This
month we chat to 24-year-old Medina Hassim who is a
candidate attorney at Nothnagel Attorneys and Conveyancers. Medina holds a Bcom
Law and LLB degree from University of Pretoria and as a new entrant to the
legal field, her hunger and eagerness is the motivation behind her willingness
to realizing her full potential in this field.
Below is the interview between For Women in Law
(FWIL) and (MH) Medina Hassim.
At which law firm are you
currently serving your articles of clerkship?
What inspired you to study law?
To be honest, law was one of the last things
I thought I would study. It was in my first year of university when I had a law
module that I decided this was exactly what I’m supposed to study. I loved the
fact that the law is in everything we do, that you aren’t confined to only one
industry but that the law is in all industries. I was also aware of the fact
that there was so many rights that we have that we are unaware of and I wanted
to assist in bridging the gap between the rights and the people that they need
to serve.
As a woman in law, have you experienced gender bias? If yes, how have
you dealt with it?
No.
What does being an alpha female mean to you?
Taking charge of your destiny and owning your
success, knowing you are the creator, and no one is going to hand it down to
you.
Would you consider yourself a feminist? If yes, what does feminism mean
to you? If no, why not?
I would not say I am a feminist according to
the formal definition of the word, but I would definitely say that I am without
a doubt pro-women! I believe that we need to remember that men and women were
made differently and compose of different things which is ok. It is ok for men
to do things women don’t for the simple fact that they were made differently,
and I believe it is ok for women to do things that men don’t for the fact again
that they were made differently.
FWIL:
The journey of most legal professionals is not always an easy one. What
are some of the lessons you have learned along the way and how have they shaped
your outlook on life?
The most important lesson is to see
opportunity in everything that happens. Good things happen and bad things
happen but what’s important is being able to turn these situations into
opportunities.
What is the best advice you would give to aspiring legal professionals?
Be consistent, persevere but also, aspire to
be more than just a legal professional because that isn’t enough anymore.
Aspire to be a GREAT legal professional.
What recent change/amendment in the law has caught your attention? (do
you agree with the change? Why/why not)
The proposal of the new Road Accident Benefit
Scheme. At this point I don’t agree with the scheme as I don’t see it being for
the benefit of the people who use our roads but instead a way of cutting out
the attorneys from the equation who are actually the voice of the people and
who represent the people who don’t know the law and cant represent themselves.
What are some of your effective networking skills?
Something I’ve definitely picked up on is
that people love talking about themselves, so a really simple trick is to just
take the time to ask how someone is or anything about themselves and when you
listen you get to learn so much about people.
FWIL:
What does the term “role model” mean to you? Which phenomenal woman in
law would you call your role model?
When I look for a role model, I don’t look
for someone who has done great things, but I look for someone that will inspire
me to do great things. Locally, for her integrity and authenticity I would say
Thuli Madonsela.
What books have you read that have greatly influenced your life
Steven Covey, the seven habits of highly
effective people. The 40 rules of love, Elif Shafak.
FWIL:
What's a quote that you live by? Your mantra.
MH:
Something I live by, everything happens for a
reason and there is a reason why everything happens.
FWIL:
How do you remain autonomous while working in the legal field?
MH:
I make sure to surround myself with people
who easily exercise autonomy in anything and everything that they do. So, for
me reminding myself of my moral compass is easy in that I just take a look at
the people around me.
FWIL:
How can people reach out to you? (social media handles)
MH:
Instagram: @MedinaHassim
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