Meet the Presidents
With an enviable reputation for excellence our award-winning student societies work closely with the School and our alumni network to keep relationships with the sector alive and strong. Here this year's presidents outline their goals for the year, talk about their personal aspirations - and how they are planning to work with us to create a community of scholarship in which all students can thrive.
- 'Best Law Society Overall': UBLC, winners, LawCareers.Net Awards 2020
- 'Best New Society': Bristol SU Society Awards 2020
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After graduating, I plan to complete a law conversion course, and to begin a journey that hopefully leads to a career in animal law. No matter where this leads, I am committed to raising awareness for animal rights and exploring the ways that their voices can be heard and respected.
In the vast horizon of possibilities, I am eager to embrace diverse experiences and knowledge, seeking to make an informed decision. However, my primary objective is crystal clear: to make a career in advocacy and utilize my abilities to represent the underprivileged and help the community.
After my graduation, I aspire to fuel global progress through project financing, leaving a lasting, positive impact.
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I aim to make a positive impact in the world, I am currently exploring a variety of options focusing on justice and education and look forward to the future.
To be a successful litigation lawyer back home in Singapore for the years to come.
Embracing Taylor Swift's advice to 'get a good lawyer', I'm on my path to become one at a leading City law firm after graduating!
After graduation, I intend to qualify and practice as an attorney in the US, working on human rights issues, before returning to the UK to qualify as a solicitor advocate.
Following graduation, I shall be starting off as a trainee in commercial litigation! Eventually, I hope my career leads me to the legislation and policy-making division.
I aspire to have an impact. Whether that be advising a global bank on the financing of a green energy project, or supporting students as a secondary school teacher, I want to feel like the work I do is helping to find solutions to big problems.
Instead of rushing, I would like to take my time to figure out where my future lies. Following graduation, I hope to commence a training contract in an international firm or start an internship at an organisation focused on public international law. I am also considering a postgraduate degree in the field of human rights.
As a privileged student, I aim to establish a charity or a pro-bono facility after raising enough funds by first gaining experience at a commercial law firm, through which I will also promote the recruitment and support for diverse aspiring solicitors.
Whether it be practicing law or not, I hope to find fulfilment in my career and know that I have made a positive impact.
Imogen Suett, Bristol Animal Law Society
Hello! My name is Imogen Suett and I am President of the brand new Bristol Animal Law society. I am a second-year Philosophy and Politics student. Whilst I may not be a law student, through my passion for animal rights, I have come to find that there is a vital place for the law in creating and demanding a better world for animals. I am an advocate for an intersectional approach therefore I greatly encourage non-law students to engage with how the legal field can intertwine with their own degrees and interests. This year we will be focusing on increasing awareness and education through external speaker events from a variety of disciplines, informal presentations and discussions, animal rights-related film nights, collaborations with other societies…and more!
Objectives for 2023/24
- To increase awareness/education about animal law.
- To encourage and welcome non-law students to engage with the law/understand its utility.
- To create relationships between the University of Bristol and animal-law related organisations.
Srishti Garg, Bar Society
Hi! I am Srishti Garg, currently serving as the President of the Bar Society for the academic year 2023-24. As a first-generation law student from a small city in India, I never imagined being part of such a prestigious institution, let alone leading its esteemed society. With no connections in the legal community and as a female of colour, I once believed that my background would bar me from becoming a barrister. However, the Bar Society shattered this misconception during my first year, inspiring me to extend the same support to those who feel that "the bar is not for people like me." Moreover, my time in Bristol has been delightful, allowing me to explore various interests such as art, history, dance, and indulging in diverse culinary experiences, enriching my cultural understanding especially with the Student Union and other student societies.
Objectives for 2023/24
- My aim is to nurture and elevate this society into its best version throughout my tenure and burst the rumour of Bristol being only a solicitor focused University.
- I hope to bring back the Annual Charity Moot and make it a bigger event with people from diverse backgrounds in Law.
- I want to create a much closer community of Bar aspirants and collaborate with other societies, the Law School, Careers Service, and the Student Union to bring about more opportunities and awareness.
Paul van den Broek, Commercial Awareness Society
Hi! My name is Paul van den Broek, the President of the Commercial Awareness Society (CAS) for the 2023/24 academic year. Currently in my final year, pursuing a degree in Politics and International Relations. My previous involvement with CAS includes serving as the Director of Marketing last year, where I successfully managed the society's social media platforms and spearheaded marketing efforts. My primary objective for this year is to forge valuable partnerships and enhance information accessibility, thereby enriching our members' commercial awareness and ultimately facilitating their career prospects. I have every confidence that, in collaboration with my committed committee members, we are fully prepared to offer extensive assistance and mentorship to our members as they delve into the realm of commercial law in the coming year.
Objectives for 2023/24
- Grow student membership by focusing on the Societies’ marketing strategy.
