How Robina Hussein earned her stripes in the legal profession

A career in the legal industry always seemed the right fit for Robina Hussein, partner at Leeds-based Front Row Legal, however she had to work hard for it, writes Ismail Mulla.
Robina Hussein is a partner at Front Row Legal in Leeds.Robina Hussein is a partner at Front Row Legal in Leeds.
Robina Hussein is a partner at Front Row Legal in Leeds.

A simple philosophy underpins Robina Hussein rise to the status of partner at a niche law firm specialising in sports, media and business. It all comes down to working hard.

Ms Hussein, whose parents came to the country over 50 years ago from East Africa and Pakistan, found an aptitude for the law at an early age.

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She said: “I’m the youngest of five and I was the first one to go to university and pursue a career like this. I had a really supportive network around me. I was really encouraged by family members to pursue a dream.

“The law is something that I just fell into. It was something that I was good at. I did it at A-Level and really enjoyed it. I’ve got a really inquisitive and curious mind so it fit really well with my personality.”

While at school, Ms Hussein got the opportunity to gain some experience at the law courts.

“I fell in love with understanding the law, interpreting the law, knowing how the power of that would help other people,” she says.

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“When I saw it in practice, it just blew me away. How the power of the pen, the power of words could really change a situation.”

However, it wasn’t the easiest of industries to break into. Ms Hussein studied at the Inns of Court School of Law down in London and was working for Laserform, which provides document and research support to lawyers.

“My first law firm job was when I came and worked with Richard Cramer. That was here back in Leeds around 12-13 years ago,” Ms Hussein says.

She added: “Richard had his own practice in Oakwood called Cramer Richards. I started to work for him in very much a bottom level paralegal role.

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“It was really difficult to get a training contract at that time. A lot of my applications would come back as second class post and I knew they were rejections.”

However, with her foot through the door Ms Hussein was determined to make a success of it.

The firm underwent a merger and despite having been fully qualified for just a year, in 2010 Ms Hussein decided to jump over to Mr Cramer’s new firm, Leeds-based Front Row Legal.

She said: “Over the last ten years I’ve been working really hard to get promoted. About four years ago I got promoted to partner, a director and shareholder.

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“It’s been a lot of hard work and a lot of sacrifice but it’s been worth it.”

The Leeds-based lawyer added that it wasn’t just about the status of being a partner but wanting to be part of helping build a business.

Front Row Legal is a boutique niche firm with a total of five staff members. It specialises in sports, media and business.

Ms Hussein works across all three specialisms. It keeps work interesting for the lawyer but the basic underlying principles remain the same.

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She said: “What people forget is that while sports law sounds really exciting and it truly is, you’re applying the same law but in that specific industry. You’re still applying contract law, employment law and insolvency law.”

Another key area is commercial law for the firm, helping small business and owner-managed companies on their entrepreneurial journeys.

“We pride ourselves on being there for our clients throughout,” Ms Hussein said. “We like to build relationships.”

One of the biggest cases that she has worked on was a complex fraud trial that went to the high court a couple of years ago.

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As well as getting the desired result of the client, it also set a precedent for other cases going forward. It’s a case that Ms Hussein looks back on with particular pride.

“It was a great result for the client,” Ms Hussein said. “It took an awful lot of work and a lot of investigation.”

While Ms Hussein didn’t really encounter additional barriers as a female lawyer from an ethnic minority background, she has come across women who have.

She said: “I’ve been very fortunate in that sense because I’ve always had the support of people around me.

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“I’ve always had people who believed in me and saw me for skills rather than the colour of my skin.

“I personally haven’t seen that but I’ve heard people who have experienced that themselves but I’ve been very fortunate.

“When you have the right attitude, you’ve got the right skillset and you’ve got good people supporting you then you don’t have an issue.”

Her advice to other women looking to break into the industry is simple – work hard and don’t give up.

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Ms Hussein said: “There’s no short cuts. There’s no quick fix. It’s very much working hard and proving to yourself first and foremost that you can do this. A lot of sacrifice goes into it.

“Getting as much experience is really important. Business owners are really looking at what value you can add. And don’t give up.

“I put in a lot of applications for training contracts and when I was getting those rejection letters back, I didn’t appreciate it then but over time I’ve realised that I couldn’t offer anything to that business at the time other than saying I’ve got all of my law exams behind me.

“I had all the academics but I had no practical experience. That’s what I was falling down on.”

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Ultimately, Ms Hussein would like to see Front Row Legal expand and become a household brand across the UK.

Just like many other industries, the legal profession has been severely disrupted by the outbreak of coronavirus.

Rather than coming to a standstill the law is rapidly evolving. It’s the biggest change Ms Hussein has seen in her legal career.

She said: “Usually it takes months and years to make a change in the law, whereas now we are having to be reactive and deal with things immediately to ensure that justice is being done and continues to be done.”

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Although Ms Hussein doesn’t see herself as a role model, “I don’t feel like I’m extraordinary,” she says.

The is happy to help dispel some of the myths that may deter women from minority backgrounds pursuing a career in law.

Curriculum Vitae

Job title: Partner

Date of birth: February 1981

Lives: Colton, Leeds

Favourite holiday destination: Lake District, scenery, serenity and hiking

Last book read: This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay

Favourite film: Kingsman or Greatest Showman

Favourite song: All of Me, John Legend

Car driven: Audi A1

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Most proud of: Work: success on (1) Keystone Healthcare Ltd (2) Keystone Healthcare Holdings Ltd v (1) Parr (2) Reynard (3) Medipro [2018] EWHC 1509 (Ch). Personally: completing 26 miles charity hike for Macmillan.

Education: Inns of Court School of Law

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