At Hickman Family Lawyers, we believe the strongest advocates for families often come from lived experience as well as legal training. We are honoured to welcome Rahila Haidari to our team, whose remarkable journey from her growing up in Afghanistan to practicing family law in Australia gives her a unique perspective and deep empathy for our clients who are navigating difficult family issues.
Rahila Haidari Joins Hickman Family Lawyers
From Afghanistan to Australia
Rahila Haidari was born into a Hazara family in Afghanistan during a perilous time when her community faced discrimination and persecution under the rule of Taliban.
From the age of two, her parents made a bold decision: to dress her as a boy whenever she was in public. For seven years she walked, played, and existed in that disguise: attending the same streets and spaces as boys, and being afforded the freedoms of her brothers. As she reflects, the experience fostered in her a confidence and outspokenness she now recognises as fundamental to who she is.
“People knew I was a girl, but because I was dressed up as a boy they gave me the same rights as they did my brother,” she said in an interview with ABC News back in 2021.
This early chapter of her life, marked by resilience, courage and a yearning for equality, is more than remarkable: it speaks to her deep belief in access to justice and equal rights for all, especially those from vulnerable and persecuted backgrounds.
Her family eventually fled Afghanistan to escape mounting danger. In 2006, when Rahila was nine years old, they moved to Perth, with their new life in Australia offering the family opportunity and hope. Her father had already left Afghanistan 6 years earlier to set up their new lives in Australia.
Rahila’s Career Journey
In Australia, Rahila pursued her legal aspirations with conviction. She graduated from Murdoch University with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts. From early on, she was drawn to social justice and equality, undertaking internships at community legal centres in Perth as well as internationally, gaining exposure to a broad spectrum of legal matters and developing her ongoing commitment to everyone having access to justice.
After her admission to practise in the Supreme Court of Western Australia, Rahila chose to dedicate her career exclusively to family law. She has since worked on complex parenting and property matters, and regularly collaborates with counsel in the preparation and conduct of litigated proceedings.
Her academic training and early community-law centre experience provide a strong foundation. But it’s her lived background — as someone with refugee roots and an immigrant story — that adds another layer of empathy, insight and drive.
Why Her Story Matters to Our Clients
Rahila’s background and lived experience gives her more than just legal knowledge. She offers:
- Real empathy for clients facing separation, displacement or complex family circumstances. She understands what it’s like to rebuild life in a new country under trauma and uncertainty.
- A genuine commitment to ensuring fairness and dignity, especially for those from multicultural, immigrant, or refugee backgrounds.
- A calm but courageous voice, shaped by resilience: she knows what it means to stand up for rights when justice and equality are being denied.
At a time when many families facing separation also face cultural, immigration or trauma-related challenges, Rahila’s background is a tremendous asset to both us and her clients.
A Strategic, Compassionate Approach to Family Law
Combining her professional legal credentials with personal history, Rahila offers:
- Clear, strategic and considered advice tailored to each family’s unique circumstances.
- Compassionate client-centred support, informed by empathy and real understanding of adversity and upheaval.
- A commitment to access to justice — fighting for fairness not only in legal settlements but also in chance, dignity and rebuilding lives.
She aligns perfectly with the mission of Hickman Family Lawyers to help families navigate separation, property disputes, parenting matters and more — with respect, clarity, compassion, and humanity.
Why We’re Thrilled to Have Rahila on the Team
Bringing Rahila into our practice isn’t just about expanding our capacity. It’s about deepening our commitment to every client who walks through our doors.
Her background, experience and values enrich the firm immensely. Rahila represents hope, resilience and the possibility of rebuilding. She reflects a path many clients share — especially immigrants, refugees, and families from culturally diverse backgrounds seeking support, fairness and a fresh start.
Rahila is Ready to Help You
If you are going through separation, child-related matters, property settlement, or any family law challenge — especially if there are layers of cultural, immigration or trauma background — Rahila is now part of our family law firm in Perth and ready to support you and your family.
You can book a no-obligation initial consultation with Rahila to discuss your situation and explore how we can help you towards clarity, resolution, and a way forward. Get started with a free 15-minute information call now.