- Help students excel in interviews and internships by enhancing their commercial awareness.
- Increase the number of society-exclusive events by partnering with more law firms.
Skye Moran, Criminal Justice Society
Hello! My name is Skye Moran, I am the President of Criminal Justice Society. I am a final year law student, particularly passionate about the UK justice system. I have been involved with the society since the end of my first year and cannot overstate the amazing community it has, which we are looking to increase, join us! The conversations and opportunities our society encourages are so valuable in highlighting the reality of the criminal justice system and offering opportunities showcasing the variety of career options available within the justice system. This year we have exciting events planned such as hosting a panel of criminal barristers and an advocacy competition. Outside of law, I love travelling, music… and Bristol!
Objectives for 2023/24
- Bring in external speakers monthly to diversify the conversations around the criminal justice system.
- Expand membership, especially focused on outreach to non-law students.
- Promote and encourage accessibility for careers into the criminal justice system.
Su Abdullah, European Law Students Association (ELSA)
Hi! My name is Suriani, I go by Su. I'm a second year LLB student. I'm delighted to be the President for the European Law Students Association (ELSA) Bristol. I engaged with the society in 22/23 and have always been interested in engaging with other students and seeing how else we can grow and improve together in our learning experiences. I hope that with the society and with my position, I am able to assist students in achieving their aspirations and their goals as well as to help expand their range of opportunities!
Objectives for 2023/24
- Widen the career opportunities throughout EU. ELSA UK has a rich history of providing countless of internship experiences all over EU and we assist in the application process as well as increase the range of exposure each student gets!
- Diversity and inclusion. ELSA Bristol is one of the most diverse societies and we aim to stay that way. Diversity and inclusion is extremely important to us and our success.
- Making lifelong friends. With the ever-growing society, we encourage our members to form bonds and create friendships that last a lifetime! We have society nights and events for these situations to take place.
Ryan Wardeh, UBLC
My name is Ryan Wardeh, and I am President of the UBLC for 2023-24. Having spent 13 years in Dubai before moving to London, and now Bristol, I have a passion about law's interaction with history, government, and economics, and this interest naturally led me to the UBLC. It has been a core tool for me in my journey to securing a Training Contract from the very beginning, particularly with the Careers Dinner, competitions, and insight events. In upholding the UBLC's role, I'm dedicated to fostering an environment that empowers each member to realise their potential. I'm excited to lead the UBLC into a future that celebrates diversity, encourages ambition, and serves as a platform for every aspiring lawyer to thrive.
Objectives for 2023/24
- Enhanced Inclusivity: Drive a strategic initiative to break down barriers and promote equal opportunities, ensuring that the UBLC is beneficial for all, regardless of their background or field of interest within law.
- Member Empowerment: Implement new initiatives and resources that directly and accessibly equip members with the skills and knowledge they need to navigate their legal careers successfully.
- Competitive Opportunities: Introduce additional CV and skill enhancing opportunities, such as a Commercial Awareness Competition, and more guidance for competitive events, such as the Careers Dinner.
Yusuf Ghanizadeh, Lawyers Without Borders
My name is Yusuf, and I am the President of Lawyers Without Borders Bristol Student Division for 2023/24. I am a final-year law student, aspiring to become a human rights attorney in the US and a solicitor in the UK. I intend to later advance my career to the international plane. My passion for a career in human rights began in childhood but developed while interning for 3DCentre, under Clive Stafford Smith. One of the difficulties I have found while navigating a career in human rights law is the lack of support available for students, and the countless subdivisions within the field, making it incredibly difficult to decide on a specific passion. My hope is that with this society, we can empower students to find their feet in human rights and international law.
Objectives for 2023/24
- Organise an extensive programme of tailored events, covering a broader range of topics within human rights and international law, with more partnerships and more regular socials.
- Utilise our capacity as a society to further the LWOB mission of advancing global rule of law, by improving access to justice, promoting human rights and protecting the disadvantaged.
- Increase membership to our society, and encourage inclusivity to enable everyone to benefit from our events and feel welcomed.
Snigdha Sri, Medical Law Society
My name is Snigdha Sri and I am beyond thrilled to be the President of the Medical Law Society for 23/24. Medical law has always been a personal and professional passion. I initially joined this society to engage with more scholars, solicitors and enthusiasts who are regular practitioners of this subject. The multi-faceted and abstract nature of concepts such as bio-ethics and doctor's duty have driven my further research into this area of law, inspiring me to write two articles on Euthanasia published on the Dicta magazine. I hope that through my time as President, I am able to inspire more students to appreciate this interesting marriage of the two most lucrative dimensions, Medicine and Law!
Objectives for 2023/24
- Advocacy: Further more opportunities for students who wish to debate and moot upon topics in medical law.
- Career: Organise more networking and information events with leading clinical negligence law firms.
- Education: A yearly journal that bears notice of developments in ethics, Biotechnology, & BigPharma.
