When Zaahir Edries was appointed to the role of General Counsel for activist group GetUp!, it was a professional moment more than 15 years in the making.
A graduate of the UTS Master of Law and Legal Practice (now called the Juris Doctor), he had his sights set on a career in social justice since his teens. Then, at the age of 36, he found himself in a job where he works to shape public policy outcomes for a more just and equitable Australia.
“GetUp! is about climate justice, we’re about justice and equality and democracy, and now one of our biggest areas of focus for the last 18–24 months has been First Nations justice,” he says.
From a legal perspective, the work is varied. Zaahir provides advice to GetUp!’s board, represents the organisation at state and federal enquiries and commissions, and serves as its contact point for government and statutory bodies. He also oversees GetUp!’s privacy, compliance and risk portfolios.
The work reflects the sort of change he’s always wanted to be part of. Born in South Africa under apartheid, and growing up as a young Muslim man in the aftermath of 9/11, he felt driven to protect others who faced oppression.
“We formed a supportive network which quickly evolved into the advocacy space. The experience helped me to sharpen my skills as a graduate lawyer.”
Zaahir Edries
General Counsel for GetUp! and UTS graduate
Gaining experience for a career in social justice
After his undergraduate studies, a postgraduate law degree was Zaahir’s next step. The Master of Law and Legal Practice was an obvious choice due to its flexible scheduling, allowing him to balance work and full-time study.
The opportunity to choose a wide range of subjects was also appealing: he studied international, European and Islamic law, among others, exploring the concept of law as an instrument for global good.
“It set my path to doing social justice work because the subjects really helped me fine-tune what I wanted to do in the future,” he says.
Shortly after graduating from UTS, Zaahir co-founded the Muslim Legal Network (NSW) in response to the ongoing challenges facing Muslim legal professionals in the aftermath of 9/11. The network offered mentoring, networking and professional opportunities for members.
Today, the network advocates on legal issues impacting the Muslim community and provides resources and referral services for community members.
“We formed a supportive network which quickly evolved into the advocacy space,” Zaahir says. “The experience helped me to sharpen my skills as a graduate lawyer.”
Walking the talk on law as a tool for good
Zaahir continued contributing to the network while simultaneously establishing his own career. His degree opened many doors: he worked across the public and private sectors, handling liability, commercial litigation, insurance, financial law and coronial inquests.
Some of his work had a clear social justice bent, while other roles gave him a solid grounding in the mechanics of the law. But his heart was firmly in social transformation: he was appointed President of the Muslim Legal Network (NSW), a role that further increased his profile among activists and NGOs pushing for political change. Three years later, GetUp! came calling.
Today, Zaahir supports social justice campaigns at GetUp!, such as protecting the Great Barrier Reef, ensuring press freedom and preventing the destruction of Aboriginal cultural heritage.
It’s fast-paced, stressful and deeply meaningful work — and Zaahir Edries is right where he wants to be.
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