By Aalia Khan
Bilkis Mahmood, mother, wife, daughter and Senior Partner at Blackstone Law in Leeds has always had the drive and ambition for law. At the age of 16 she knew that she wanted to become a lawyer and this was one dream she knew she would achieve.
Mahmood’s dreams became a reality when she launched her own law firm just five years ago and her achievements were recently recognised at the British Muslim Awards.
She was nominated in the Services to Law’ category and managed to triumph many remarkable competitors from London, Birmingham and Leeds. Mahmood says “I did not expect the award at all, in fact I didn’t plan to go to the ceremony and I was encouraged by my family and my staff, as they kept saying it is such an achievement to have been shortlisted, but I had no idea at all that I would win it.” Mahmood was shocked when she beat the strong competition on the night, “The other nominees had some remarkable achievements with many years of experience. To be competing against them was difficult but then to have actually won was even more shocking.”
Mahmood was honoured to have won the prestigious national award and says “It is absolutely fantastic; I was really surprised and shocked but extremely honoured.” Her husband, son, brother, sisters and members of staff all attended the award show with her and she says her family have always been her “Anchor.” She says they were “Ecstatic and jumping for joy. They are so supportive and really excited for me. It still hasn’t sunk in for me but they say you’ve worked so hard you deserve it.”
The British Muslim Awards were attended by more than 400 representatives from business, public services and the community. The awards seek to demonstrate the contribution to British society by Muslims across a wide range of achievements. They attract thousands of nominations every year and Mahmood was the only Yorkshire representative in a shortlist of seven in the Services to Law’ category. Mahmood believes that the concept of the award show is “Excellent” but she says “The only criticism I would make is that people need to be recognised for their contribution and achievements and it shouldn’t be narrowed down because you are a Muslim. On the one had they do need the recognition but on the other hand all those people should be recognised for their achievements across the mainstream not just Muslims.”
Mahmood did A level law but then got married at 22 and returned to studying after having her children. She said “I decided that this is the time for me now to fulfil my aspirations and complete what I wanted to do many years ago. It was an ambition I had from a very young age and my father foresaw me going into law. I feel that I fulfilled mine and my father’s dream.” Unfortunately her father passed away before she could complete her final exams but she is pleased that she has managed to achieve what her and her father intended for her.
According to Mahmood people need to enter fields such as law as there are very few opportunities to secure a training contract. She says it is important for “Any potential lawyer not to give up, to keep focused and dedicated and to keep applying.” She also believes that people from ethnic backgrounds need to be recognised for their hard work as “There’s a lack of recognition and a lot of negative criticism directed towards people from minority ethnic groups.”
Mahmood qualified in 2003 and started her own practice. In doing so, she has applied her wide experience of the public sector, having worked for Leeds City Council and set up a solicitor training programme, and private business where she specialised in training and development.
Here are a few fun facts about Bilkis:
Fave film: Ben-Hur/Cleopatra/kuch kuch hota hain
Fave food: Chicken Biryani
What profession she wanted to be in when she was a child: teaching and then law at 16
Fave hobby: reading, socialising and entertaining
Fave holiday destination: I would love to go to Malaysia