Last year, Palwasha Nawabi received the Law Council of Australia’s Australian Young Lawyer Award. It recognised the migration solicitor’s involvement in a pro-bono initiative in 2021 which led to visas or permanent residency for 20 Afghan women, including judges, prosecutors, activists and their families.
Palwasha was admitted in 2022 and practises in Sydney. She shared her experiences of migration law during the latest The Callover podcast with Georgia Anthasellis.
Some highlights below:
When did you first decide you wanted to be a lawyer?
“When I decided I wanted to be a lawyer, I just kind of went with the flow. But my interest began from high school, where I chose legal studies as my year 11 and 12 elective subjects. And it was one of the subjects that I performed particularly well in.
“And I also had a great teacher … and you tend to enjoy what you perform well. And in addition to that, my sister was also studying law at university. So I just had it as my first choice on my selection list.”
Did you know what area of law you wanted to practise in before you graduated, or did that come afterwards?
“It was either migration law or family law. Coincidentally, when I was doing some volunteering work at Toongabbie Legal Centre as a law student, I actually came across the experienced family solicitor, and he once made a comment saying, ‘you don’t choose your area of practice; rather, it chooses you’ because typically you stay in the area where you get your first job.
“And that’s exactly how it went for me, because my first job was in immigration law and here I am.”
You were part of a pro-bono initiative to obtain temporary visas and subsequent permanent residence visas for Afghan women judges, prosecutors, activists and their families. Can you tell me a bit more about that?
“I guess it came about when Baroness Helena Kennedy, who is the director of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, reached out to the principal lawyer and managing director of Immigration Solutions Lawyers (where Pashwana works). When the Taliban took over, these family’s lives were in danger for upholding the rule of law and advocating for women’s rights throughout their careers.”
And so what was your particular involvement?
“So I was involved in the administrative side of obtaining the visas. So there were 90 applicants in total and there was just a lot of paperwork we needed to sort through very urgently in order to develop a case.
“And we were able to successfully obtain the visas for all 90 applicants, which was truly remarkable, given how difficult it is to obtain visas of such a quantity within a limited period of time. I think it was like, less than two months, which we were able to do that, which was great.”
What would you say is the most challenging part of your job?
“I mean, in terms of the daily workload, I think what’s challenging is making sure the advice is right and just spending that extra bit of time on research, which I’m meticulous about. But I’d say the most rewarding part is definitely getting these grants, or if we’ve appealed to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal or the minister, it’s just getting a positive outcome because usually these cases can take very long.
“So just calling the client and letting them know that the process has come to an end feels very rewarding. And especially when immigration issues can sometimes keep anyone’s life on hold, waiting for the issue to conclude and (they) just get on with their lives. I think that’s quite rewarding.”
And for any listeners who are interested in getting involved in migration law, how are they best to go about that?
“I think just getting involved in volunteering, which involves migration, that is, or speaking to migration lawyers and finding a mentor or even choosing to work in migration would be the best because you experience the daily workload, what comes across the table.”
What did winning the Law Council of Australia’s Australian Young Lawyer of the Year Award mean to you and women in law?
“I mean, just even being involved in such a project is an honour because as a lawyer, you’re an advocate. (This is) such a great cause, which involves a positive impact and is life-changing for families. So being recognised for that was just another level of special, I guess.”
And so you’ve already made an impact in your first few years of law. What’s next for you?
“I think just continuing and trying to involve myself in projects with good causes. And I think also just working towards getting my representation as an immigration lawyer.”
What is one piece of advice you would give to your younger self at the beginning of your career?
“You know, I think it’s a good question, but I would say just don’t shy away from challenges because being involved in a challenging project allows you to extend your skills and open you to networks you’ve never come across, as well as opening doors to opportunities that you probably would have never come across as well.”
Listen to this episode of The Callover.
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