A LEGAL practice whose services include faith-based options to cover religious and cultural wishes has carried off two national awards.

Southampton-based AL-HQ Law & More was named Will Writing Firm of the Year in the south at the British Wills and Probate Awards, as well as being crowned Community and Charity Champions.

Founders Syed Aminul Hoque and Yasmin Nilifa Hoque set up the practice to cover the full spectrum of estate planning, from digital wills to full will writing to a “gold standard” of will writing through solicitor-regulated services, including faith-based options for life planning documents.

The business runs a tree planting initiative and provides pro bono legal advice clinics. It hopes to widen participation in both as part of a commitment to being a social enterprise in its local community.

Mr Hoque said: "We are truly humbled and grateful for the industry-leading and esteemed British Wills and Probate Awards in recognising Yasmin and my efforts and endeavours over the last year, through AL-HQ Law & More.

“We are an international practice based in Hampshire. Being born in Southampton and having long-established links to the city, our shared goals and objectives drive our ambitions to provide clients with a careful and considered quality of service, matching their quintessential estate planning and financial needs.

“As we continue to grow at a fast pace, we aim to keep our core values at heart, to contribute to the community that has given us every opportunity to utilise our combined diverse range of skills, in serving our valued clients."

Mrs Hoque said: "We only opened last year and operate fully online. We take an alternative approach to estate planning and the recognition by specialist judges in the field of wills and probate selecting us as the winners for both categories has been very heart-warming.

“The shortlisting itself was such a celebratory moment, and then going on to win both awards has recently started to sink in as we review our development plans for 2023 to launch a fully interactive website for our clients and reflect on our achievements as a new business.

“We are truly grateful to all our supporters and aim to keep going with our focus on the common good and genuinely helping people with practical advice, creative solutions and making an informed choice when it comes to legal matters." 

Mr Hoque, a financial planning consultant, and Mrs Hoque, a solicitor, were invited to a Buckingham Palace garden party earlier this year in recognition of their commitment to Muslim communities and wider society.