Adv Pallavi Pratap. Managing Partner at Pratap and Co. tuned into an extremely warm and candid conversation with Apoorva Mehta, Executive Manager at Legal Desire Media and Insights. We all know how difficult is the journey of a first-generation lawyer, especially if you are a woman but not impossible. Adv Pratap gave us some insights into her journey from an investment banker to getting recognized by the Business World Magazine in 40 under 40 lawyers across India.
Before we start can you please introduce yourself to the viewers?
I am an Advocate on Record in the Supreme Court of India. I am the Managing Partner at my firm called Pratap and co. and was recently given the recognition of 40 under 40 lawyers by the Business World Magazine across India. I have been practicing for over a decade now in the Supreme Court, High Court, Tribunals, Lower courts, and a lot of ADR-related work too.
Since you were an investment banker earlier, what made you shift to law?
Becoming a lawyer was not a very conscious decision, I had to leave my job for some personal reasons since it required a lot of traveling. Law made me a very different person from what I used to be, everything just settled down in its own way. The investment banking journey was very interesting but the law also has been great so far.
You always wanted to become an investment banker?
Yes, it was a conscious decision. Since I had done my MBA in Finance, I always had my mind on investment banking. When it came to becoming an Advocate, it was primarily with the intention that life was getting difficult at certain point and learning about law and applying it to my own cases, there were so many things you could learn. Being a woman, going through matrimonial difficulties, law was really applicable. With the passing of time, it made me feel very accomplished in that sense. Law has its own charm, its fulfilling.
Since you come from the first generation of lawyers, how did you step in?
It was extremely hostile. People don’t take you seriously, being a woman also has its own share. People were not so helpful initially. Respect for second-generation lawyers comes automatically. We have to gain that respect and being a woman, it was more difficult. 10 years back it was a huge deal to work yourself through it, practice has become quite women friendly now.
How did you make your way through these years?
When I entered this profession, my mother said “I hope you never quit” which stuck with me. It was difficult, it still is, there are so many challenges but I think what actually made me survive was that I don’t have to quit. After every setback, I used to wake up the next morning with new enthusiasm. Everything would just start falling into place.
“Seniors who make your life difficult and shout at you, they are actually helping you. All those seniors who pushed me the extra bit, they are all responsible in making me who I am today.”
How and when did you decide that you wanted to open your own law firm?
I had that in mind for the past 7-8 years. I was just building up the clients and expenses to be able to manage a law firm. I opened it last year, by that time I had my own name, there were good clients I was catering too and the remuneration stream had started to flow. I thought to myself that now is the time to get started on my own law firm.
What are the things and qualities you search for in your interns or juniors?
I don’t look at which school they are coming from, all I am looking at is if they can bring a new initiative. It is important that students understand, you cannot just play around or fool your bosses, I am looking at people who can put in that extra effort. If I give you a proposition to find case laws for it, don’t just do basic research and come without the case, put in that extra bit, do detailed research, and bring what I asked for.
Lastly, what is your advice to first-generation lawyers, especially women?
See it is difficult, but not as difficult as it used to be. Never tell yourself that you will not be able to do this, always tell yourself that it will work out. There is plenty of work for all of us, just stick around. Give yourself a time period, it will come to you slowly but it will. Always bring integrity, your clients are looking for integrity. If you are telling your client that filing will be done tomorrow, do it tomorrow itself.
