Zara Tajwar & LAWomen
Zara Tajwar is a lawyer and social entrepreneur from Peshawar, Pakistan, and the founder of LaWomen, a legal social enterprise that provides affordable, tech-enabled legal services by women for women. Growing up in a conservative Pashtoon community, Zara saw how many women were denied their rights and silenced on issues affecting their lives. Her own mother was a child bride, and Zara’s desire to change the system, inspired by both her mother’s story and those of other women around her, led her to pursue law and dedicate her career to women’s empowerment.
Zara’s journey has not been easy. Coming from an underserved region, she faced fewer opportunities and a slower career trajectory than many of her peers. Yet, these challenges have given her resilience and a deep sense of purpose. Today, Zara leads a team of 25 passionate women lawyers who are breaking barriers and making justice more accessible for women who cannot afford it.
LaWomen operates on a cross-subsidized model, where clients with means pay for services, helping to subsidize free or low-cost legal support for marginalized women. By offering “for women, by women” services, LaWomen creates a safe and empowering environment where women feel heard and respected. The social enterprise covers vital areas such as family law, workplace harassment, inheritance rights, and gender-based violence. LaWomen’s impact is twofold: they empower young female lawyers by providing professional training and mentorship, and they give women clients the legal support they need in a system where their voices are often overlooked.
With support from the Giving Joy microgrant, LaWomen will host a skill development workshop for 20 female lawyers in Peshawar, a training already planned but pending due to lack of funds. The workshop will focus on practical legal skills, professional ethics, and client management in sensitive areas such as family law, workplace harassment, inheritance rights, and gender-based violence. By building the capacity of these lawyers, LaWomen will ensure more women in Pakistan can access justice and contribute to the transformation of the country’s legal profession.
Each lawyer trained will go on to support dozens of women annually, amplifying the impact and spreading justice across communities. With the Giving Joy microgrant, LaWomen will be able to move forward with this important training, providing critical resources and mentorship to female lawyers who are driving real change for women’s rights in Pakistan.
