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PAY it forward
CELEBRATING TWO YEARS IN HER OWN LAW FIRM IN UMHLANGA, ATTORNEY SHAMLA PATHER IS NOT LEAVING HER LEGACY TO CHANCE, BUT RATHER CRAFTING ONE WHICH ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH HER LIFE VALUES. HER MANTRA? PAY IT FORWARD!
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hamla Pather is a highly respected law practitioner specialising in commercial litigation, with a niche commercial client base. In addition to this, she has created a sterling reputation as being one of the leading family lawyers. She has an unusual, even unexpected approach to what she does and, skilled as she is, her primary driving force is her backstory. It’s that which has driven her actions, business ethics and keeps her focused. Shamla was the only
daughter – youngest of four – and grew up in a humble home with little money: “Still,” she smiles, “I was spoilt, because as lacking in formal education and impoverished as my parents were, they did everything to make our world better. They valued education, and the ability to stand on your own feet.” Shamla considered herself an average scholar, but a brilliant university student: “For me to attend university required enormous sacrifices by my family. That alone was fiercely motivating. For a young Indian girl who, realistically, should
have been getting married not studying law, the option of failing did not exist. For me to study, my brother had to give up his studies, which he did without question.” Shamla worked extremely hard, supported wholeheartedly by her family: “For those four years, my sole job was to study,
I broke from all relationships which were bad for me, and I’ve risen like the Phoenix” my mum’s was to take care of me, ensure I was mentally and physically equipped to succeed. The memory of my mum’s caring ways during those years will never leave me; that, together with my dad’s ‘I’ll always make a plan’ attitude, shaped who I am, and how I approach every aspect of life. My then boyfriend, now husband, taught me I could be anything I wanted, and motivated me to work hard and achieve my goals. He still does this today.”
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Stepping out into the world – particularly that of law – Shamla found herself unprepared: “This profession is a real character build, and if you are not resilient enough, career breaking. From the very outset, it was tough. I was considered nothing and nobody, and my self-confidence was entirely eroded. I was repeatedly told I wasn’t good enough, until I believed it. It was a form of abuse.” Shamla has been in the industry for 24 years now, and she’s determined a large part of her legacy will be to assist young, hard-working professionals to believe in themselves and their ability to climb the ladder, despite personal and professional impediments. She realised the manipulation and sacrifices she had had to endure, made her stronger. Shamla is quick to add that the journey wasn’t all negative. She worked for a number of
