Rehana Popal

  • Year of Call 2013

Introduction

Introduction

Rehana is a skilled and robust advocate whose practice encompasses all aspects Public and Civil law with a significant focus on international protection, human rights, community and education law. Rehana has substantial expertise in representing vulnerable clients, whether due to age, lack of capacity, special education needs or serious trauma in complex litigation.

Rehana has a busy court practice, appearing almost daily in the County Court, First Tier and Upper Tribunals, High Court and Court Appeal on person Injury, asylum and public law cases.

Prior to commencing pupillage Rehana gained substantial legal experience, with a particular focus on human rights law. Rehana worked as a paralegal in the International Group Claims department at Leigh Day assisting in civil claims involving alleged human rights abuses at the hands of British forces by claimants in Afghanistan. She also served a 4-year term as a Director for the School Exclusion Project, run jointly by City Law School & Matrix Chambers. During this time she represented clients with Special Educational Needs at Governor Hearings, Independent Review Panels and First-Tier Tribunals.

Rehana maintains a strong commitment to pro bono work; as Panel Counsel at Advocate (formerly the Bar Pro Bono Unit).

Rehana is the first Afghan national to be called to the Bar by Inner Temple and is the first female Afghan Barrister practising in England and Wales.

Rehana welcomes instructions that are either privately funded or legally aided and is also happy to assist on a Public Access basis where appropriate.

Immigration & Nationality

Immigration & Nationality

Rehana specialises in asylum and refugee law, representing both in both the First Tier and Upper Tribunals, including those who have been the victims of torture, serious human rights abuses and trafficking. She has particular experience working with clients who have complex mental health problems.

Rehana is highly experienced in refugee claims from Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq. Her knowledge of country information is extensive and she excels in presenting complex factual cases.  

Rehana has represented individuals from over 20 countries ranging from fear of non-state agents in Afghanistan, pro-Kurdish political activity in Iran, to a real risk of a breach of ECHR Article 3 due to lack of documentation in Iraq. Rehana is regarded as having a high level of emotional intelligence combined with fearless advocacy.

Rehana is passionate about keeping families together and regularly receives instructions in complex ECHR Article 8 cases including those involving step-parents, on-going litigation in the family jurisdiction and periods of overstaying.

As well her busy court diary, Rehana is also regularly instructed to advise and draft grounds of appeal as well as grounds seeking permission to bring judicial review proceedings. Rehana regularly drafts fresh claims, grounds seeking permission to bring judicial review proceedings including challenges to fresh claims under §353 of the Immigration Rules, economic migration, unlawful detention and certification.

Community

Community

Rehana specialises in public and administrative law in immigration and asylum cases as well as in age-dispute/age assessment challenges for asylum-seeking children, asylum support challenges, trafficking claims and challenges under the Dublin III Regulations.

 Rehana has particular specialism in age dispute judicial review challenges, with a particular focus on Children Act challenges. She has considerable experience of advising and representing claimants in public law challenges relating to community care assessments, child in need assessments, the provision of services and support and the ongoing duties owed to care leavers.

 Rehana regularly drafts fresh claims, grounds seeking permission to bring judicial review proceedings including challenges to fresh claims under §353 of the Immigration Rules, economic migration, unlawful detention and certification.

Education

Education

Rehana is regularly instructed on behalf of parents, young persons, independent schools, academies, charities, local authorities and universities advising on all aspects of Education Law. Prior to commencing pupillage, Rehana served a 4-year term as a Director of The School Exclusion Project. This is an award-winning pro-bono unit dedicated to representing parents of permanently excluded school children.

 Rehana acts for parents, children, young people, schools, Universities, Local Authorities, charities and governmental organisations. She is instructed to act and advise in relation to a broad range of education law matters, including school exclusions, disability discrimination, appeals to the SEND Tribunal on the content of EHC Plans and Internal academic appeals

Civil

Civil

Rehana regularly appears in County Court, acting for both Claimants and Defendants in small claim track, fast-track and multi-track matters.

Rehana has considerable experience in conducting trials, applications and appeals. She regularly appears in the County Court.

She regularly advises on liability and quantum, and drafts statements of case in areas including:

Road Traffic Accidents

Fraudulent claims for Personal Injury

Credit Hire

Highways Act claims

Animal Act claims

Fatal Accidents

MOJ Portal Claims

Infant Settlement Approval

Personal Injury claims involving Education Providers

 

Employment

Employment

Rehana has experience representing claimants and respondents in the Employment Tribunal. Rehana's recent instructions include:

Successfully represented a claimant in a 4-day disability discrimination trial.

Currently instructed by a claimant in a sex discrimination, age discrimination and unfair dismissal claim. 

Currently instructed by a claimant in a complex race discrimination claim.

Regulatory

Regulatory

Rehana is regularly instructed on behalf of parents, young persons, independent schools, academies, charities, local authorities and universities advising on all aspects of Education Law. Prior to commencing pupillage, Rehana served a 4-year term as a Director of The School Exclusion Project. This is an award-winning pro-bono unit dedicated to representing parents of permanently excluded school children.

