Commercial Property Lawyer
Farrer & Co

Sangita S

00:00:03 OK, my name is Sangita S, and I’m a Commercial Property Lawyer at Farrer and Co. Which is a central London law firm. Typical day involves meetings with clients. For example if we’re acting on a transaction, and we need to take instructions from them to find out what the next stage of the process is. Or being in meetings with other lawyers. Or working at – working in the office, and drafting documents. And then there’s – the other aspect of our job is to bring in work as well. Not actually do the work itself, but bring in work. So that involves marketing, going out and meeting people. So there’ll be like events that the firm arranges, or we arrange personally, and that’s quite an interesting aspect.

00:00:48 Yeah, I wanted to be a lawyer since I was the age of 12, and I remember watching a movie – I don’t remember the name – and thinking yeah, I’d like to be a lawyer. I didn’t realise what kind of law I want to do, or whether I wanted to be a Barrister or a Solicitor, but I knew I wanted to be a lawyer. So my aim was really clear, from a very early age, and what helped, I think, undoubtedly, are my parents. Because they came over here in 1970, and my mother was almost, you know, determined that her children got an education. So she was a huge inspiration in my life, and always pushing me to better myself.

00:01:40 My father passed away ten years ago, and my mother passed away last year, and it’s left a huge void in my – my life, and my brother’s and my sister. But I think being successful in your career, also has to sit side by side as being successful as a person. Which is about being honest, and having values, and having a sense of integrity of the way you do things. And those values have been instilled in me from my parents and my family. And sometimes it does get hard, but there’s a quote – there’s a plaque in my kitchen which – which is by Winston Churchill. And it’s very simple, and all it says – it says – never, never, never give up. And sometimes I look at that when you’ve had a really tough day or, you know, when I get down about my Mum, and in Hinduism – I’m Hindu – there’s – we believe that spirit is enduring and doesn’t – it doesn’t die, you don’t die, have a physical death and that’s it, it’s all over. So that gives me a lot of comfort.

00:02:48 You do hear sad stories about people who work so hard and they neglect other aspects of their life, for example their family, or their health. And when I used to work in the City, I neglected my health, and I paid the consequences at that time. But luckily I could, you know, I took a, you know, re-think and decided OK, what kind of – what makes me happy, what do I want from my life? And – so I changed firms, and I moved to a smaller firm. Less money, but had more time. I just wasn’t happy.

00:03:23 I was working really long hours, and the money that I was making – wasn’t being able to spend it, because I was always at work. I didn’t like the people I worked with, and it was a very cut-throat, ruthless environment. And I thought this is not why I’ve done law. Enjoying what we do, that’s so important, to really enjoy what you do. And also be happy with the people you’re working with. And either way, you’ve got to find a vocation that you can get up in the morning and think, yeah, I’m going to have a great day.

00:03:58 ENDS