Our Committee
Our committee draws from the wide range of young legal aid lawyers, aspiring and practicing. We range from students to those qualified, and we live all across England, Wales and Scotland.
YLAL’s committee steers and coordinates YLAL’s work. Committee members have responsibilities for YLAL’s communications, mentoring scheme, jobs page, blogs, press, and more.
Abbi Hart is a co-chair of YLAL. She is a trainee solicitor at Hodge, Jones & Allen Solicitors in London.
Queenie Sit is a co-chair of YLAL. She is an aspiring barrister, a paralegal in the Human Rights, Civil Liberties & Public Law team at Imran Khan & Partners Solicitors, and Vice-President of the Middle Temple Students’ Association.
Myriam Naoual is a co-chair of YLAL. She is a solicitor at the Public Interest Law Centre working on the Covid-19 Public Inquiry. She was previously a Justice First Fellow and trained at Family Rights Group.
James McGowan is YLAL’s treasurer and a former co-chair. He has worked in politics for the past 6 years, focusing mainly on housing, access to justice and social security. He’s currently re-training as a barrister and doing a mix of voluntary legal work.
Isaac Abraham is an immigration and asylum solicitor at Islington Law Centre. He is a former YLAL co-chair.
Sian Hukin is a solicitor working in criminal defence at Reeds Solicitors in Manchester. She has a particular interest in holistic defence and how mental illness and neurodivergence can impact people’s interaction with the criminal justice system.
Maya Jordan-Shah is a social welfare solicitor at TV Edwards Solicitors. She has a mixed practice of Court of Protection, community care and housing.
Tom Thrower is a solicitor at Broudie Jackson Canter in Liverpool. He has a particular interest in Immigration and Asylum.
Avaia Williams is a pupil barrister at Parklane Plowden Chambers specialising in Children Law and Court of Protection matters. He is passionate about social mobility and increasing access to the profession.