Q.1 Dr. Ahmed, could you please outline what inspired you to pursue a career in law? What drew you to study law in the UK, and how did your expectations differ from the reality you found? 

I took up the study of law on the advice of my dear grand uncle (Mahmood Ahmad) who unfortunately passed away prior to witnessing some of the highlights of my extant career. His demise and the subsequent loss of another grand uncle and mentor (Hanif Bajwa) are etched very close to my heart. At school, I would describe myself as a generalist with an interest in a broad range of subjects but chose to opt for the natural sciences at GCE O Levels following the footsteps of other family members. My love for the humanities and social sciences was ignited in the latter part of adolescence during my A Levels when I was transformed into a voracious reader of books on philosophy, history, international relations, comparative religion and literature. This burgeoning interest was at once a quest for deeper meaning in a bewildering world and an escape mechanism in the mundane sense. During this period, I was particularly fascinated by Karen Armstrong’s journey from a Catholic nun to an acclaimed writer on comparative religion, which is narrated in her own poignant prose in The Spiral Staircase (2004). Interestingly for jurisprudes, there was a formative period where Karen Armstrong lodged with the illustrious HLA Hart and Jenifer Hart, looking after their disabled son. The study of law is not that far removed from the humanities and social sciences. Epistemologically, we are essentially dealing with an evolving corpus of knowledge. History’s timeline of events may be compared to the development of case law. Deductive, inductive, abductive and analogical reasoning are applied in equal measure in law as in any other field of knowledge. Therefore, the transition to a law degree was by and large smooth and unperturbed.       

I read for an undergraduate law degree from the University of London (External Programme) with tutorial support from a Recognised Teaching Centre. The external law degree offered by the University of London provided a thorough grounding in the fundamentals of legal knowledge and a range of optional subjects. The detailed subject guides were perfect springboards for a deeper dive into the text, cases and materials. In the final year of the LLB, I read the Conflict of Laws and Jurisprudence and Legal Theory without the tutorial support of the Recognised Teaching Centre. After graduation, I went on to introduce the former subject at the Teaching Centre as an Adjunct Lecturer and also lectured on the latter whilst working as a Pupil Advocate and later Advocate.       

Q.2 How different would you say you found the legal landscape of the UK and any challenges you faced adapting to the academic or cultural differences, and how did you overcome it?

One of the strategic reasons for choosing the University of London (External Programme) was that it was a qualifying law degree that allowed me to pursue the Bar Vocational Course straightaway without completing the Graduate Diploma in Law. I wished to be part of the long and distinguished tradition of Commonwealth lawyers who were called to the Bar of England and Wales.

There is a culture shock when you first arrive in the UK as an international student. The initial euphoria upon arrival gradually wanes into a lingering sense of despondent homesickness. Fortunately, London, Aberdeen and Lancaster’s core of compassion has been instrumental for this humble pilgrim’s progress. Moreover, the sheer variety of delectable culinary readily available in modern Britain was only an Uber away during my time in London. In Aberdeen and now in Lancaster, the presence of my better half has made life much more worthwhile. 

Life is all about learning and adapting. I consider myself a work in progress and learn everyday from my students and colleagues. The Indian subcontinent probably has the largest number of English speakers in the world. There are, however, nuanced and occasionally marked differences in English dialects all over the world. I have grown to appreciate the vernaculars spoken in England, Scotland and the Indian subcontinent.    

Q.3 How did you manage the process of joining an Inn of Court, and handling visa issues?

Lincoln’s Inn is the oldest of the Inns of Court with a strong representation from the Commonwealth. It was a natural choice for me. Dining in the Great Hall in the presence of GF Watt’s imposing fresco, ‘A Hemicycle of lawgivers’, was a sublime experience. I was accepted on the Bar Vocational Course at the Inns of Court School of Law, City University London, which was the original provider and for a very long time the only institution offering the course. I will admit that the cost of procuring visas is on the rise and the process can be cumbersome.

Q.4 How has your international background shaped your work and identity as a lecturer and barrister in the UK?

My international experiences have helped forge multiple reference points when I approach legal problems and life in general. You could say that my identity is derived from a lack of any definitive sense of belonging. This fluidity has helped shape my work as a private international lawyer where there is a strong comparative law and theoretical focus in the search for pragmatic solutions to perennial and emerging legal problems.

Q.5 What approaches helped you build a professional network or find mentorship during your studies and early career?

Publishing in a variety of formats during the PhD and early career will attract the attention of colleagues involved in the study, practice and application of the law. Some may admire, others may be skeptical, yet others may criticise but an awareness of the existence of your work will arise. This should make a professional network easier to establish. Mentors are essential as you navigate your way through challenging situations. There is no substitute for a disciplined approach to the study of law. The insights and reflections arrived at are only a result of this.   

Q.6 What inspired your transition from practice to academia, and were there any defining moments?

I have a natural inclination towards the academic study of law. Very early on in my years in practice, it was clear that I enjoyed the creative pursuits of teaching, research and writing. I realized that it would be all the better, if I could make a career out of my passion.

In hindsight, the key decision that shaped my career and transition into academia was being accepted onto a PhD in Law with scholarship. This led to the other defining moments. The graduation with a PhD in Law from the University of Aberdeen and the appointment to a Lectureship in Business Law at the University of Lancaster.    

Q.7 As a Lecturer in Business Law, how do you ensure your teaching remains relevant to fast-evolving commercial realities, and how do you integrate your legal practice experience into your lectures?

I teach the Private International Law (LLB), Commercial Law (LLB) and International Commercial Disputes (LLM) modules at Lancaster. Although some areas of the law are more amenable to change than others, keeping abreast with recent developments is essential and module teaching material is amended periodically. The public speaking skills developed in my training as a barrister, practice as an advocate and adjunct lecturing assist in teaching complex legal topics in a clear, concise and comprehensible manner.  

Q.8 Looking back, would you change anything about your journey, and what can you advise international students wanting to pursue law, academically or professionally, in the UK?

I am immensely grateful for my journey. Life may not be a bed of roses, but it is really about how you respond positively to external stimuli. International students wishing to pursue a legal career in the UK should be prepared for an immersive learning experience in terms of absorbing academic, professional and cultural differences. Applying for positions is competitive but with discipline, and hard work, the rewards beckon for those who knock time and again. Ultimately, international students are contributors to the British economy and the diverse fabric of British society.   

Q.9 Lastly, how do you view platforms like Virtuosity Legal fostering legal scholarship and providing space for insightful conversations?

I would like to thank Aligarh Muslim University, Faculty of Law’s Virtuosity Legal platform for the invitation for an interview. High quality platforms for instantaneously disseminating online legal scholarship and incisive commentary are indispensable for practitioners, academics and students in this day and age. The time required to read a post on an online platform is only a fraction of a full-length article/book chapter. Significantly, articles/book chapters may be behind a paywall. Digital publications may also complement traditional peer reviewed journal articles/book chapters by offering a distillation of the key arguments, which may be used to venture into the full-length article/book chapter.