Salford student refugee awarded prestigious scholarship by FLA

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High-performing student Saida Hidari has received “life-changing” funding from the Fraud Lawyers Association (FLA) to support her studies at the University of Salford.

Saida, a first year LLB Law student, is the first recipient of the FLA scholarship, which consists of £10,000 of funding over the course of her three-year degree. Having lived experience as a refugee from Afghanistan, Saida wants to advocate for refugees and dreams of becoming an immigration lawyer. She aims to contribute to meaningful legal reforms and hopes to mentor aspiring lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds in the future. She explained: “It’s opportunities of this nature that serve as a powerful vote of confidence in students like me, inspiring us to dream bigger, strive harder and ultimately make a meaningful impact in our communities and beyond.”

Louise Hall, senior lecturer in Law at Salford Business School, said Saida’s “personal experience has further ignited her desire to give back, dedicating her career aspirations to those who are in the very same situation she was just a few years ago”.

Saida is the first in her family to attend university and the first to receive this scholarship, which fills her with “pride and a deep sense of responsibility to excel” in her studies and career. She said: “It reaffirms my belief in the power of perseverance and gives me confidence that my goals are achievable.”

Describing the scholarship as life changing”, Saida explained: “It not only provides financial support, which allows me to focus more on my studies without the financial worry, but it also symbolises belief in my potential. This encouragement motivates me to dedicate myself fully to my academic and professional aspirations, knowing that I have the backing of those who see value in my journey.”

Reflecting on the award, Sara Teasdale, FLA treasurer and managing partner at PCB Byrne, said: “The FLA is proud to be helping our communities develop the next generation of lawyers. By ensuring there are fewer barriers to social mobility, we can collectively provide the best opportunities to help foster a successful legal industry filled with the most diverse talent – we hope this grant enables Saida to flourish and forge a successful career.”