Rehana Popal
Rehana Popal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1989 (age 36–37) Afghanistan |
| Education | City University, London |
| Occupation | Barrister |
| Known for | First Afghan national to be called to the Bar in the UK |
| Awards | 100 Women (BBC) (2019) |
Rehana Popal (b. 1989) is British-Afghan lawyer who became the first Afghan national to be called to the Bar and the first Afghan woman to practise as a barrister in England and Wales. In 2019 she received the 100 Women (BBC) award.
Early life and education
Rehana Popal was born in 1989 in Afghanistan.[1] She arrived in the United Kingdom as a five year old refugee, accompanied by her mother and three older siblings, and grew up on a council estate in inner London.[2][3][4] After completing her early education she was admitted to study international relations at City University, from where she graduated in 2011.[3][5] The following year she completed her Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) at The City Law School.[5]
Before her pupillage, Rehana worked as a paralegal at Leigh Day, supporting civil claims brought by Afghans alleging human rights abuses by British forces.[3][6] In 2013 she was called to the Bar.[7]
Career
Popal undertook a short period of work with the United Nations.[1]
In 2018, Popal was the only female Afghan barrister practising in England and Wales, working as an immigration and civil law barrister at 10 King’s Bench Walk Chambers in the Temple.[8] That year she was taken off a case when a client asked to be represented by a white male, believing this would carry greater credibility with an English judge.[9]
In 2019 she received the 100 Women (BBC) award.[10] She works to assist Afghans who served with the British armed forces during the war in Afghanistan.[2]
References
- ^ a b "South Asian Heritage Month". Inner Temple Yearbook. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ^ a b Rahman-Jones, Imran; Gill, Gurvinder (2021). "Former Afghan child refugee - now a top lawyer". BBC News. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
- ^ a b c "Rehana Popal". www.barcouncil.org.uk. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ^ Gibb, Jonathan Ames, Frances (10 November 2018). "Ditched Asian lawyer Rehana Popal had been stripped of six cases". www.thetimes.com. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "5 to watch" (PDF). City magazine. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ "Chambers is delighted to announce that Rehan Popla has joined". www.33bedfordrow.co.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
- ^ Collison, Lucy (29 September 2025). "No5 Barristers' Chambers welcomes Rehana Popal (call 2013) to its Public Law Group". No5 Barristers' Chambers. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
- ^ Bell, Sarah (9 November 2018). "Female Afghan barrister 'sacked in favour of white man'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 4 January 2026. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
- ^ Whelan, Christopher (2022). "12. A sporting chance? Courtroom tactics in a criminal context: VI. Playing the judge". The Bodyguards of Lies: Lawyers’ Power and Professional Responsibility. Oxford: Bloomsbury. ISBN 978-1-5099-5699-9.
- ^ "Rehana Popal receives First Hundred Years award | City St George's, University of London". Rehana Popal receives First Hundred Years award. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2026.