The Law Society Gazette features Wessen Jazrawi as ‘Lawyer in the news’
Wessen Jazrawi has been featured in the 2 May Edition of the Law Society Gazette “Lawyer of the Week” as she is: “representing Hussein Julood, who has begun legal action against oil giant BP over the death of his 21-year-old son, Ali.”
The case has significance importance , not only “to obtain justice for Ali and his family, but also for raising awareness of the impact of gas flaring – which releases very harmful pollutants into the air – on the wider community and globally. In this instance, the Rumaila oilfield carries out gas flaring at extreme levels in close proximity to people’s homes. It is no coincidence that the incidence of leukaemia and other cancers is very high in this area. Ali talked about how he would be playing football with his friends and, once the gas flaring started, the air would be filled with smoke and they would have to go inside. This is the first time that an individual has taken legal action against an oil major for gas flaring. Such cases are crucial in showing that companies like BP cannot continue to act with impunity, particularly in the global south.”
They also asked her why she became a lawyer? Wessen replied: “I wanted to work on interesting issues and hopefully make a positive difference – like many idealistic law students!”
About her career low she recounts: “When I was two years’ qualified, I left my then firm to do a master’s in International Human Rights Law, which I loved, but I then went on to intern at various NGOs. While I met wonderful people, working in the NGO sector wasn’t for me. I had a run-in with one individual who wanted me to make myself small – and that was when I decided it was time to leave.”
And about her career high: “Being interviewed by Naga Munchetty on 5 Live and recording at Broadcasting House for BBC News at Ten. But more prosaically another highlight was when years of painstaking work on a particular case culminated in successful settlements for my clients.”
