Shridula Sreeraj from Chennai, India. She completed her BA., LLB. (Hons.) from CHRIST (Deemed to be University) Bangalore, India in 2021, and her LLM in Criminal Justice from Queen Mary University of London in 2022.
Shridula is passionate about mental health law, human rights, and Public International Law. She is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer, Carnatic singer and she plays Veena. Shridula’s hobbies are reading books, cooking and photography. She enjoys movie nights with friends and family.
1) Which place, or city or country do you most feel at home in?
Though my ethnic roots are from Kerala, the place that feels at home is Chennai, the City I was born and raised in. Home to Marina beach and diverse culture and community, Chennai is special and vibrant. However, for the past year, London has been home with its own unique charm.
2) What are your proudest achievements?
Adding LLM in Criminal Justice to my qualification list is my recent accomplishment I'm proud of. Being the first lawyer in my family, this is a huge milestone in my career and I'm grateful to my parents and friends who supported me throughout this journey.
3) What inspires you?
Its rather who and not what that inspires me. My Mum is my biggest inspiration. She is an ambitious and hardworking woman who has faced every challenge thrown at her like a champ. Her passion and dedication to her work and vision inspires me to do more and better.
4) What has been biggest obstacle in your career?
I'm just starting my career and so far, everything has worked out well. As Molière said, "the greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it". This is my mindset which allows me to be hopeful of the future.
5) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
For sure my parents and all other hardworking and high achieving women in the world are my biggest inspiration and motivation to do better at my job.
6) What is the best aspect about your current role?
I am yet to start my new role, but I'm looking forward to meeting new people and learning more from the best in the field.
7) And the worst?
I'm starting work with the mindset that nothing can be worse. Challenges are inevitable. I see them as a learning opportunity rather than a hurdle. Looking forward to these opportunities.
8) What are your long-term goals?
To come up with an effective policy that helps in an efficient rehabilitation of criminals, especially those criminals with mental illness.
9) If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?
I would make more opportunities for restorative justice and create better reformation and rehabilitation policies in the criminal justice system.
10) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?
I would like to spend my time with Adolf Hitler to know if he really committed suicide as we've been told, or if he orchestrated his death only to escape the consequences of his deeds. I've read so many conspiracy theories surrounding this topic, I would rather talk it out with the person in question than speculate it any further.
