This Interview has been published by Pragya Chandni and The SuperLawyer Team
Your journey has been quite diverse, spanning law, journalism, and corporate communications. Can you tell us what initially drew you to pursue a law degree at Symbiosis Law School, Pune?
I’ve always been a voracious reader and a tenacious writer. Early on, I recognized the importance of aligning one’s skills with career goals to truly excel. Both the legal profession and journalism seemed to perfectly match my pursuits. Ultimately, I chose to study law over journalism, drawn by the profound opportunity to enable justice, a cause that deeply resonates with me.
After obtaining your law degree, what motivated you to transition into the field of journalism, and how did you balance these two distinct career paths?
I feel there is an innate overlap in both professions. They both involve observing and studying extensively and then distilling all that knowledge into precise words. Although, as a lawyer, you bring your unique perspective to a set of facts, as a journalist, you state facts and help people form a perspective based on the set of facts. Both professions have the same underlying skill, i.e., drafting.
So, the transition for me was fairly easy. Once I entered law school, my forte and my passion for writing further solidified. I started working as a journalist part-time in college, which opened my horizons to the world of legal journalism, legal content and legal marketing as lucrative professions.
You’ve been recognized for excellence in both journalism and law. How have these two disciplines influenced each other in your professional life?
I have been passionate about both professions, so I started as a journalist while in law school, transitioned into a lawyer post law school, and then saw an opportunity to integrate both as a legal reporter and started working for a US publishing house. Taking a step beyond legal journalism into legal marketing was natural since the way to success is the continuous pursuit of knowledge. Right now, I am working in the field of law and using my writing skills to bring clarity to legal perplexities, as well as helping the firm that I work with augment its business.
As someone who manages content and media outreach at Fox Mandal, what strategies do you employ to ensure that the firm’s thought leadership and brand voice are effectively communicated?
Over the years, I have realized that adding value with consistency is the key to any initiative. As soon as we take up an issue or subject to write about or review, we check whether we are adding value or adding to the noise. If much is already out there, we try to explore new angles or new forms that the content could take, thus adding value or variety. Similarly, when it comes to the brand voice, we ensure that the value we intend to offer is clearly communicated. Clarity in thoughts and simplicity in words make communication much smoother. Then comes consistency, which embeds trust in the advertised capabilities and transforms average into excellence.
Your role involves extensive legal writing and communication. How do you maintain editorial governance to keep the content consistent with the firm’s style and tone?
As a law firm, it is expected that publication is done with adequate research and analysis. Honoring that responsibility, every draft goes through multiple levels of reviews and revisions. Apart from that, internal training is conducted periodically to ensure that firm members write responsibly with a lot of conviction. Templates and suggestions are regularly shared to maintain consistency. In addition, subjects are approached objectively, keeping all preconceived notions and interpretations aside.
In addition to your legal and communications expertise, you run a successful YouTube channel. How did you get started with that, and how do you manage to keep your content engaging for your audience?
As a first-time mother, there were new things I was learning each day, and I realized that the amount of guidance for new mothers was very limited at that time. The channel was created with the intention of simultaneously disseminating the knowledge I was gaining. Since my intention was never to monetize it or turn it into a career, the channel is only active when I come across something novel that I feel deserves to be out there.
You have been a speaker and judge at various legal competitions and events. What has been the most rewarding part of participating in these activities, and how do they contribute to your professional growth?
These opportunities have been instrumental in my self-learning journey and have significantly catalyzed my professional growth. The insights gained from these deliberations are unparalleled, providing a unique chance to expand my knowledge while contributing to the discourse. Additionally, witnessing the caliber of the next generation of legal professionals is refreshing. They are focused, savvy, and eager to learn, painting an optimistic picture for the future of the profession.
Given your extensive experience and accomplishments, what advice would you like to offer to fresh graduates who are just starting their careers in law and communications?
Identify and hone your natural skills. There are multiple options, and it sure brings in more chaos and confusion, but one needs to test the water before identifying one’s calling. Internships are a great way to navigate this clutter. It does not have to be with a premier law firm, it can be with a lawyer in your hometown or part time in the city where you study. But once you land any opportunity, try to question and understand the entire process involved. Don’t just be a cog on the wheel, try to comprehend the role the cog plays in moving the vehicle. Sometimes you may need to expand your area of operation, and this knowledge grants you the elbow room to explore your passion and prowess.
The content of this Article does not necessarily reflect the views/position of Fox Mandal & Associates LLP but remain solely those of the authors.
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