Leeds has marked South Asian Heritage Month with a landmark celebration of heritage, identity and achievement in the legal profession.
Aura Network, the platform founded by solicitor Sarah Khan-Bashir MBE of SKB Law to champion South Asian women in law, partnered with Walker Morris LLP to host Roots to Routes – a panel discussion and networking evening bringing together lawyers and allies from across Yorkshire and beyond..
The event, held at Walker Morris’ Leeds office, explored this year’s South Asian Heritage Month theme of “Roots to Routes”.
At its heart was a candid conversation about navigating career journeys, drawing strength from heritage, and the importance of visibility for the next generation of legal professionals.
The evening also celebrated the recent appointment of District Judge Sobia Hussain, a milestone hailed as both an inspiration and a sign of progress in representation within the judiciary.
Hosted by Walker Morris partner Shabana Muneer, the panel was chaired by Sarah Khan-Bashir and featured insights from four South Asian women who have carved distinctive paths in the profession: Muneer herself, immigration and employment partner at Walker Morris; Kiranpreet Kaur, trainee solicitor at Walker Morris; Professor Sheba Affridi, leadership coach with Darkspark Coaching; and Harjit Rait, partner and head of family law at LCF Law.
Launched at the House of Lords in 2023 during the South Asian Women Gamechangers in Law event, Aura Network has quickly grown into a hub for mentoring, peer support and collective visibility. Its mission is to ensure that the stories of South Asian women in law are not only told but used to inspire and open doors for others.
Reflecting on the evening, Sarah said: “Twenty years ago, an event like this simply wouldn’t have happened, which shows how far we’ve come.
“But the conversations we had also highlighted how much these spaces are still needed. The reflections from our panellists struck a chord not just with experienced professionals, but also with younger people just starting out.
“Aura Network is about ensuring those stories are shared and that women at all stages of their careers feel seen and supported.”
She added her thanks to Walker Morris for hosting and her own team for bringing the event to life: “It was a meaningful discussion that clearly resonated with so many in the room.”
For many attendees, the evening was a reminder of how far the profession has come in creating space for South Asian women lawyers – and how collaboration across the sector can continue to strengthen those routes forward.
