Prashansa Shah, is a Lawyer, Editor and a Consultant. She graduates with a Bachelor’s in Law and Business Administration from Bangalore, India. She interned and worked briefly in the cities of Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Dehradun with International Commercial and Arbitration Lawyers and Academics. Since 2016, she has frequently delivered research, writing and editorial projects with publishing houses, law organisations and legal and business content managements and senior Lawyers.
In 2021, she moved to London to pursue a Masters of Law in Commercial Corporate and Arbitration from the Queen Mary University, London which she completed this year with Distinction and Merit grades. During her time at University, Prashansa worked with the Student Union, and was appointed as the Batch Representative and the PG Representative for the Indian Society. She has also worked with the commercial legal aid clinic at the Queen Mary’s in setting up free law workshops as Public Legal Educator and as the Editor of their Legal Newsletter.
1) Which place, or city or country do you most feel at home in?
Any city in India feels like home. Growing up, my family frequently moved around Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, and Chhattisgarh and I went to law school in Bangalore and went on to explore many cities during national competitions and internships which made me accustomed to feeling homely in any City, as long as it is in India, and I have my family & friends around me.
2) What are your proudest achievements?
I am proud of becoming a Lawyer and obtaining distinctions at my law masters in my field of specialisation i.e. Finance and Investment Arbitration Laws while training and learning from world renowned professors, whose work I used to read at law school. All my learning experiences are my prized lessons, and I am proud for living it so far and for having the strength to look forward to more
3) What inspires you?
My Parents and my vision. I am constantly driven by the inspiration and motivation that comes from my father and mother who support and encourage me in pursuing all my dreams and becoming an independent professional and an empowered woman and a leader, capable enough to help and enlighten others to overcome stigmas and grow together.
4) What has been biggest obstacle in your career?
Joy and success in life and career is a journey, and not just an achievement goal. This means that more than often, patience is needed to endure the achievements before going on to work for the next milestone. I find it challenging at times to be patient and easy-going in the fast paced and competitive world we live in.
5) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
My Father is who I took up to even before the leaders of my field for his humbling diligence and intelligence. for maintaining a thoughtful balance between his work and life, for teaching me to value honesty, courage and generosity over ambitiousness and success which earns respect and love among everyone. I also look up to Justice DY Chandrachud for his brilliant contributions to the industry and his modest attitude.
6) What is the best aspect about your current role?
I wake up extremely excited for all the better differences and happiness that my contribution at my work brings for the people. Being there for a person when they are in need and resolving their problems is the most noble work and it gives me immense peace and joy, especially when I am able to put all my learnings into something productive that actually helps someone.
7) And the worst?
Dynamic work demands dynamic requisites. It may get challenging at time to commit for or plan time for things outside of work.
8) What are your long-term goals?
I envision to be an International Lawyer and a Leader to lead the advocacy of the rights of the underprivileged. I want to be significant enough to be heard when I call out to disrupt the unfair stigmas and wrongful ideologies that prevents our world from being a safer and healthier place than it can be for all of us.
9) If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?
If I am a Prime Minister, I would work on setting up a strictly independent institutional wing of the Government for Media that protects and promotes genuine news reporting and strictly safeguards the people from wrongful and inciteful news and words. Misinformation causes much dischord than we think.
10) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?
I love stories and poems and a good time in isolation delving into those stories and discussing about the characters and their perspectives from multiples angles. I would be thrilled to pick William Shakespeare and discuss all his fascinating work and even listen to the unpublished ones.
