From Setbacks to Success: How Missed Grades Shaped My Journey Through the Legal Profession

A personal story from Shayda Darwish

My journey into the legal profession has been anything but conventional. It’s a story shaped by loss, perseverance, and rediscovery - and one that’s taught me the importance of resilience, self-belief, and the power of second chances. Through perseverance and resilience, I have navigated significant challenges, demonstrating the importance of diversity in fostering a more equitable and dynamic legal system.

From Heart Surgery to the Courtroom: My Path to Studying Law

To an outsider, I probably seem like a typical 24-year-old from a small town in Kent, someone who has life all figured out. However, my journey has been far from straightforward. While I am now content with where I stand, the road to this point was paved with obstacles and hardships.

A Childhood Dream Turned Upside Down

From a young age, I aspired to become a heart surgeon. Fascinated by medicine, I dedicated myself to pursuing a career in the field and was convinced it was my purpose. However, an unexpected turn of events altered the course of my life, leading me to discover an unanticipated passion for law.

The Struggles of Secondary School

In 2012, I started secondary school as an uncertain yet hopeful 11-year-old. Although new surroundings and unfamiliar faces did not intimidate me, the years that followed were not what I had envisioned.

At the age of 16, my world fell apart. My family endured devastating losses, including our home and the business we had worked tirelessly to build. Forced to start over, the emotional burden became overwhelming. One night, after I bid farewell to friends, they grew alarmed and called an ambulance, fearing the worst. That moment became a turning point. Until then, my parents had been unaware of the depth of my struggles. Their unwavering love and support helped me navigate the darkest period of my life, and I credit them for my survival.

Losing a Best Friend and Walking Away From School

By Year 12, my experience seemed to take a positive turn. I met my best friend, and for the first time in years, school became something I looked forward to. However, tragedy struck again when my best friend took her own life. The one source of comfort and stability I had at school was gone. I tried to persevere, but the weight of grief proved too heavy. Halfway through my A-levels, I made the difficult decision to leave school permanently.

Finding a New Path with the Open University

Without A-levels, I felt lost. University had always been a goal, but for years, I believed my lack of A-levels had closed the door to higher education. Then, I discovered the Open University (OU). Encouraged by my father, I applied after six years away from formal education. Now, two years into my studies, I wish I had started sooner. The OU provided me with a fresh start, a renewed sense of confidence, and the opportunity to prove to myself that I was capable of success.

Throughout my studies, I have seized incredible opportunities, including volunteering at my local court and speaking at an all-female networking group. Prior to this, I had assisted my father with his restaurant business. However, a visit to the courtroom and a friends unlawful arrest led to an ignited a passion for law, setting me on a new trajectory.

The Future: Advocating for Change in the Legal Industry

The OU has given me more than just an education - it has given me purpose. I no longer feel like an outsider in my own life. Once I graduate, I plan to move to London to study for the Bar exam, with the goal of becoming a criminal defence barrister. In addition, I hope to establish an organisation that promotes diversity within the legal profession and aspires to pursue a Doctorate in Law to influence judicial decision-making.

Finding Belonging at Inner Temple

Joining the Inner Temple marked a huge moment for me. After years of feeling like an outsider in education and in life, stepping through those historic doors reminded me that I do belong here. Becoming a member wasn’t just a symbolic milestone - it was a deeply emotional one. I was finally part of something bigger than myself, a centuries-old institution shaping the future of justice. It gave me pride, motivation, and above all, a sense of belonging I’d been chasing for years.

Embracing the Journey and Moving Forward

For years, I resented my secondary school experience, believing it had pushed me to the brink. However, with time and reflection, I have come to appreciate the path it led me down. Without those struggles, I would not have discovered my passion for law, worked alongside my parents, or encountered the life changing opportunities provided by the OU.

Reflecting on the past no longer brings sadness but gratitude. I would not change a single aspect of my journey because it has shaped me into the person I am today.

To those who are struggling, I want them to know they are not alone. Help is available, and there are people who care. I hope my story serves as a reminder to check in on friends, even those who appear to be fine - sometimes, they are the ones in need of support the most. Though I have never spoken openly about my experiences before, I am determined to turn my hardships into something positive.

This journey, however, has made me aware of how the lack of face-to-face interaction disproportionately affect individuals from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds, limiting their professional development and access to career opportunities. Consequently, many of us rely heavily on real-world experiences, coming from a non-conventional background into the legal profession I am extremely grateful to have discovered ‘Speed Mooting’.

Speed Mooting

Speed mooting has been an invaluable tool in helping me navigate my journey through law. It gave me an opportunity to experience a fast-paced and dynamic form of mooting, and it has sharpened my advocacy skills, enhanced my legal research abilities, and strengthened my confidence in presenting arguments under pressure. Through this experience, I have learned to think quickly, respond effectively to judicial interventions, and articulate legal points with clarity and precision. More than just a competition, Speed Mooting has provided me with a practical and immersive way to apply legal principles, preparing me for the challenges of a legal career while connecting me with like-minded professionals in the field’.

Their motto is "Training tomorrow's lawyers today: and I believe that is true.  From an advocacy club, pupillage fair, competitions, courses and a YouTube account dedicated to providing advice and real word experience from not just Speed Mooting Mantra but a whole new generation of advocates, it's changing the legal world as we know it. 

A Second Chance at Life

Life can be heavy, but the only way out is to go right through it, because there is always a light at the end even if it takes us a while to find the switch. Make this life count because you only get one shot. Don’t spend it chasing the what ifs, step out of your comfort zone, take the leap and live life with your whole heart, and you might just surprise yourself’.

Special Acknowledgements

To my father - thank you for being my constant, my guiding light, and my greatest believer. Your unwavering support, patience, and quiet strength carried me through the darkest of days. You reminded me that failure is never final and that it’s never too late to begin again. I am here because you never gave up on me, even when I had.

To HHJ Simon Taylor KC - who gave me the courage to continue my journey even when it felt impossible. Thank you for giving me my first experience in court and allowing me to see what life in the profession is truly like I wouldn’t be where I am today had I not had the opportunity to meet you and will forever remember your advice that every rejection is part of the process not the end of it.

To The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple  - thank you for welcoming me into a legacy steeped in history, justice, and purpose. Becoming a member has been one of the proudest moments of my life. In a world where I often felt like I didn’t belong, Inner Temple gave me a place - and a future - to call my own. I walk through your halls with pride, knowing I am part of something truly extraordinary.

To The Open University -  thank you for giving me a second chance. Your flexible, inclusive approach to education gave me not just knowledge, but hope. You reignited my belief in my potential and proved that learning has no age limit, no expiry date, and no single path.

To Speed Mooting - thank you for giving me a voice. You’ve sharpened my advocacy, pushed my limits, and introduced me to a passionate community of aspiring barristers. Speed Mooting taught me to think on my feet, speak with conviction, and trust in my ability to be heard - skills I will carry with me into every courtroom.

Each of you has shaped my journey in ways words can hardly express. This is only the beginning, and I carry your influence with pride into every step of my future.

— Shayda

A Word from Speed Mooting

At Speed Mooting, we are incredibly proud to be a small part of Shayda’s extraordinary journey. Her story is a powerful reminder that talent, determination, and courage come in many forms — and that the legal profession is stronger when it reflects the diversity of the people it serves.

Shayda embodies the spirit of advocacy: resilience in the face of adversity, a commitment to justice, and the drive to make meaningful change.

We created Speed Mooting to break down barriers and provide accessible, real-world advocacy experience to aspiring lawyers from all backgrounds — and stories like Shayda’s are exactly why we do what we do. We can’t wait to see the impact she will make in the legal industry.