Who? Yvonne Spencer, 39-year-old solicitor-advocate at the Children's Legal Centre, University of Essex.

Why is she in the news? Acts for Shabina Begum, the 15-year-old Muslim girl who has missed two years' schooling because Denbigh High School in Luton would not allow her to wear the jilbab, the long traditional gown.

Ms Spencer argued in the High Court late last month that the school had breached government guidelines by excluding Miss Begum for failing to comply with school uniform.

She also claimed a breach of the right to education and the right to manifest religious belief under the Human Rights Act 1998.

The school maintains its refusal to accept the jilbab is based on health and safety, and that Miss Begum chose to absent herself rather than having been excluded.

Judgment has been reserved.

Background: Part-time LLB at Anglia Polytechnic University 1991-97, followed by part-time LPC at Nottingham Law School 1997-99.

Articled at Bowlers in Colchester, qualifying in 2000.

Then moved to the Children's Legal Centre, achieving higher rights of audience in 2002.

Became deputy director in 2003.

Route to the case: Referral from another solicitor-advocate.

Thoughts on the case: 'Shabina was originally wearing a special Islamic uniform permitted by the school, but as she became more interested in religion, her reading of Sharia law led her to believe that she should wear the jilbab, which does not expose the arms.

Other schools have tried to ban the jilbab or the headscarf known as the hilbab, but they have always backed down for fear of breaching human rights.

This time the school has stood its ground.

It refused our offers to adapt the jilbab to the school colours, with the school badge and shirt and tie.

It is unfortunate that this has occurred at a time when there is strong anti-Islamic feeling.

And it should not be clouded by the way the issue has been dealt with in France, where there is separation between church and state.'

Dealing with the media: Ms Spencer received extensive newspaper coverage of her arguments in court.

'As the case may well go to the Court of Appeal and beyond, I have said no to media interviews until the conclusion of the case.

We handle many high-profile cases at the centre and I have appeared regularly on BBC Radio Four's "Law in Action" and "You and Yours" programmes, as well as acting as a guest lawyer on Radio One's Sunday-evening surgery and doing TV interviews.

Media training has taught me that the most important thing is to provide a decent soundbite.'

Rachel Rothwell