When Ranjana Devi Pillay was advised by her form teacher to take up law as a career, that proposal became her source of guidance.
The 42-year-old lass from Balata in Tavua was one of many proud students sworn in as a legal practitioner a few weeks ago, and in doing so she also became the first lawyer in her family.
For Ms Pillay, life has been a humbling experience.
“Life was beautiful while growing up,” she said.
“I come from an average family and there were times when we faced financial difficulties, but my parents did their best and ensured we never missed out on our education.”
Coming from a multi-talented family also presented her with good memories.
“There are lots of good memories from my childhood like being with my siblings and with my cousin.
“My family loves music, so whenever there’s a family gathering, music and singing are a must. We have some very good singers in our family.
“I was also involved in sports, playing both school netball and being part of our athletics team.”
Ms Pillay describes herself as a “very spontaneous person” to whom family is everything.
“When I was in Form 4, I was told by my form teacher to think of becoming a lawyer since I used to talk a lot and had answers to everything.
Her journey through tertiary education was not easy. However, having her mother’s presence and continuous push for success allowed her to successfully complete her studies.
“My mum was the one who had asked my niece to fill my application for law school, and she made sure I submitted it.
“She used to keep tabs on me when it came to enrolment every semester. The journey in the beginning was hard, but I made some very good friends and with them, I just kept going.
“While working and studying at the same time was stressful, my mum made sure that she was by my side at all times.
Siblings and friends also played a part in encouraging the new lawyer to believe in herself.
“There were times when I stressed about my grades, but their belief in my abilities was unmoving. There would be times when they would laugh off my stress because they knew I would not fail.
“To them, I was already a lawyer, even before my bar admission.”
Her life journey halted for a bit during her third year in law school when her brother suffered a brain haemorrhage in America.
“It was a difficult time for our family since he is our only brother, and we are very close. My mum had to go to the USA and I was alone, especially during my final exams.
“During my second semester, I travelled to the USA to visit my brother, and my lecturers went out of their way to ensure that I attended my classes online and did all my assessments.”
During her graduation, having her mum, brother and sister-in-law, and a close family friend attend her bar admission was the happiest moment of her life.
“It felt surreal. I wished my father was here, he would have been the happiest man. He never differentiated between his daughters and his only son.
“My mum cried when I went to hug her after the admission, and I saw how proud my brother and mother were. My family is so proud of me since I am the first one to become a lawyer in my family.”
Besides her busy schedule, indulging in books and vibing to music, watching reels and TikTok are some of Ms Pillay’s hobbies.
Ms Pillay currently works at the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission office as an investigator. She advises those interested in taking the same career path she took, to never give up.
“Law is interesting. You get to learn everyday, but you need to read a lot as well.
“It is not hard to do law, but you need to have the right attitude and dedication. There is always someone to help you to better understand the concepts, so don’t ever hesitate to ask, that is how you will learn.”
