Biography

Year of Call: 2011

Jamila joined Chambers in 2016 following successful completion of pupillage. Jamila had previously deferred her pupillage in order to travel and acquire life experiences.

Jamila has a broad practice in crime, immigration, public law and human rights.

Jamila has defended a range of criminal matters including assault, possession of Class A drugs, road traffic offences and sexual offences. Jamila has also appeared in the Crown Court for bail applications, preliminary hearings and appeal against conviction and sentence.

In immigration and public law, Jamila has represented clients in both the First-Tier and Upper Tribunals. Her cases have ranged from appeals under the European Convention of Human Rights to claims for asylum and humanitarian protection.

Fluent in Swedish, Somali and Swahili in addition to English, Jamila is interested in cases with cross-cultural and international dimensions. Prior to coming to the Bar, Jamila worked with community groups and voluntary organisations in Sweden, Kenya and the UK. In Sweden, Jamila founded an award winning association that aimed to empower and advocate on behalf of marginalised members of society. As an intern at the Minority Rights Group in London, Jamila assisted in the drafting of submissions to the Human Rights Commission of the UN on behalf of minority and indigenous peoples of Kenya.

In addition to her voluntary work, Jamila worked as a Business Development Consultant whilst studying for the Bar. She subsequently worked for commercial firms and as an independent advocate.

Main Areas of Practice

Criminal Law

Immigration, Asylum, and Nationality Law

Notable Cases

Immigration, Asylum, and Nationality Law

PS v SSHD [2015] Upper Tribunal (IAC). Successful challenge to the determination of the First-Tier Tribunal (FTT) in a case relating to the Article 8 right of a person who has lived in the UK for over 20 years.

JV v SSHD [2015] UT (IAC). Successfully challenged the determination of the FTT in a case relating to whether a young man could establish dependency upon his aunt, both in Sri Lanka and here in the UK.

US v SSHD [2015] FTT (AA). Successful appeal before the FT in a claim for asylum relating to a person who had not had direct involvement with the LTTE and whose ill treatment by the Sri Lankan authorities was not accepted by the Secretary of State.

PS v SSHD [2015] FTT (IAC). Successful challenge to the decision of the Secretary of State under Appendix FM in a case relating to the spouse of an elderly British citizen. The case required particular consideration of the proportionality assessment under section 117B of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

Public Law and Human Rights

SX v SSHD [2015] UT. Successfully worked with Shivani Jegarajah to prevent the removal of a person by the Secretary of State under section 94B of the NIAA 2002.

DLP v SSHD [2015] UT. Successfully worked with Shivani Jegarajah to judicially review the decision by the Secretary of State to maintain the detention of a person, formerly held under the DFT.

NS v SSHD [2015] UT. Successfully worked with Charlotte Bayati in a judicial review application to the High Court to challenge decisions of the Secretary of State relating to children.

Criminal Law

R v GB [2016] Newcastle Crown Court. Case led by Sam Stein QC. Jamila has been instructed as a junior in the final stage of a two-handed manslaughter trial.

R v Rashid [2015] Woolwich Crown Court. Worked with Mark McDonald to defend a young and vulnerable man accused of preparing to commit terrorist acts.

R v Hayden [2015] Bury St Edmonds Magistrate’s Court. Successfully defended the defendant who was charged with two counts of assault of two police officers. He was found not guilty following the trial in which Jamila cross-examined the officers at length.

R v Khan [2015] Romford Magistrate’s Court. Successfully defended the defendant against a charge of common assault. The Magistrate’s accepted that the defendant acted in defence of his property.

R v C [2015] Hammersmith Magistrate’s Court. Successfully defended the defendant who was accused of taxi touting. The District Judge accepted that the defendant did not intend to carry the undercover police officer for hire, but instead misunderstood her requests to be carried as indicating an interest in him as a person.

Qualifications

BPTC, City Law School
LLB Law, University College London

Languages

English (fluent)
Swedish (fluent)
Somali (fluent)
Swahili (fluent)