rights lawyers will defend their clients against are fundamental and cannot be limited by the courts, the right to life or the right not to be tortured, for example, whilst others may be in conflict, such as the right to privacy and the right to freedom of expression.

It is the cases where multiple rights are involved, often in direct conflict, that problems can occur and it is the job of a human rights lawyer to ensure that their client has the best possible case and present the facts in a way that gives them the best possible chance of success.

Often cases are settled well before reaching the courtroom in the form of negotiations between opposing parties so a human rights lawyer must be an expert in communication and work towards whatever outcome is in the best interests of their own client.

For more information, contact Aamer Anwar, one of Scotland’s leading human rights lawyers

How can you become a human rights lawyer?

Becoming a human rights lawyer requires a huge amount of dedication, commitment, and a desire to do good. You won’t earn as much as a criminal or corporate lawyer but you will have the satisfaction that you are doing everything you possibly can to protect the rights and freedoms deserved by every human.

If you are looking to become a human rights lawyer, you first need to take either the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), or a Legal Practice Course (LPC). These allow you to work as a solicitor in the first place.

In order to take the SQE route, you will need to complete two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) first. To qualify for an LPC you will need to have a two-year training contract with a law firm, usually only obtained after the completion of a Law degree.

At this point, you are qualified to apply to the Solicitors Regulation Authority and become a qualified solicitor.

If you wish to go one step further and become a barrister, you will need an undergraduate degree in law, and to have passed the Bar Practice Course, and finally to have secured pupillage before you are a qualified barrister.

Then if you want to specialise in human right law in particular you may decide to study for a master’s degree in the field, although plenty of lawyers begin their career in a different sector, gain experience, and then make the switch.

What to know before becoming a human rights lawyer

If you are considering becoming a human rights lawyer there are a few things that it is important to be aware of before you make the decision.

Being a human rights lawyer is incredibly rewarding, but it can also take its toll. You will be representing clients who have potentially gone through so very traumatic experiences and you need to be confident that you want a career where you are dealing with such cases on a daily basis.

Successful human rights lawyers have a passion for justice and for doing the right thing but they do not tend to earn anywhere near as much as other lawyers so if you are getting into law for the money, this is not the route forward for you.

In fact, many lawyers find themselves working personal injury cases or similar simply to allow them to take on human rights cases pro bono when they can.

Human rights lawyers are often required to handle multiple cases at once meaning that they must have excellent time management skills and the ability to take on and process huge amounts of information in a short period of time.

Contact Aamer Anwar today, one of the leading Human rights law firms in the UK.