Year of Call: 2013
Practice Areas
Zeenat’s practice is focused on state accountability and public interest work. She has specialist expertise in public inquiries having been instructed as Junior Counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry since 2017. She brings a multidisciplinary approach to her work, given her background in human rights and early years of practice in criminal defence. She sits as a Legally Qualified Chair for the Medical Practitioners Tribunal and a Panel Member for Redress Scotland, determining applications for redress from survivors of historic abuse.
Public Inquiries
Zeenat was appointed as Junior Counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry in 2017 and presently remains in this role.
She is part of the team leading the module relating to ‘aftermath,’ assessing the actions of the government in response to the fire in the context of the Civil Contingencies Act statutory framework.
Inquests
Zeenat is developing her inquests practice. She has experience of representing bereaved families in inquest proceedings, in particular deaths in care home settings during the pandemic and where sensitive issues around race and religion were introduced within the scope of the inquest.
Public Law
Zeenat has experience advising individuals, NGOs and action groups in a broad range of areas including education law, challenges against the police and discrimination – with a particular emphasis on cases involving Islamophobia.
Given her early years in criminal practice she has an in-depth knowledge of criminal justice issues and is particularly interested in the intersection between public law and counter-terrorism, youth justice and racial justice issues.
Zeenat was instructed on behalf of parent action groups in Redbridge and Camden, advising hundreds of parents seeking to challenge schools and the Local Authority on the failure to properly consult in respect of the government’s implementation of Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education Policy.
Zeenat has advised on judicial review proceedings in relation to religious discrimination in educational institutions, referrals to PREVENT and closed cases by the police.
Following the A-Level results crisis in 2020, Zeenat led a campaign and advised a number of students from underrepresented backgrounds about how they could challenge their centre assessed grades. Zeenat was featured on ITV news as a result of this work.
Regulatory Law
Zeenat sits as a Legally Qualified Chair for the Medical Practitioners Tribunal. She accepts instructions in all matters relating to professional discipline.
Public International Law
Zeenat has wide ranging interests in human rights and public international law
In 2018, Zeenat received a grant from the Bar Council to take part in the ‘International Lawyering in the Public Interest’ summer programme at TMC Asser Institute in The Hague in affiliation with the University of Amsterdam. She deepened her understanding of strategic litigation, the importance of advocacy outside of the courtroom and how better to support community organisations in creating coalitions to achieve social change.
In 2016, Zeenat received a Pegasus Scholarship from the Inns of Court to undertake a Fellowship at the Center for Constitutional Rights in New York, renowned for its movement lawyering approach. She worked within the Guantanamo Global Justice Initiative and international human rights team.
In 2015, Zeenat was a delegate on the ‘Lessons from Srebrenica’ programme with the charity Remembering Srebrenica.
Prior to the Bar, Zeenat volunteered for Restless Beings, an international human rights organisation where she worked on advocacy projects relating to Rohingya and Uighur communities.
She also worked as a Research Associate for the University of Warwick Centre for Human Rights. She gained a breadth of experience through report writing for the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency, and providing research assistance on international criminal justice, shariah law and refugee protection in the Middle East.
Associated Work
Zeenat is deeply committed to equity and inclusion work. She has founded a number of projects working with those from racialised and minoritised backgrounds. She has also been appointed to the Bar Council’s Race Training Delivery Panel and delivers freelance consultancy services advising on issues of justice, equity and social impact.
Additionally, Zeenat has a strong grounding in academia. She is an Associate Tutor at the University of Warwick School of Law and is regularly invited to advise, deliver lectures and speak at conferences.
As a result of her work, she has been recognised in a number of awards and featured on various media platforms including ITV, British Muslim TV and Islam Channel.
Sylheti
Undertakes Public Access work
16th October 2021
The Critical Legal Pocketbook consists of a series of chapters written by expert critical legal researchers and practitioners. Zeenat’s contribution reflects on her activism and her experiences at the Bar. She invites readers to rethink the traditional confines of the legal system and re-envision a justice system for all.
8th October 2020
Zeenat’s article for the Young Bar section in Counsel Magazine is targeted at pupils about to start on their feet.
6th May 2020
Zeenat writes about her lockdown project, Redefined Lawyers, targeted at aspiring lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds.
14th February 2020
Zeenat writes about the need to rethink the Bar’s approach to diversity and inclusion, with a renewed focus on addressing root causes to achieve structural change.
9th May 2022
The Inquiry is currently hearing evidence for Module 4, examining the actions of Central Government, Local Government and the Tenant Management Organisation in the immediate aftermath of the fire. Zeenat Islam is Junior Counsel to the Inquiry, leading on the evidence relating to the bereaved, survivors, and residents, the community and faith sector, the Cabinet Office and the Tenant Management Organisation.
Read more3rd May 2022
TGC are delighted to announce that Zeenat Islam has accepted an invitation to join Temple Garden Chambers. Zeenat’s practice is focused on state accountability and public interest work. She has specialist expertise in public inquiries. Zeenat brings a multidisciplinary approach to her work, given her background in human rights and early years of practice in criminal defence.
Read moreThank you for choosing to instruct me in your case. I will need to collect and hold your personal information in order to represent you. I will take all possible steps to protect your personal information. I am determined to do nothing that would infringe your rights or undermine your trust. This Privacy Notice describes the information I collect about you, how it is used and shared, and your rights regarding it.
I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as a Data Controller for the personal data that I hold and process as a barrister. My registered address is Temple Garden Chambers, 1 Harcourt Buildings, Temple, London EC4Y 9DA and my registration number is ZA048422.
All of the information that I hold about you is provided to or gathered by us in the course of your case and/or proceedings. Your solicitor and/or I will tell you why we need the information and how we will use it.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires all organisations that process personal data to have a Lawful Basis for doing so. The Lawful Bases identified in the GDPR are:
Examples of legitimate interests include:
Our Lawful Basis is the consent of the data subject and our Legitimate Interest is that you are my client.
I do not use automated decision-making in the processing of your personal data.
I collect and process both personal data and special categories of personal data as defined in the GDPR. This includes:
I transfer personal data to the following third countries or international organisations using the identified safeguards because I sometimes am required to communicate with lawyers, academics and family members of my clients in other countries inside the EU and also other countries. However I will always inform you of which countries they are.
I am satisfied that such transferred data is fully protected and safeguarded as required by the General Data Protection Regulation.
I retain your personal data while you remain a client unless you ask me to delete it. My Retention and Disposal Policy (copy available on request) details how long I hold data for and how I dispose of it when it no longer needs to be held. I will delete or anonymise your information at your request unless:
The General Data Protection Regulation gives you specific rights around your personal data. For example, you have to be informed about the information I hold and what I use it for, you can ask for a copy of the personal information I hold about you, you can ask us to correct any inaccuracies with the personal data I hold, you can ask us to stop sending you direct mail, or emails, or in some circumstances ask us to stop processing your details. Finally, if I do something irregular or improper with your personal data you can seek compensation for any distress you are caused or loss you have incurred. You can find out more information from the ICO’s website and this is the organisation that you can complain to if you are unhappy with how I dealt with you.
You may request access to, correction of, or a copy of your information by contacting me in Chambers. The contact details are provided above.
You may opt out of receiving emails and other messages from my Chambers by following the instructions in those messages.
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your browser or device by websites, apps, online media, and advertisements. The Chambers website use cookies to:
I will occasionally update my Privacy Notice. When I make significant changes, I will notify you of these through either mail or email I will also publish the updated Notice on my website profile.
