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Is Amal Clooney using her marriage to get high profile cases? Sharmeen Obaid weighs in

When a Justice Minister accused Clooney of doing so, Sharmeen defended her. Who says girls don't support one another?

15 Sep, 2015

It all started when Amal Clooney was slammed by Conservative Justice Minister Edward Faulks, who announced that the human rights lawyer is only given high-profile cases because of her newfound celebrity status as George Clooney's wife.

“I’m sure she gets such high-profile cases and everyone wants her because she’s married to George Clooney. And by employing her they’ll give publicity to their case,’ is what he was quoted saying.

Faulks also threw shade at Cherie Blair. He reportedly said: "“Look at Cherie Blair – being married to Tony Blair didn’t do her career any harm."

The minister conveniently forgot the fact that Amal's successful legal career predates any association she has had with George. His comments were enough to cause furor and among the enraged was Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy.

She took to Facebook to express her disdain.

Amal is currently defending former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed, who has been accused of terrorism and was forced to resign from his post on gun point.

Comments

Shehryar Sep 15, 2015 03:20pm

There is no doubt in saying that womens are able to do anything on their own. But please don't understand this fact also that using marriage to get high profile cases could be a cause as well.. Don't you think so?

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Tanweer Khan Sep 15, 2015 03:20pm

And how did Edward Faulks become a Justice Minister, when he has never won an election to Parliament? Oh, that's right - by his friend David Cameron offering him a life peerage and getting him into the House of Lords. He has used his own connections to get ahead - so why begrudge a top lawyer getting extra publicity due to her husband being a Hollywood star. Isn't that precisely how Reham Khan's career has gone from a weather girl to a reporter to a big TV personality?

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Gaurav Arya Sep 15, 2015 03:28pm

As a wife, she obviously has the right to use his influence. That she was successful before marrying Cloony is a separate matter.

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M.Saeed Sep 15, 2015 03:30pm

Correct. Even Hillary Clinton's legal firm was hired in some very high profile international cases where insanely high fees were collected by her employing firm for not very clean dealings. Independent Power Generating companies ( British and American) before year 2000 were involved in Pakistan in such dealings

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ali Sep 15, 2015 05:59pm

Amal was a low profile lawyer before her marriage to Clooney. She attracts attention because of Clooney.

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firefox786 Sep 15, 2015 06:10pm

All is fair in love, war or business.

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u Sep 15, 2015 07:07pm

If she was so low profile how come she ended up marrying clooney?

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Skeptic Sep 15, 2015 08:03pm

She also represented some journalists in Egypt, who were convicted by military courts. Whether she made a difference due to her celebrity stature, is evident from the outcome of that case. So Clooney's wife or not, before a judge and jury you have to argue the case to defend your client, beyond a shadow of a doubt, to win the case. It is as simple as that. The facts of the case and evidence presented to convince an aquittal is all that matters... not who one sleeps with.

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Saeed Sep 15, 2015 08:15pm

Sharmeen let's be cool and enjoy your 1 Oscar fame rather 1 night fame and don't ruin it. It will not bring any attention from George CLooney, he is all set now.

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Ali Sep 15, 2015 10:36pm

If she is competent then how come she didn't get all of these high profile cases before her marriage. We live in a society that is driven by influence. There are lots of hard working people out there that don't get noticed for their hard work. I am not against anything but it would be nice to see average person in the news on a regular basis. Everyone deserves to be recognize for their hard work. If you don't agree with my feedback, please don't comment. Thank you and have a lovely day everyone. Keep your life simple (love, peace, care, and be happy). Ali

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Parvez Sep 15, 2015 10:48pm

If anything its George Clooney who knows he has the best legal back up right by his side.....and can strut and swagger a bit more.

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IKE Sep 15, 2015 10:48pm

Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy is prejudiced. Her statement is based on her feminist agenda. Here is an example: Amal was hired by Maldivian supporters of the incarcerated president. She does not have license to practice law in Maldives but she takes the case anyways. She get to Maldives and makes public statement that my client has been kidnapped? No lawyer in her right mind would make that kind of statement. This statement was meant for media consumption only. unauthorized Practice of law is a crime in every country and a lawyer mocking the local judiciary is something that Amal does regularly. But why? Apparently, she lacks professionalism and not afraid to commit a crime to get ahead. This also reflects on Ms. Obaid's disposition as to a neutral person.

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Saira Ahmed Sep 16, 2015 12:00am

It's so easy for men to undermine the work women do- I am laughing reading some of the comments to this article- feminist agenda etc- people she's a good lawyer just because she married an actor doesn't mean anything- look at her cases! look at her history! Glad Chinoy spoke out as should all of us-

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al Sep 16, 2015 12:13am

Gaurav Aryan, I don't think she had any serious standing as a lawyer so as to get such high profile cases as that of Al Jazeera journalists. But then marrying smartly is one of her achievements too. Its like everything else in life, You marry into a powerful family or a powerful person, you benefit.

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ZS Sep 16, 2015 03:23am

Well, I think George Clooney is not one of the greatest of Hollywood A-list stars..I mean he hardly done big movies which are all time favorites...Yes, he is more popular in opposite sex same as Salman Khan...but when it comes to acting, everyone knows he knows nothing. Plus, law is something no one will risk because of someone's spouse...it is not a role offer in block buster in making. She has to prove her worth in the courts...so high profile or low profile cases coming her way, every case has it's own requirements. Get a life everyone there are much important things to worry about.

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karine Sep 16, 2015 04:00am

I don't know who is Lord Faulks (I'm not English) but he's right: she's getting top cases only thanks to her husband's name. Of course during the first part of her career she was a brilliant and respected advisor… but she changed job in 2010. Now at Daughty Chambers she has to defend clients in court: it's a completly different thing and in this job she's a total beginner. Proof is that Geoffrey Robertson never let her lead a case, she has always been just an assistant. People hire her now because they think that the word "Clooney" will bring publicity to their cases and help them to win.

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El Cid Sep 16, 2015 06:09am

Give me a break. George Clooney is just an actor who speaks other peoples words, directed and photographed by others how to do it. Amal is a highly accomplished attorney, a professional of international caliber and stature. She married below her intellectual, financial, personality level.

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Rabia Sep 16, 2015 08:42am

Nobody knows the facts of the case. How is it that we're all so quick to condemn? Don't we have anything more important to do in our lives? Its sickening.

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Shazia Sep 16, 2015 02:30pm

Any1 hiring Amal for his/her case must be concerned about outcome of the case, not popularity of Lawyer. If one is convinced that she is competent enough to be hired, than it does not matter if she is a celebrity or not.

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raisano Sep 17, 2015 08:14am

lawyers and ethics? are u kidding me?

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Muhammad Ayub khan Sep 17, 2015 05:10pm

she has no objective s in her mind to become a famous lady because of high-profile cases or not Because her newfound celebrity status as George Clooney's wife. she doe not want her publicity in that way.She attracts attention of Media because of her self dynamic personality .and her Beauty

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Muhammad Ayub khan Sep 17, 2015 05:20pm

Be Good to yours self if you are competent enough you will be recognized and will be appreciated every where in this world . No doubt she has got a charismatic personality herself to attract people towards her

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