Jelina Rahman-Berlow (née Rahman; Bengali: রহমান; born 4 January 1980) is a British solicitor whose practice J R Rahman Solicitors specialises in human rights, asylum, family and immigration legal advice and assistance.

Jelina-Berlow Rahman
জলিনা রহমান
Born
Jelina Rahman

(1980-01-04) 4 January 1980 (age 44)
NationalityBritish
Alma materUniversity of Strathclyde
OccupationSolicitor
Years active2009–present
OrganizationBerlow Rahman Solicitors LLP (previously J R Rahman Solicitors)
SpouseMatthew Berlow
Websitejrrahman.co.uk

Early life

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She was born in Bangladesh, came to the United Kingdom when she was eight months old and was brought up in Barnet, London where she attended Queen Elizabeth's School for Girls. In 1998, at the age of 18, she moved to Glasgow, Scotland[1] to pursue a degree in law[2] at the University of Strathclyde.

Rahman's paternal uncle fought in World War II as a seaman. Rahman's father came to the UK at the age of 15 and started his own restaurant, and now has a restaurant in Wimbledon.[1]

In 1997, at the age of 17, Rahman was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), a chronic autoimmune illness which left her with scarred facial skin and inflamed kidneys. In 2005, at the age of 26, her kidneys failed and she was on dialysis at Glasgow Royal Infirmary three days a week for four years. Rahman was on chemotherapy for two years. In December 2009, at the age of 29, she received a kidney transplant.[1][2][3][4]

Career

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Rahman required continuing hospital treatment since she qualified as a solicitor in December 2008.[3] In 2009, she opened her own law firm J R Rahman Solicitors.[2] She runs the firm single-handed, combining the roles of lawyer, receptionist, secretary and accountant while continuing with her dialysis treatment.[3]

In 2009, J R Rahman Solicitors was listed in the Top 100 Business at the Barclays Trading Places Awards, a Government-backed national awards which honours for people who turn their lives around by choosing to start up a business.[3] In the same year, it was awarded Up and Coming Law Firm of the Year at The Law Awards of Scotland.[5] In October 2009, legal watchdogs gave permission for Rahman to work on cases and see clients while undergoing treatment.[4]

Awards

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In 2005, Rahman, whilst working as a working in the Asylum Department at Livingstone Brown, Glasgow, she won the Empower Scotland Social Equality and Justice Award.[6] In 2008, she was named as one of the 30 Under 30 promising lawyers in Scotland.[7] In 2013, she was awarded Best Professional in Business at the Scottish Asian Business Awards.[8][9][10][11][12][13] In January 2014, she was named among the British Bangladeshi Power & Inspiration 100[14] for demonstrating success and inspiration.[15][16][17][18][19]

Personal life

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Rahman is a Muslim and is married to Matthew Berlow (born 1970) who is a fellow lawyer and is Jewish.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d MacLeod, Murdo (25 July 2014). "Scotland stories: Jelina Berlow-Rahman, human rights lawyer". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  2. ^ a b c "The British Bangladeshi Power and Inspiration List 2014". BBC Asian Network. 2 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d "Glasgow solicitor named business hero". The Journal. 3 July 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  4. ^ a b Silvester, Norman (18 October 2009). "Exclusive: Legal eagle runs law firm from hospital bed". Daily Record. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  5. ^ "2009 Winners". The Law Awards of Scotland. 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  6. ^ "Young solicitor's Empower award". The Journal. 12 December 2005. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  7. ^ "Jelina Rahman scoops business award". The Firm. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  8. ^ "Nominees for 8th annual Scottish Asian Business Awards are revealed". Asian World. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  9. ^ "Nominees for 8th annual Scottish Asian Business Awards are revealed". Ethnic Now. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  10. ^ "Scottish Asian Business Awards winners". Asian Image. 12 December 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  11. ^ "Scottish Asian Business Awards Presented by the Bank of Scotland Winners 2013". AsiansUK. December 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  12. ^ "2013 Winners". The Scottish Asian Business Awards. December 2013. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  13. ^ Wright, Scott (12 December 2013). "High flyers honoured at eighth Scottish Asian Business Awards ceremony". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  14. ^ Silvester, Norman (9 February 2014). "Dialysis Lawyer's Power Award". Sunday Mail. Glasgow. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  15. ^ "UK Bangladeshis who inspire". Bangladesh: Bdnews24.com. 30 January 2014. Archived from the original on 29 March 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  16. ^ "British Bangladeshi to Honor 2014 Contributions". The Asians. 23 January 2014. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  17. ^ "British Bangladeshi Power & Inspiration – Launch of The 2014 List and The List "People's Choice"". BritBangla24. 4 November 2013. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  18. ^ Barnett, Adam (23 January 2014). "Top 100 British Bangladeshis list to be revealed by Cllr Abdal Ullah". East London Advertiser. London. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  19. ^ "Chosen to Inspire, British Bangladeshi List Revealed". The Asians. 5 February 2014. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
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