Black History Month: Shaping the Next Generation

At Hodge Jones & Allen, October marks Black History Month, a time to foster reflection, conversation, and connection across the firm. This year’s theme is Honouring Our Communities, recognising the people, places, and connections that inspire, support, and shape us. The month marks an ideal time to recognise the contributions, achievements and experiences of Black individuals within the legal profession and beyond. This special series of articles features individuals within the firm sharing what the month means to them, their proudest career moments, what inspires and moves them, and what Honouring Our Communities means. The fourth individual in our series features Paralegal Roberta Jose.

Roberta is a Paralegal in our firm. She is of Angolan heritage. She was born in Portugal. Both of her parents were born in Angola, Africa. She moved to the UK at age six. She is fluent in Portuguese.

Roberta is at the start of her legal career. She graduated from the University of Westminster with a degree in Criminology. She joined our firm in 2024 and is a paralegal in our criminal law department. She works closely with solicitors and is a core member of the team. She aspires to qualify as a criminal solicitor. Recently, a client gave the following feedback about the contribution Roberta had made to his case:

“Your commitment, support, and hard work made an incredibly difficult and stressful period of my life much easier to face. I am truly grateful for the time, effort, and expertise you devoted to my defence, as well as for the way you handled my case with such care and determination.

After everything I have been through, being acquitted of all charges means more to me than words can express. I will always appreciate the important role you played in helping me through this challenging chapter of my life”.

Another parent/guardian of client commented:

“….demonstrated exceptional professionalism, diligence, and compassion throughout the process. They managed to put vital procedures in place within a very short timeframe, ensuring that key reports and information were obtained promptly. Their organisation, attention to detail, and proactive approach made all the difference. What stood out most was their kindness and the way they treated us with genuine care and respect — qualities that can often be hard to find in such a challenging legal environment.”

Out of interest, Roberta, were there any role models or other sources of inspiration that made you think you had talents you wanted to use in a career helping others?

I grew up in Brixton, South London, which is a truly diverse area. From an early age, I witnessed firsthand how people from diverse backgrounds were treated differently by the police, and this sparked my interest in criminal law. This intensified when I took a module about institutional racism in the criminal justice system, which led me to do my dissertation on the disproportionality of police stop and search powers on minority groups.

Is there any specific advice you were given and/or learnt you think was key in your achievements?

A teacher once told me that you can achieve anything you want in life as long as you put your mind to it and to always pass on and share what you learn to others, as they may not have the same opportunities you have.

What would you say is your proudest moment?

One of my proudest moments was running an anti-bullying-in-schools campaign for my Citizenship GCSE and receiving a letter of support from then-MP for Streatham, Chuka Umunna.

We hope you found our series of articles on this year’s Black History Month theme, Honouring Our Communities, of interest. October 2026 marks 39 years since the UK first celebrated Black History Month. Over time, this notable month has evolved from early efforts to spotlight the contributions and achievements of Black people throughout history, including in the legal sector, to a vital part of public discourse, education, public history, and the progression of the legal profession. You are welcome to revisit earlier accounts in this series, which described the career journeys of Michael Ackah, Dorian Williams, and Susie Labinjoh, respectively.