Black History Month 2026 celebrates the achievements, contributions and history of Black people in Britain. This year’s theme is “Honouring Our Communities”. To mark the event, Oluwapelumi Amanda Adeola of Trinity Chambers asked colleagues from across the law what BHM means to them. Here she speaks to Angela Kwokori
Angela Kwokori, Spencer West LLP (Qatar)
Family law sits at the heart of some of life’s most significant moments and challenges. In the context of this year’s theme, how do you ensure that families from Black and other ethnic backgrounds feel heard, respected and understood throughout the legal process?
As a family solicitor, I recognise that clients approach us at some of the most challenging times of their lives. I therefore seek to understand both the legal issues and the cultural context in which they arise, which may shape a client’s views and actions.
My multicultural background – Gambian, Nigerian and Lebanese heritage; raised in a Christian household, and now Muslim; married into an Indian Hindu family – enables me to view families, their concerns and cultural practices through a non-judgemental lens.
While my diverse background gives me valuable perspective, I also recognise the limits of my own knowledge. Where less familiar cultural or religious issues arise, I take time to understand clients’ perspectives, seeking guidance from colleagues or experts when needed. Clients can only feel understood if we, as practitioners, are truly willing to understand. Avoiding assumptions and pursuing deeper insight is necessary to serve clients with dignity.
Communities are often built on strong family networks and values, yet family law can involve navigating sensitive issues where culture, tradition and the law intersect. How do you approach these situations while ensuring that every client receives compassionate, culturally informed and effective legal advice?
Having spent most of my life in the UK, six years of childhood in The Gambia, and over four years living in Qatar, I have seen first‑hand how family networks are shaped by different cultural norms and values. These experiences remind me that what feels “normal” in one context may not be universal, and my personal norms are not “better” simply because they are familiar.
Where culture, tradition and law intersect, I approach these situations with empathy and an open mind, while ensuring my advice remains grounded in the law. Cultural perspectives provide context and may aid understanding, but they do not replace the law. My role is to listen without judgement, understand what matters to the client, explain how the law applies and, where necessary, seek specialist cultural or religious guidance. The aim is advice that is both legally effective and genuinely informed by the client’s lived reality.
Oluwapelumi Amanda Adeola is a barriter at Trinity Chambers and a member of Resolution’s EDI committee
Read the full article in The Review
