Fatima Kola

Fatima became a tenant at Garden Court in October 2011, after successfully completing her pupillage under the supervision of Rajiv Menon QC and Terry Munyard.

Practice

Crime
Fatima's primary practice area is crime, and she appears in the Youth Court, Magistrates' Court (for both criminal and extradition matters) and Crown Court on a range of matters. She continues to develop her experience representing youths and mentally vulnerable clients in particular.

Civil
Fatima has a strong interest in actions against the police. As a pupil, Fatima assisted Leslie Thomas in the preparation and trial of a successful claim for assault, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution. During pupillage she gained varied experience in researching and drafting actions against the police.

Fatima is a regular contributor to Garden Court's prison law blog.

Background

Before coming to Garden Court, Fatima completed her PhD in international human rights law at University College London. Fatima's thesis concerned the use of torture in state counter-terrorism efforts and its impact on the international law prohibiting torture. From 2007 to 2009, Fatima was a Teaching Fellow in the UCL Faculty of Laws, teaching a variety of subjects including Islamic law, human rights, and legal writing. Fatima has experience at a variety of organisations, including the British Institute of International and Comparative Law and the International Rescue Committee. Fatima is currently a member of the Bar Human Rights Committee's West Africa team, working on reports regarding the human rights situation in Mauritania.

Publications

"Torture and Terrorism: A Case Study", UCL Jurisprudence Review Special Edition on Torture in the Context of Terrorism, Summer 2006

"What's Wrong With Torture?", UCL Jurisprudence Review, as Review Prize Runner-Up, 2007/2008

Professional Memberships

• Amicus
• American Society of International Law
• Human Rights Lawyers Association
• Young Legal Aid Lawyers

Profile updated November 2011

Year of Call

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