An Indian gets into New York's top law office

An Indian gets into New York's top law office

Preeta D. Bansal, a 35-year-old Indian born in Roorkee came to the United States with her parents at the age of three. Though her parents wanted her to become a doctor, she wanted to be a lawyer. A magna cum laude graduate from Harvard Law School, Bansal practised law in high-profile law corporations, and served in the Clinton administration (1993-96) as special consul in the White House Counsel's Office.

Bansal, is also the first ever South Asian to hold the position of Solicitor General of New York State. She is determined to deal harshly with law abusers. She spoke to Prem N. Chopra. Some excerpts: n When did you come to the States and where did you receive your elementary education?I was born in Roorkee, India and came with my parents to the States at the age of three. I received my elementary education in Nebraska, where my parents settled down. .

n What made you choose law as a profession?As I grew up, I carried with me the mindset to search for truth and I felt that law would be the best profession to pursue my goals.n Did your parents support your decision?As is the general tradition amongst Indians, they wanted me to become a doctor. But as my decision was based on a value to seek truth through my profession, I stuck to my decision and my parents eventually reconciled to it.

n How did you proceed to accomplish your goals?With my goal to accomplish the highest credentials in law, I graduated from Harvard Law School with magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.n Where did you practice law?I practised law with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in New York City and prior to that with Arnold & Porter in Washington D.C. Subsequently, I served in the Clinton Administration 93-96 as a special consul in the White House Consul's Office.

n Do you often visit India?I have relatives in Bombay and Delhi and visit them occasionallyn What kind of handicap did you encounter as a woman in advancing in the legal profession?If a woman is strong, she is perceived as aggressive, which is a negative connotation. To guard it ,a woman can be firm without much protestations. But as one becomes more comfortable in putting through one's point of view firmly, there is less chance of alienating others.

n What, precisely, are your duties as the Solicitor General Of the New York State?I supervise the working of 600 lawyers and handle constitutional work and appeals of the state to higher courts. When the appeals go to the highest courts, I have to sometimes go and argue the case.

n What do you find the most challenging feature of the job?The biggest challenge is the management aspect of this huge staff of 600 legal employees, the administrative work, especially to oversee their performance.

n How do you compare your present job with your work at the law firms? Which of the two do you find more exciting?The present job is more exciting. Because here I have the entire paraphernalia to defeat the wrong doings of gun manufacturers, environment polluters, corporations indulging in consumer frauds and those violating the proper payment of wages to immigrants.

Naturally, here I have plenty of opportunity to pursue the truth and dispense justice.