Legal profession celebrates Ramadan

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Solicitors in England and Wales celebrate Ramadan, wishing Muslim employees well as they balance fasting with working.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a holy month of fasting, prayer and reflection. During daylight hours, practising Muslims won't eat or drink and abstain from bad habits such as smoking, swearing, gambling and gossiping.

They also use this month to reflect on their purpose and service in this world, both personally and professionally. For the first time in 30 years Easter, Ramadan, and Passover all crossed over simultaneously.

For Ramadan this year, LawCareers.Net interviewed a selection of associates, trainees, paralegals, law students and graduates who shared their thoughts on how law firms can support employees during the holy month.

The article includes advice and nuggets of wisdom from the following:

• Maab Saifeldin, Flex Legal trainee solicitor currently on an in-house secondment;
• Maleek Arab, trainee solicitor at Clifford Chance;
• Ghaydaa Hassan, trainee solicitor at Freeths LLP;
• Kingsley Duru, paralegal and future trainee at Clifford Chance;
• Arsh Raza, real estate paralegal at Addleshaw Goddard;
• Shameka Choudhury, an LLB graduate from the University of Kent; and
• Ruqayyah Ahmed, law student at City, University of London and co-founder of The Women in Law Society.

The LCN Feature, ‘Ramadan: how law firms can support their employees’,outlines some practical and emotional steps law firms can take to assist Muslim employees during this period. It sheds light on the benefits of flexible working, providing extended deadlines, granting annual leave requests, being mindful of language and behaviour in the workplace.

Visit LawCareers.Net’s Diversity hub for further insights into diversity and inclusion in the legal sector.