George Kendall, Pro Bono Society
I am absolutely thrilled to be the President of the Bristol Pro Bono Society for 2023/2024. For me, pro bono is how the legal community does their part in giving back. I have always been interested in how I can help others whilst developing my skills in the process. As a tutor, I give academic support to children from low-income and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. As a volunteer at the British Heart Foundation, I support an important cause whilst improving my interpersonal skills. And as President of the Pro Bono Society, I hope to inspire you to get involved with pro bono work, as a vital public service, but also as an important training tool to equip you with the skills to have a successful career whilst helping others.
Objectives for 2023/24
- To attract as many members as possible by hosting quality events. To do this, we aim to organise events with key academics, barristers and solicitors in the pro bono and legal aid spheres.
- To build stronger relationships with law firms which share our mission statement. Last year, the Pro Bono Society was proud to partner with DLA Piper for an exclusive Open Day. This year, we aim to build upon this event's success by allowing more members to have an insight into the intersection between pro bono and commercial law.
- To run and compete in competitions. From negotiations representing charities looking to expand, to adversarial cases representing migrants in search of safe asylum, we aim to run mock sessions and competitions to help members develop a strong skill set to represent their clients well.
Katarzyna Gorska, Research for Change (RfC)
Hi everyone, my name is Katarzyna Gorska and I am the President of Research for Change (RFC) for the 2023/24 academic year. I am a fourth-year Law and German student and have enjoyed being a part of RFC since my first year. I believe that RFC offers unique opportunities to engage with legal research and future careers in academia, which other societies at Bristol lack. As President, I want to grow our intellectually stimulating society for like-minded students to improve their research skills and grow passions for inspiring change. My areas of interest include public international law, international humanitarian law and human rights, which I explored further during my Year Abroad in Germany, by representing the University of Göttingen in the Jessup International Law Competition.
Objectives for 2023/24
- Increase our engagement on social media, and the quantity of published Blog entries and Podcast episodes.
- Establish a lasting partnership between the UG and PG student body at the university and bridge the gap between undergraduate and postgraduate students.
- Organise more in-person forums and social events consistently throughout the year.
Maya Khalifeh, Unity & Diversity in Law
My name is Maya Khalifeh and I will be serving as the President of the Unity and Diversity in Law society for the academic year 2023-2024. I am currently approaching my second year of a law degree at UoB, and have always held a passion for addressing socio-political conflicts, with my consistent involvement in MUN conferences and debate competitions. Being an Arab woman in the UK, my drive for such topics drove me towards becoming a segment of the thrust towards diversifying and demystifying the legal sector, and I am eager to see the change UDL strives for reflected in the legal sector. I am dedicated to upholding the standard of Grassroot series, our competition series, and our flagship panel event, “My Diversity is My Strength’, next year to nurture a robust and confident cohort of diverse aspiring solicitors.
Objectives for 2023/24
- Simplifying the legal journey: Continuing UDL’s commitment towards our “Grassroot Series” by working collaboratively with our sponsors to deliver empowering sessions to individuals coming from marginalized, underrepresented backgrounds. Developing our website to update students on application deadlines and provide them with links to where they can apply.
- Enhancing the Competition Series: Launching UDL’s first ever Commercial Awareness Competition, possibly in collaboration with the Commercial Awareness Society, in order to foster members’ drive for gaining commercial awareness, as well as promoting their competitive edge and confidence. Improve our rubrics for our mooting, debate, and negotiation competitions to enhance feedback to students and set the standard for success.
- Hosting more panel events: Hosting panel events for Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and Pride Month alongside ‘My Diversity is my Strength’, to provide a nurturing space for our diverse membership where they can network with inspiring individuals in the legal field and gain an insight into possible programmes which can support them on their legal journey.
Ellyssa Rozahan, Women in Law Society
Hi! My name is Ellyssa and I’m so excited to lead the Women in Law as President for the 23/24 academic year! I am a second-year student aspiring to get into medical law or family law. Outside of university, I love reading, finding new music, and exploring new cities. I am honoured to continue carrying on Women in Law this year. This society has always been a safe space for me, and I hope to broaden our society to include more people such as international students and ethnic minorities.
Objectives for 2023/24
- Host more intersectional events. The legal industry in the UK is hard to break into as it is. Diversity can often be seen as a “burden” or another tick on the box. I hope to get into contact with lawyers from different backgrounds, such as lawyers of colour, or non-UK born lawyers on skilled worker visas, to comment on their experience working in the UK.
- Get into contact with more law firms. I would like to collaborate with firms who value diversity. These events can include workshops on confidence, application writing, or a general networking session.
- Maintain a welcoming environment for members. I hope to implement a “buddy” scheme where we pair incoming members with a more senior member in Women in Law. These “buddies” are there to answer any questions on Women in Law that the incoming members may have.