When Jasleen Kaur came to Huddersfield as a refugee from Afghanistan she couldn’t speak a word of English.

But Jasleen’s intellect and determination took her from Linthwaite to London where she now works for international legal firm Nabarro.

Jasleen and her Sikh family fled Jalalabad, near the border with Pakistan, due to religious persecution.

Ms Kaur, who arrived in the UK nine years ago, said: “All Sikhs are under threat in Afghanistan. You don’t have the freedom to live your life the way you want to.”

Native Punjabi speaker Jasleen learned English while attending Moor End Academy, Crosland Moor, before studying for her A-levels at Greenhead College.

Jasleen, 23, said: “It came slowly, but I was dedicated and had a sheer passion to learn and be successful.”

Last year, she graduated with a first-class degree in law from Huddersfield University and worked as a paralegal for Kirklees Council.

She moved to London to study a legal practice course at Kaplan Law School and was offered a two-year training contract with Nabarro, a commercial law firm with offices around the world.

Jasleen said: “I like the type of work that Nabarro does, with major developers and major clients.

“It is the sheer tangible aspect of it, being a part of something has a huge impact on day-to-day life.

“You come across the type of transactions the firm works on every day, especially in London.”

Jasleen, who is currently working as a paralegal at the company’s headquarters in central London, is full of praise for Huddersfield University.

She said: “I liked studying at Huddersfield because the teachers are very encouraging and would give support and advice on any subject at any time.”

Jasleen adds that adjusting from the relative quiet of Huddersfield to London can be challenging.

She said: “It is overwhelming to begin with, but you quickly realise that dreams are indeed achievable and I have begun to achieve mine.”