Rehana acts for parents, children, young people, schools, Universities, Local Authorities, charities and governmental organisations. She is instructed to act and advise in relation to a broad range of education law matters, including school exclusions, disability discrimination, appeals to the SEND Tribunal on the content of EHC Plans and Internal academic appeals

Awards & Prizes

Awards & Prizes

2019 Barrister of the Year Award 2019, First 100 years Women in Law Awards 

2019 Pegasus Scholar, New Zealand

2015 Sir Geoffrey Nice Scholarship

2013 Bar Pro-Bono Award – Awarded to the School Exclusion Project

2012 Inner Temple Major Exhibition Scholarship

2012 Duke of Edinburgh Scholarship

2006 RIBA Young Architect Award

Publications

Publications

Rehana Popal, interviews Derek Sweeting QC: Chair of the Bar 2021

Rehana Popal on BBC Pashto discussing the role of women at the Bar and Judiciary;

City Magazine, Rehana Popal is listed as “5 to Watch”,

Rehana Popal receives First Hundred Years Barrister of the year award

Rehana Popal on RT News discussing the case Afghan asylum seeker Samim Bigzad;

Article on a case where Rehana was representing, Asylum seeker who the immigration judge said was not “effeminate” enough to be gay

Rehana Popal on RT News discussing the case of failed Afghan asylum seeker, who served alongside the British Army as interpreters being deported back to Afghanistan;

Rehana Popal successfully prosecuting a postman who stole post to feed cocaine habit, article published here;

Rehana Popal, led in Sheep theft trial, article published here.

Transparency Notice

Transparency Notice

Rehana’s entry on the Barristers' Register can be viewed by clicking the link here

The Legal Ombudsman's decision data website can be found here, and the Bar Standards Board who regulate Rehana have their website here.

Rehana can be instructed via his clerks at 33 Bedford Row by professional, licensed access and/or lay clients, in order to obtain a quotation for legal services.  Her clerks' contact details are at the bottom right of this webpage (please click on the image) and/or via clerks@33bedfordrow.co.uk or 0207 242 6476.

Rehana accepts, where appropriate, publicly funded work and Conditional Fee Agreements (including Partial CFAs).

Rehana most commonly used pricing models for privately funded work, are:

(a) for specific drafting work - a fixed fee;

(b)  for specific hearings;

(c) for other work - hourly rates.

Rehana fees are based on an hourly rate of £300 plus VAT per hour.  This is indicative only and may vary depending on various factors - please ask for a quotation.

Rehana is VAT registered and VAT is charged on his fees, where applicable.  Rehana’s VAT Registration Number is: 168552381

Rehana accepts Direct Access and Public Access work. However, she is not authorised to 'conduct litigation' as a solicitor can. While Rehana can draft documents, and advise and guide a Direct Access/Public Access client, the Direct Access/Public Access client will need to issue proceedings, file documents at court, and serve documents on other parties themselves. The scope of Rehana’s services should be discussed with his clerk.

Rehana has professional indemnity insurance cover for all types of legal services she supplies to the public and businesses

Rehana is registered Data Contoller with the ICO, with the following registration number: ZA134485. Rehana acts in accordance with Chambers data retention policy and she acts in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation, in force from 25 May 2018.

Direct Access

Direct Access

Rehana is registered to accept instructions under the Bar Council Direct Access Scheme (also known as the Public Access Scheme), where suitable.

In the first instance, please contact his clerk Mark Byrne via email (m.byrne@33bedfordrow.co.uk) or call his clerks on 0207 242 6475

GDPR Notice

GDPR Notice

Rehana is a self employed barrister in independent practice. During the course of providing legal services as a barrister, Rehana collects and uses personal information.  She is the data controller in respect of this information for the purposes of the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation ('GDPR').

33 Bedford Row is separate and has its own Data Protection Act 2018/GDPR 'Privacy Policy and Data Protection Statement', in respect to personal information collected, used and stored by or related to it. This covers personal information arising from, or related to, 33 Bedford Row providing services as a barristers chambers, as well as use of its website. This 'Privacy Policy and Data Protection Statement' sets out what information they obtain about you, why and how they use it.  This policy also sets out your rights.

You can view 33 Bedford Row's 'Privacy Policy and Data Protection Statement' on 33 Bedford Row's website. Hard copies are available on request by contacting chambers directly.

Memberships

Memberships

Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association

Advocate (formerly the Bar Pro Bono Unit) Bail for Immigration Detainees

Languages

Languages

Pashto (fluent)

Education and Training

Education and Training

BSc (Hons) International Politics, City university

Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL), City Law School

Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC), City Law School

Notable Cases

Notable Cases

R v D. Defence of a man accused of cultivating £160,000 worth of Cannabis on an industrial scale. Defendant’s role was attributed to a gardener. Following a skilled plea in mitigation the defendant was given a suspended sentence and community service.

L v E. Acting for a Defendant in a case involving two claimants where there were neck and back injuries, pleaded in excess of £20,000. The Claimant only obtained judgement for £6000.

R v H.  Defence of a man accused of selling £10,000 worth of illegal tobacco. Following a skilled plea in mitigation  the defendant was given a suspended sentence and community order.

R v FRepresenting mother in a 4 day trial, LA application for a care order and placement order, grounds of neglect.

Mau Mau.  Instructed on behalf of Kenyan claimants alleging historic human rights abuses. Drafting and finalising papers and bundles for trial.