Solicitor's race battle

A Muslim assistant solicitor who claims she was sacked for wearing a headscarf is suing her former firm, alleging racial and sexual discrimination.Sophia Moussaoui, a devout Muslim who is of Cypriot origin, qualified as an assistant solicitor with Jay Benning & Peltz in May 2000.Soon after, the firm announced a merger with commercial law firm Radcliffes, and matrimonial law specialist Ms Moussaoui says she was assured by partner Gillian Benning that her job would be safe.In November, Ms Moussaoui was made redundant in writing, and alleges that this was on the basis that Radcliffes did not want to employ any solicitors of less than three years' post-qualification experience in its matrimonial department.

However, Ms Moussaoui claims that on the same day the firm advertised on the Internet for a solicitor with between two and four years' experience, and claims she was told that a solicitor under three years qualified had been offered the job.She also claims that Ms Benning told her in March 2001 that she was dismissed 'for the way you dress'.Ms Moussaoui, who has been unable to find another job, is now awaiting a tribunal hearing, set to take place in January 2002.Her solicitor, Danny Dionissiou of Jeffrey Green Russell, asserted that the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) governed the merger.He said the TUPE regulations were a 'minefield', but added that he would have expected two law firms to navigate them.Radcliffes chief executive Vincent Denham said the firm would vigorously defend the claim, and had submitted a counter-claim.Paula Rohan