Shania Foon

Shania Foon is a paralegal in the human rights department. Her current work includes representing bereaved families of Afghan civilians in the ongoing independent inquiry examining alleged killings by UK Special Forces in Afghanistan, as well as assisting in cases concerning the unlawful detention of Tamil asylum seekers on Diego Garcia.

Shania is a qualified Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court in New Zealand. Before joining Leigh Day, she worked in the Public Law department of a large legal aid firm in the UK, specialising in judicial review and unlawful detention claims within the immigration and asylum context. She regularly represented vulnerable clients, including victims of human trafficking and torture.

Shania graduated from Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington, with a double degree: a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics, International Relations, and Criminology. Following her undergraduate degree, she worked for an international NGO, International Justice Mission, focused on protecting people from human trafficking and modern slavery in India. 

In 2024, Shania was awarded the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Scholarship to pursue a Master of Laws in Human Rights at the University of Hong Kong, where she graduated with distinction. As part of her studies, she worked with Hong Kong Dignity Institute through the University’s Human Rights Clinic, focusing on advocacy and research relating to victims of human trafficking, forced marriage, and asylum seekers. Her work examined the intersection of exploitation, migration, and gender-based violence across South-East Asia.

Shania Foon in the news

ECtHR warns democracy must be defended in the digital age – Solicitors Journal