TWO JOBS, ONE MAN
Single dad Rakesh practises both law and medicine in KwaZulu-Natal
HPietermaritzburg local Rakesh Mohanlal is a doctor and an advocate and working on his dissertation for his masters in medical law. LEFT: With his daughters, Chandni (left) and Riona. E PACKS so much into an average day it’s enough to make your head spin.
His first appointment is in court at 9 am, after which he heads to his doctor’s surgery for consultations in Pietermaritzburg. Then it’s off to Durban for a few meetings before he tackles the 45-minute drive back to Maritzburg to see more patients. Evenings are spent working on his dissertation for his masters in medical law and caring for his two teenage daughters.
“He has three professions: doctor, lawyer and juggler,” his friend Anand Pillay jokes. And he’s managing them all with enviable ease.
Rakesh Mohanlal (47) is thought to be the first person in South Africa to practise simultaneously as a medical doctor and an advocate. For most people, a career in either medicine or the law is daunting enough – to tackle both in one lifetime is just mind-boggling.
He became intrigued with law in 2012 while going through divorce proceedings with his now ex-wife. He was already an established GP in private practice in the KwaZulu-Natal capital, but decided to see if he could take on law at the same time.
To cut himself some slack, he scaled down his work in medicine and now no longer takes after-hours emergencies or does theatre work – but he loves being a doctor too much to give it up altogether.
After overcoming various legal hurdles Rakesh was admitted as an advocate this year. The Society Of Advocates of KwaZulu-Natal initially felt there may be a conflict of interest for him to practise as a medical doctor and an advocate, voicing concern that it may compromise the integrity of the bar.
“Independence, impartiality and integrity are vital to the legal profession,” senior advocate Yoga Moodley says. “Ultimately the society, upon satisfying itself that there would not be any conflict, reconciled itself with not objecting to his admission as an advocate.”
Rakesh’s legal team, led by Moodley, raised several arguments in an affidavit submitted to court, including that barring him from practising both professions would infringe his fundamental rights, including the right to free economic activity.
They also argued that preventing him from pursuing both disciplines would be anticompetitive and discriminatory.
And they won. “The initial shock when the judge called me for admission . . . I was trembling because I didn’t expect it. I thought that there might be further applications that are necessary,” Rakesh says.
RAKESH was born in Pietermaritzburg and studied medicine at Wits University in Johannesburg. He served his internship at various hospitals before going into private practice back in Maritzburg.
He turned down a chance to work in
Sthe UK so he could look after his mom after the death of his dad.
Never one to rest on his laurels, Rakesh decided recently it was time to hit the books again. “I started my MBA programme when I was in my forties. I decided my brain was getting a bit rusty.”
As if his plate weren’t full enough, Rakesh then started studying law at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), completing his degree part time in an astonishing three years as opposed to the usual six years it takes part time.
And he’s still not finished studying. As well as holding a B Tech in management, he’s also finalising his dissertation for his masters in medical law through UKZN.
“It’s a full working day, using all aspects from medicine to law and business,” Rakesh says of his career path.
He enjoys watching movies and cooking with his daughters, whom he clearly adores. The proud single dad says his younger daughter, Riona (16), plans to study medicine while Chandni (17) wants to go into business.
What’s Rakesh’s advice to others juggling more than one career? “Don’t create obstacles for yourself, pursue your dreams, have a positive mindset and hang around positive people.”
It’s clearly worked for him.