Ques: Congratulations on being awarded the Euromoney Best Asian Woman Lawyer for Dispute Resolution. Could you share with us one of your challenging experiences and how being a woman helped you overcome it?

Ans: I have faced a number of challenges in my life. I have overcome them by doing good work, giving good advice to my clients and giving all deliverables on time. I faced a lot of challenges early in my career in 1980’s. However, with time the situation has changed. One of the memories I can recollect is that of 1991 when I underwent a back surgery and could not travel to Allahabad for a matter. I told my client to take somebody else from the firm. But the Clients insisted on having me. They then arranged a chartered flight for me. I have thus seen times where it was difficult for clients to accept female lawyers representing them to times where they began to charter special flights for them.

At the end of the day, its your work that matters the most.

Ques:  Why does India have such a small percentage of female lawyers?

Ans: I think it is because of the social status. They generally tend to have a resistance from travelling and have more duties towards their families. The society is also not very comfortable with allowing women to take the leading role. Moreover, it is difficult to work full-time for female lawyers both before and after the marriage as one’s parents and families support becomes indispensable. If one do not have the support, it is very difficult to work full time.

Ques:  Would India see a rise in the number of female lawyers in the times to come?

Ans: I have already seen a substantial rise in the last decade. Women come, they work, get married and then continue to work after that. Infact, I have seen female lawyers moving shoulder to shoulder against their male counterparts and not fearing from travelling and working late nights. However, the proportion of such female lawyers is quite less, when compared to the other working class.

I feel that law firms should continue to support working women and should encourage them to work after they have children. At Amarchand & Mangaldas, women lawyers are allowed to bring their children above 6 months of age, to office. We have female lawyers at senior levels that leave office at 6:30 PM and then come back at night after finishing their domestic work. They do work as efficiently as their male counterparts and give all deliverables on time. Moreover, technology has made it easier for them to work in a flexible manner.

Ques: We have had a woman Prime Minister earlier. Currently, we have a woman president and at least 4 women Chief Ministers at the helm of affairs. However, we are yet to see a woman occupying the office of Attorney general, Solicitor General or Advocate General. Could you throw some light on this?

Ans: Appointments to these offices are political in nature. I believe that the Government wishes to appoint Senior Counsels to these posts. Where female lawyers are lacking is the number of Senior Advocates. We need more women lawyers to be senior advocates in the Courts.

Ques: Why is it that very few women are designated as senior advocates by the Supreme Court taking into account that Ms. Indu Malhotra is only the 2nd woman to have been designated as senior by the Supreme Court of India?

Ans: I think female lawyers prefer being solicitors and advocates-on-record. This is because it gives them much more flexibility to work and balance it with their personal lives. The work being a solicitor or an advocates-on-record is much easier, when compared to a senior counsel. I think it is this preference for flexibility and easiness that they choose; which is hindering them from being appointed as senior counsels in the Supreme Court.

Ques: Could you please tell us a little about the 'Inter-Pacific bar Association Conference 2012' being held in New Delhi?

Ans: I think that IPBA is a phenomenal opportunity for the younger generation to mix with their international counterparts. Women generally are hesitant to travel abroad and to attend such events. But this year, it is happening in India and that too in New Delhi. This saves them from travelling abroad to attend such events. IPBA creates premium opportunities for business and commercial lawyers throughout the region to network with their peers in a conducive and synergetic environment. As IPBA is attended by lawyers from the Asia- Pacific region, it is a good opportunity for the Indian lawyers to meet their international counterparts. I think it’s a great opportunity for everybody and the event will be a success.