PhD in Law (QMUL) | Specialist Tutor for LLB, PGDL, LPC, LLM & Legal Writing

Find out more about Malak

• When did you develop an interest in your chosen field and in private tutoring?

  My interest in human rights and refugee law started quite personally. As a teenager, I saw how the law could have a very real impact on someone’s life. My cousin could not acquire citizenship through his mother because, at the time, nationality law did not allow women to pass on their nationality in the same way as men. His father had also passed away, so he was left stateless. Seeing this made me interested in the way legal rules can affect people’s lives and access to their rights.
  
  When I went to university, I found that studying law could be challenging. There was a lot to learn, but also a lot to understand about how to actually approach legal questions, structure an argument and write a good answer. Looking back, I think I would have benefited greatly from having a mentor or private tutor who could guide me through that process.
  
  That is one of the reasons I enjoy tutoring now. I want to help students understand the law, but also become confident in analysing legal problems and developing their own arguments.

• Tell us more about the subject you teach, the topics you like to discuss with students (and possibly those you like a little less).

  The subjects I particularly enjoy teaching are Land Law, Public Law, Tort Law, Equity and Trusts, and Family Law. I like these subjects because they raise interesting questions about justice, fairness and how the law affects people in practice.
  
  I particularly enjoy discussions where we can go beyond simply learning the legal rules and ask why the law has developed in a particular way, who it protects and what happens when the law is applied in real life.
  
  Contract Law is probably less closely related to my own research interests, but I still enjoy teaching it and helping students understand the principles and apply them to problem questions.

• Did you have any role models; a teacher that inspired you?

  My PhD supervisor was very influential in my academic journey. She introduced me to international law and encouraged me to think about law not just as a set of rules, but as something that can have a real impact on people’s lives and contribute to the protection of rights.
  
  That has influenced the way I teach. I want students to be curious about the law and to develop their own arguments rather than simply trying to find the answer they think the lecturer wants.

• What do you think are the qualities required to be a good tutor?

  I think a good tutor needs to have strong knowledge of the subject, but also patience and the ability to adapt to different students.
  
  Not everyone learns in the same way. Sometimes a concept needs to be explained several different ways before it makes sense. I also think students need to feel comfortable asking questions, including questions they might feel are obvious or silly.
  
  Most importantly, I think a tutor should help students become independent. The aim is not for the student to rely on the tutor, but to leave the session feeling more confident about tackling the work themselves.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  One thing I remember from studying law is realising that knowing the law and being able to use the law are two different things.
  
  As a student, I could read a case and understand the legal principle, but I sometimes struggled when I had to apply it to a problem question. I gradually realised that a good legal answer is not about putting as much information as possible on the page. It is about identifying the issue, finding the relevant law, applying it to the facts and developing a clear argument.
  
  That is something I still emphasise with my students today.

• What were the difficulties or challenges you faced or still facing in your subject?

  One of the biggest challenges I experienced as a law student was dealing with the amount of material. There are cases, legislation, textbooks, journal articles and lots of different academic opinions. At first, it can feel as though you are expected to know everything.
  
  Over time, I learned that good legal study is really about knowing what is important, understanding it properly and knowing how to use it.
  
  This is something I try to help students with. Rather than overwhelming them with more information, I help them identify the key principles and develop a clear way of approaching essays, problem questions and exams.

• Do you have a particular passion? Is it teaching in general or an element of the subject or something completely different?

  I am particularly interested in the relationship between law and society. I find it fascinating when a legal rule that looks neutral on paper can have very different consequences for different people.
  
  I also genuinely enjoy teaching. One of the best parts of tutoring is seeing a student go from saying, “I don't understand this,” to being able to explain the law and work through a problem themselves.
  
  I particularly enjoy helping students with dissertations and research projects. I like helping someone take an idea they have and develop it into a clear and well structured argument.

• What makes you a Superprof (besides answering these interview questions :-P) ?

  I bring a combination of academic, professional and teaching experience. I am a university law lecturer, I have a PhD in International Refugee Law from Queen Mary University of London, and I previously worked as a solicitor.
  
  I have also been through the process of completing a PhD myself, so I understand the challenges involved in academic research and writing. I know that students need more than someone who knows the subject. They need someone who can explain things clearly, give useful feedback and help them develop their own approach.
  
  Most importantly, I enjoy teaching. I want students to finish a session feeling that the subject is clearer and more manageable than it was when they started.