Single mum opens new law firm in North
Darshani Rao is ready for the challenges of being a single mum and running her own newly opened law firm in the Northern Division.
Originally from Labasa, Ms Rao joined the legal fraternity after successfully completing her five year degree studies at the University of Pune, India.
She was admitted to the bar after completing a six month post graduate diploma.
Legal practice
She started out in Suva and became a legal officer in 2012. She was promoted to Senior Legal Officer in 2015 before moving to Labasa in 2018. She held the post of Probation Principal Officer in the Northern Division for two years. “I realised I have spent almost nine years in the office and because it’s legal practice, we have to broaden our scope,” Ms Rao said. “I have been in Labasa for almost three years before I moved back to Suva for five months, I realised that there weren’t any female law practioners operating their own law firms in the North.
“I haven’t been home for a good 10 years so I started exploring Vanua Levu as a Director of Public Prosecutions officer; it allowed us to go and meet witnesses.
“Even in my personal capacity I did a lot of travelling and I was in love with Vanua Levu.
“I started planning and working on the logistics on the practising certificate to start registering a business as a sole trader and I have to comply with all the requirements of all the legal practioners unit.
“Securing an office space and putting an investment is a must for anyone beginning a new business.
“The most wonderful thing was that I had the support from a lot of people, from my family, friends, professional colleagues which made things easier.
“Without doing everything myself, I ask people for directions,” she said.
Single mother
Ms Rao has to cope with the challenges of being a single mother and handling the logistics of finding a flat and office space.
“It’s a challenge every day and not at all easy,” said the mother of one.
“Family support and friends is very important.
“But those that don’t have family support, there is help out there “It’s a matter of planning and getting yourself together.”
While Ms Rao is at work, her three-and-a-half-year-old toddler is at a daycare centre.
She believes that this helps in her daughter’s social and communication skills
OFfiCE
Darshani Rao Lawyers is located on 12 Rosawa Street at the Civic Investment building in Labasa. The newly opened firm made some reburshments.
“A lot of people have known me as a lawyer which basically proves to be an advantage and I would like to continue that at my new firm,” she said.
“It helps create an impression with the people, from being at an office with very high standards of service at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution’s office. “I made some courtesy calls to business houses around town, giving them my business cards and letting them know I am here.”