Sammy Rehman was just four when the first seeds of his ambition to be a lawyer were sown.
After a life-changing accident that left him paralysed from the waist down and a full-time wheelchair user, it was his experience of dealing with the legal system through a lengthy personal injury case that inspired his future career plans.
‘The law had such a profound impact on me and I want to use that to spur me on to represent others,’ said Rehman. ‘I was 17 when I did my first internship and I remember thinking "this is what I have to do". I had told my solicitor and barrister when I was a child that I wanted to be a lawyer. I spent years involved in a long-running case, and through that experience, I saw first-hand the power of the law to protect, support, and create real change. That experience stayed with me — and it’s what lit the fire to one day become a solicitor.’
‘The accident affected my whole upbringing: I couldn’t go to the toilet independently and my mum had to take a step back from her teaching career to be my primary carer as I needed so much help. Now I am doing this for my parents as they have given up so much.’
Now 24, Rehman is four months into a training contract with national firm Knights, beginning his seat in its Uxbridge office.
Having secured a first class law degree from the University of Leicester and completed the LPC at the University of Law, he took the decision to put career plans on hold for a shot at professional wheelchair basketball.
Rehman had already represented the national team at youth level and was offered a coveted place with the London Titans, widely recognised as the country’s top club.
This involved a move from his Coventry home, but Rehman grabbed the opportunity with both hands. ‘Joining the London Titans was great for character-building and resilience. It was almost like starting my training contract going into the squad as the new guy. Straight away I needed a resilient mindset and had to have the independence to move to another part of the country by myself.
‘The game play itself is exhilarating. You are always out of your chair and have to just get back up. There’s a lot of smashing into people – the front of my chair is totally scratched! My role changed from what I had been doing in Coventry, I was pushed to take on a more shooting role and was given the confidence to match up against much bigger players.’
Confidence and independence are words that come up repeatedly when talking to Rehman. He admits he had years of setbacks and self-doubt, but has used those experiences to spur him into taking new opportunities. Now he hopes to inspire others in a similar position to know that they do not have to be limited by a disability.
‘My upbringing was all about building my independence as a wheelchair user. I have been so focused on trying to be independent and my progression has been different compared to other people.
‘A lot of disabled people feel similar in that each obstacle in your career progression can take a bit longer. It doesn’t matter the level of disability you have, you can achieve anything you want if you put your mind to it. I don’t see disability as a barrier but an opportunity to get out of my comfort zone.
‘There may be a wheelchair user out there who may not have the confidence to go into the legal sector as they don’t see that other people are doing it. I want to show it is possible if you commit yourself and put yourself out there.’
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