I Got Hired: Criminal Justice Project Coordinator

Posted on: 13 March 2023 by Samantha Riella in Graduate stories

Paris Omar is a class of 2021 Law graduate, who is a model, content creator and Criminal Justice Project Coordinator at Leaders Unlocked.

How did you hear about your role?

I was scouted as a model and realised it would be beneficial to have a social presence too.

I have always been proactive when it came to social justice and so, was a part of scrutiny panels including one with IOPC that dealt with police accountability and public confidence.        

How did you get to where you are now?

I was scouted by model agents years ago, was signed to agencies and worked for a number of years. Then lockdown happened, which meant I could not longer work on set so a lot of my work converted to videos on social media that I would create at home.

The organisation that facilitated my IOPC youth panel saw my passion and desire to have more responsibility and spoke to me about a role as a project assistant. Just a couple of months later I accepted my promotion as project coordinator and the rest is history.

What has been your best experience as part of your role?

I couldn’t possibly pick out one single moment but I would say as a model travelling to Cappadocia and seeing the hot air balloons for a photoshoot is definitely a highlight. Additionally, nothing will ever takeaway the novelty and pride I feel when my work is published and shown in store and on billboards.

In contrast to working as a model, influencing and content creating allows me to have a good level of control when it comes to my image and the message I want to portray. I really love that I have the creative freedom to show me and meet brands who align with my authentic self. This is a privilege I do not have as a model as I must fit the mould of a brand’s image. As well as this I really enjoy pitching to brands, brainstorming for my content, and being invited to events which are hosted by my dream brands.

As part of my role as project coordinator, I have a respected voice when it comes to scrutiny within the IOPC. I have the chance to consult on how both the IOPC and Police functions and the progress they make when it comes to equality and diversity, which is a huge passion of mine. I’m also often invited to speak at conferences specifically citing the work we do in trying to increase police accountability and public confidence.

What has been the most challenging part of your graduate journey?   

The most challenging part of my graduate journey, has definitely been stepping away from the conventional path of a law grad. I do believe that there is a lot of pressure to become a lawyer and not much emphasis on alternative jobs. I have always felt very enthusiastic about reforming a legal system that I did not feel was fit for purpose. So to comprehend working within a system that I did not believe in was very conflicting. I do not believe that I would’ve been able to come to this conclusion and be content with my decision without first becoming a paralegal. Just a few months after finishing my studies I was hired as a paralegal at a company called Brabners in Liverpool. After six months I realised this was not a good fit for me and that I required a more flexible and creative work balance to that of a 9-5.

What are your top tips for other students and graduates?

  1. You’re going to spend 70 percent of your time working so make sure you enjoy the job that you do! I struggled with mental health convincing myself that I was in a job that I knew deep down wasn’t right for me.
  2. Don’t be afraid to go to networking events alone. In many ways, being alone can make you a lot more approachable and it will also push you to jump in and chat to new people.
  3. Share what you’re doing online. LinkedIn is always great in the professional sphere but even Instagram and TikTok can be really useful. We all know the algorithm brings us content that relates to us so if you are interested in working in a specific industry or role, sharing this interest/your experiences that relates to this field may well land you on an important contact’s feed. I do feel like establishing connections on Instagram is really underrated. The personal nature of these social media platforms, in contrast to LinkedIn can make bonds with people feel stronger and more authentic.