Colleagues have praised human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin and offered congratulations following her apparent engagement to Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney.

The Oxford-educated barrister, who has represented WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, has been described as a "passionate defender of human rights".

Gravity star Clooney is said to have popped the question and she is reported to have been seen wearing a large ring as she accompanied him to a dinner with Cindy Crawford and Edward Norton at a California restaurant.

Beirut-born Alamuddin, 36, is a member of Doughty Street Chambers in London, having joined in 2010 to complete her pupillage.

Eminent lawyer Geoffrey Robertson, who is the joint head of chambers, said: "Amal Alamuddin is a brilliant and passionate defender of human rights who has put in the enormously hard work necessary to improving them. She is respected and admired by all her colleagues."

Chief executive Robin Jackson, said: "Amal has been utterly wonderful since she arrived in Chambers. She brings a bright light to everything she is involved in, and I am so delighted at her happy news."

Fluent French and Arabic speaker Alamuddin is said to have spent time with 52-year-old Clooney in New York, Tanzania and the Seychelles.