Community Spotlight on Shahzia Daya, Director at One Legal
Can you tell us about your journey into law and where you are now?
I didn’t get the A level grades needed to study for an LLB in law so embarked on a Bsc in Law and Land Use and development. Little did I know then that this was the perfect degree for a career in local government law. I applied for at least 50 Trainee positions and was lucky enough to get the only one I was interviewed for as a Trainee for Avon County Council in my home town of Bristol.
A Summer temping job doing admin work at the Crown Prosecution Service was the thing that set me apart from other candidates. Experience in a legal environment at whatever level and whatever industry is invaluable for a career in law.
I currently manage the combined legal team for four of the Councils in Gloucestershire and relish the challenge that local government reorganisation will bring as creating a combined new legal team or teams will be a challenge and an opportunity to review the way we support Councils in delivering local priorities.
A legal career in local government allows you to be part of your community in many different ways and I take great pride in the many and varied projects that I have been involved in across the city and the region, from doing the property work to create the Avon ring road to running the regional election for the West of England Combined Authority, to carrying out prosecutions safeguarding public safety to running planning inquiries and local authority companies that can change the landscape forever.
What inspired you to become a lawyer, and who or what supported you along the way?
I was born in Pakistan and came to the UK when I was 2 years old. My parents always drilled home the importance of education to help us build successful lives in this country and were keen for me to pursue law as a number of my father’s family worked in law enforcement
I was quite taken with the glamour of LA Law so followed their advice.
I met my husband at University and he has been my biggest supporter, encouraging me to do whatever I wanted to do at different stages in my career whether that be working full time or part time, studying for an MBA or simply listening to all my stories - he sometimes asks if I work in a soap opera!
What opportunities or experiences have been most valuable to your development so far?
I have always sought out new areas of law - you can’t get things wrong if paving a new path.
I have had the benefit of working with mentors that have helped me grow personally and professionally and have pushed me to reach for roles that I didn’t really believe I could get. I am also tenacious- some call me Tenacious D and I usually get to where I want to be, even if it takes longer than I had hoped.
Never underestimate the value of failure - I look back at the jobs or opportunities I didn’t get and realise it’s because I wasn’t ready for them or I would have struggled in them. I really do believe we all end up where we are supposed to.
A moment you are particularly proud of so far?
Being the legal adviser to the first elected black Mayor to lead a major European city - Lord Marvin Rees. In a strange twist of fate, we were actually at school together in Easton many years before so shared an understanding of what it is like to start with nothing and then hold pivotal positions in the City that could be used for the betterment of everyone.
My teams’ advice and influence helped create many robust systems and processes that assisted the public and councillors to more easily access services they needed, minimise bureaucracy and speed up decision making, whilst working with the many and varied pieces of legislation that local government operates in.
What advice would you give to someone who may feel that a career in law is not ‘for people like them’?
We can hold ourselves back. Find role models, network (LinkedIn is amazing), stay hopeful and always think about what comes next, ‘be the change you want to see’.
Quick fire round:
One piece of advice for Bristol law students or early career lawyers.
Work hard but play hard also- it’s later than we think.
One resource that helped you when starting out.
Public libraries- St George library for my O levels and the central library for my A levels. I grew up in a 3 bedroom house in Easton and I am the oldest of 5 siblings. Finding a quiet space where I could concentrate without distraction was critical to my getting the exam results that meant I could study Law at University
A skill that matters more than people realise.
People skills- being able to communicate clearly and influence others is more valuable than simply knowing the law.
Your best advice for balancing law with other commitments
Know your own limits. Stretch yourself but not to the point of breaking and do enough to get the job done-whether that’s at work or at home, gold standard is not always needed. And get a cleaner as soon as you can afford it!
Work part time if you need to- the money will work out as the cost of getting to work is not insignificant