A man who was rejected from nearly 100 jobs and had to spend 18 months on benefits finally secured his dream job–as a lawyer.
Taz Al Rooster, 29, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, has regularly seen his applications slip away despite having three degrees – including an MA.
He had to apply for Universal Credit to survive and ran up £10,000 in debt – not including his tuition loans and university accommodation.
But now Taz has landed a job as a case officer at the Information Commissioner’s Office.
He will begin his studies at the Crown Prosecution Service in September.
Taz El Deek, 29, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, who was rejected from nearly 100 jobs and had to spend 18 months on benefits has finally landed his dream job – as a solicitor
‘It was a very difficult time for me, my physical health was failing, and I was trying my best to stay positive, but I felt like I was in a dark place,’ Taz said.
Now I’m job ready, I have the experience both nationally and internationally and I’m as prepared as I always will be – happy to be in crime and public service with CPS.
“I feel like I’m making a beneficial impact in my community.”
Taz graduated from the University of Sheffield with a 2:1 honors degree in Law and Criminology in 2016.
Then he graduated from the same university in 2017 after studying a Master of Law in Corporate and Commercial Law and completed the course with distinction.
But he says he felt he “didn’t fit the mould” of a solicitor and volunteered as a witness service at Manchester Crown Court while working in a hotel to save money.
Taz knew his interests lay in criminal law and took a four-month voluntary internship in the United States in the death row office as part of the Louisiana Capital Post Conviction Project.
Upon his return from the United States, Taz took some time off to work in a law firm for six months.
After being turned down for roles in law and even jobs unrelated to his degrees, he was forced to sign up for Universal Credit in November 2020.
Taz graduated from the University of Sheffield with a 2:1 honors degree in Law and Criminology in 2016
Then he graduated from the same university in 2017 after studying a Master of Law in corporate and commercial law and completed the course with distinction
Then apply for a scholarship through The Honorable Society of Lincoln’s Inn – recognized as one of the world’s most prestigious professional bodies for judges and lawyers.
Although he was rejected the first time, Taz applied again and was awarded the scholarship, which gave him the freedom to apply for pupils and internships.
After being turned down for roles in law and even jobs unrelated to his degrees, he was forced to sign up for Universal Credit in November 2020.
After a grueling 18 months and around 100 rejections, in April 2022 he was offered a role in the Information Commissioner’s Office and secured pupil.
Taz posts about his experiences searching for and then securing work on YouTube to help other aspiring attorneys in the future under the heading @TazAldeek.
“I look back now and it was very much a redemption story – I attended public school and was at the bottom of everything,” said Taz.
Taz is pictured on the day of his final thesis submission for his law and criminology degree
Taz posts about his experiences searching for and then securing work on YouTube to help other aspiring lawyers in the future under the heading @TazAldeek
Then apply for a scholarship through The Honable Society of Lincoln’s Inn – recognized as one of the world’s most prestigious professional bodies for judges and lawyers
I got into law school and like anyone in university, it’s a tough experience financially.
I felt like I didn’t fit the mold but I finished college and thought I’d go for it and ended up sticking with it.
Without the scholarship from Lincoln’s Inn, I could not have taken the bar course to qualify as an attorney.
From 2017 until 2022 I was getting rejected every year and now, I’m finally able to make it happen.
After a grueling 18 months and around 100 rejections, in April 2022 he was offered a role in the Information Commissioner’s Office and secured pupil.
Taz shares a moment with his father, also a lawyer, after he finally gets his dream job
Taz shared the moment he walked in new shoes after receiving his first paycheck after a period of unemployment
But I had to sign up for the Job Center and I was on Universal Credit while applying for jobs – nothing was coming up.
“It’s very difficult because you start out confident but when you go through the meat grinder your self-esteem takes a knock.
I was just surprised, I had three degrees and everywhere I applied the requisite experience – I had invested so much in law that outside of that path I would struggle to get any job.
“Without being able to live at home with my father’s support, none of this would have been possible.”
“So far I have £10,000 in debt from that time apart from the actual student finance debt.”
