Practice overview
Shazia practises in public and administrative law - including education law, discrimination, community care and human rights. She has a particular interest in the impact of AI within the public sector and associated regulatory bodies and has given seminars in this area.
She also acts for individuals and on behalf of the Official Solicitor within the Court of Protection both in relation to health and welfare and property and affairs.
Her practice also includes commercial work such as contractual disputes, property disputes relating to academies, advising on pensions in the context of local government, judicially reviewing decisions of the Financial Conduct Authority and procurement matters, particularly in relation to public authorities. She has a diverse practice, acting for local authorities; public bodies; NGOs; commercial organisations and individuals.
She has been consistently ranked as a leading junior by the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. Shazia is a part-time judge sitting in the Educational Tribunal for Wales (ETW), which makes decisions on appeals about special educational needs and disability discrimination.
Shazia is also a qualified mediator (ADR Group).
Where appropriate Shazia is happy to receive instructions on a direct access basis.
Shazia has worked internationally in jurisdictions such as the United Nations in Geneva and Nigeria.
- Shazia is a committee member of the Education Law Association.
- Shazia is an active member of the Middle Temple Talent Retention Committee and is particularly focused upon supporting those who have had career breaks from the Bar.
- She was one of 36 barristers selected for the inaugural Bar Council Leadership Programme.
- Shazia took part in the Bar Standards Board Race Equality Taskforce pilot reverse mentoring scheme, in which she mentored Derek Sweeting KC, former Chair of the Bar. Race Equality Taskforce Reverse Mentoring Scheme (barstandardsboard.org.uk).
- Shazia is Consultant Editor of Halsbury’s Laws of England, Education (Vols 35-36A) 2020.
Areas of expertise
CSR & pro bono
- Shazia is one of just 36 barristers selected for the 2020 inaugural Bar Council Leadership Programme, which involves working with senior members of the Bar and judiciary with a view to implementing structural changes within the Bar.
- Middle Temple Talent Retention working group member- which aims to encourage and offer practical support to movers and returners within the Bar.
- Shazia is taking part in the Bar Standards Board Race Equality Taskforce pilot reverse mentoring scheme, in which she is mentoring Derek Sweeting KC, Chair of the Bar. Race Equality Taskforce Reverse Mentoring Scheme (barstandardsboard.org.uk)
- Chair of Chambers’ Race Equality Taskforce
- Shazia is a member of Chambers’ Disability Taskforce and Gender Taskforce
- Member of Chambers’ Corporate Social Responsibility Committee
- Shazia mentors students from underrepresented backgrounds who wish to enter the legal profession.
- Speaker at pupillage talks for BPTC students and involved in increasing participation of BIPOC and other underrepresented groups in the legal profession
- Committee member of the Education Law Association
- Shazia is a member of Themis.
Directory recommendations
Shazia is recommended by Chambers UK and the Legal 500 for Education. It notes she is:
Chambers UK
- “Shazia Akhtar is able to take a complex scenario and provide guidance on the issues and steps for the client to take to minimise risk.” – Chambers and Partners 2025, Education
- “Shazia provides a very high-level client service at all times. She is very experienced in SEN law, she finds solutions for clients even when the case is not clear-cut, and her advocacy skills are of a very high level.”
- “She is very responsive, extremely thorough and quickly grasps the issues in complex cases.”
- “Shazia is a very persuasive advocate.”
- “Shazia is well prepared and very personable.”
- “Shazia’s advocacy skills are outstanding. She always manages to get to the heart of the case.”
- “She is very approachable, has good legal knowledge and secures outstanding results for her clients.”
- “Her drafting is excellent and she is very impressive in settlement negotiations.”
- “She is hard-working, approachable and thorough, with a keen eye for detail. She is committed to the needs of vulnerable clients.”
- “She is very fair, but passionate and ferocious when she needs to be.”
Legal 500
- “Shazia is an outstanding barrister, with an excellent knowledge of the law in relation to special educational needs. She is a good advocate, she takes no nonsense from her opponent local authority and instils the client with confidence about the way in which their case is handled and achieves outstanding results for parents of children with disabilities.” The Legal 500 2025, Education
- “Shazia is wonderful to work with – she is very experienced and her knowledge of SEN law is very impressive.”
- “An extremely good advocate – she throws everything at a case.”
- “An extremely efficient and competent advocate whose paperwork is excellent.”
- “An excellent advocate, who is empathetic to the needs of her clients.”
- “Extremely efficient and an able advocate.”
Professional associations
- Administrative Law Bar Association
- Education Law Association
- Human Rights Lawyers Association
- Young International Arbitration Group
- Court of Protection Bar Association
Publications
- Consultant Editor, Halsbury’s Laws of England, Education (Vols 35 – 36A) 2020
- Contributor to Lexis Nexis Q&A and Practice Notes on local government and education matters.
- Provides training to local authorities, schools, NGO’s and lawyers in relation to the Equality Act obligations, ‘Prevent’ guidance and education matters.
- Former contributing editor of Education Law Monitor.
Qualifications
- Bsoc.Sc, University of Manchester
- Dip Law
- BVC
- Benefactor’s Scholar of the Middle Temple
- Mediator (ADR Group)
Insights
Practice managers
Patrick Sarson
Bryan Frimpong
