How three siblings turned one degree into three distinct legal careers

For the Rajput siblings, excellence in legal education runs in the family. Over the past six years, Maryam, Daniyal, and Hareem Rajput have each earned their Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of London. Following in the footsteps of their father, Zafar Rajput, Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Sindh, the three siblings have since forged their own distinct paths in Pakistan's legal landscape.

Their father's philosophy has been central to their journeys. "I have always held the conviction that a person's professional journey should be governed solely by their personal choice and crafted by their individual passion and ideals," reflects Zafar Rajput. "In line with such convictions, my children were raised with the notion that they must also decide their own path independently, led by their own wisdom and aspirations."

Maryam, the eldest, graduated in 2021 after choosing to pursue law at the University of London for its "world-class legal education", academic excellence, and flexibility.

After completing her LLB, Maryam pursued the LPC and LLM at the University of Law, Bloomsbury, then worked in London to gain international exposure before returning to Pakistan. She now works as a corporate law associate in Karachi, focusing on company law, transactional advisory, and regulatory compliance.

"My time at the University of London was instrumental in shaping my academic path," Maryam reflects. "The rigour of the LLB programme strengthened my legal reasoning and built a solid foundation that prepared me for my postgraduate studies."

Middle sibling Daniyal graduated in 2023, having enrolled in 2020 after discovering his passion for law during A-Levels. "My aspirations to pursue law began in my A-Levels when I chose Law as one of my subjects," he shares. The University of London's global recognition, versatility, and distance learning capability made it an ideal fit.

Daniyal found his calling in advocacy after interning at several Karachi law firms during his studies, which gave him practical experience and led him to pursue the Bar Vocation Course immediately after graduation. He received his Call to the Bar with the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn in October 2024 and now works as a litigator, handling cases across commercial law, property law, contract law, banking law, and labour law.

Hareem, the youngest, graduated just two months ago with the benefit of her siblings' experiences. "Having elder siblings who completed the same programme, I entered with valuable insider knowledge of what lay ahead," she says. Despite this unique foreknowledge, Hareem was still pleasantly surprised by the quality of support and learning styles implemented by the programme: “I found the modules far more application-driven, demanding genuine engagement with real-world legal problems.”

Her career aspirations are interdisciplinary, combining corporate practice with advocacy. "I'm most excited for the prospect of working at the crossroads of law and societal transformation, particularly in areas like regulatory reform and human rights," she shares.

A shared foundation

The three siblings have different outcomes despite completing the same qualifications. "We've all taken slightly different directions since completing our LLB," Maryam observes. "I'm working as a corporate lawyer, my brother Daniyal has stepped into litigation, while my sister Hareem is involved in both corporate and litigation work."

As Hareem puts it: "It's remarkable how the same degree can open diverse professional directions, each grounded in a shared foundation of legal reasoning and ethical integrity.

Advice for future students

Having collectively navigated six years of legal education with the University of London, the siblings can offer their wisdom to current students and those looking to pursue the LLB.

“Stay consistent and make reading the course material a habit; it’s truly the foundation of understanding law,” says Maryam. “The University of London programme rewards discipline and self-study, so managing your time well makes all the difference."

Daniyal encourages passion and excellence: "Figure out what interests you, what you are passionate about, and dive into areas of law that intrigue you. Be faithful to the profession you have chosen, hold yourself to the highest of standards, and always strive for more. Remember that you cannot grow where you do not feel challenged."

Hareem advises approaching the degree with purpose: "Treat the programme as an opportunity for growth rather than a mere qualification. It's rigorous but immensely rewarding for those who approach it with discipline and curiosity."

Find out more about the University of London Bachelor of Laws (LLB)