Startup Story
Everyone needs legal advice and assistance at some time in their lives, but finding the right law firm that understands your needs and that you can relate to can be hard. But in South Africa, two enterprising lawyers, Nozipho Mvulane and Arisha Rajaram, founders of Rajaram Mvulane Attorneys, are making legal advice and specialist support accessible.
LoA chatted to these enterprising legal founders this month to find out more.
Tell us about yourselves
We are Nozipho Mvulane and Arisha Rajaram, the founders of Rajaram Mvulane Attorneys. Rajaram Mvulane is a law firmed based in Durban, South Africa and provides a variety of legal services. The firm was started on 1 July 2019. We have a cumulative experience of 12 years in the legal and corporate sectors. Rajaram Mvulane aims to assist companies and individuals alike with a particular focus on issues that affect vulnerable women and children. Some of the services offered include family law, labour and employment law, corporate, civil and litigation work.
“We were inspired to start our firm because we realized that we have a set of unique skills that can help others. We realized that there were not a lot of young women-owned law firms in our area.”
What does your company do?
We provide services that include litigation, legal research and commercial work. We assist our clients with handling various disputes with their employers, landlords, neighbours, other institutions and within the family. We assist with legal representation at courts, bargaining councils and other legal forums. We assist in drawing up settlements agreements in family law matters and protecting rights though commercial contracts and non-disclosure agreements. We aim to help our clients where ever possible.
What inspired you to start your company?
We were inspired to start our firm because we realized that we have a set of unique skills that can help others. We realized that there were not a lot of young women-owned law firms in our area. We are young, dynamic and approachable. We believe that legal assistance should be accessible to a wider audience and we try and fill that gap. We are both comfortable speaking to people from a variety of backgrounds and taking them through the legal remedies that are available to them.
What makes your business, service or product special?
We are unique because we offer specialized services in both English and IsiZulu, which is not very common in our area. We believe in the law reaching as many people and possible and helping people know their rights. This is important as this is a tool that can help people navigate their every day lives. From disputes and disagreements with families, domestic violence, your rights during an arrest, the right to return products, the right to not be unfairly treated at work. We are unique because we speak to a wider audience and offer assistance to indigent populations.
“We are young, dynamic and approachable. We believe that legal assistance should be accessible to a wider audience and we try and fill that gap.”
Tell us a little about your team
In addition to ourselves, our team comprises of Philile Zitha, our office administrator and Kimmi Rajaram, our freelance social media designer. Philile Zitha assists with all office tasks and welcoming our clients. She is a young, friendly woman. She is the first person our clients meet and is an invaluable member of our team. Kimmi is our social media designer she is responsible for creating our social media designs and campaigns. She is highly motivated and a bright young lady.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
Nozipho - I do not come from an entrepreneurial background. I have always been employed and was eventually bitten by the entrepreneurial bug towards my late twenties.
Arisha - I come from an entrepreneurial background as my father, Raj Rajaram, runs his own architectural firm. He is one man business that provides quality services from his clients. I got the inspiration of entrepreneurship from him.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
We are hoping to keep growing in these uncertain times of lockdowns and Covid-19. We are using these times to adapt to the changing legal landscape and the requirements that come with it. We are hoping that in the next 5 years to have opened up another branch and to be running a full pro bono programme. We would also like to expand in terms of employing legal assistants, para legals and associates. We have aspirations to grow our business and help the most people.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
The ability to create our own schedules and seeing the fruits our labour. Previously when we were employees, we were bound by rules imposed by superiors. As entrepreneurs, we liaise directly with our clients, we see the impact that we are making in their lives. We have full decision-making in our company. That is immensely rewarding.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Do your research and ultimately take the plunge. So often we were bogged down with planning and trying to imagine and plan for the worst. Planning and research of your venture and the possibilities and challenges is important, but taking the leap is just as important. Plan and have faith!
Contact or follow Rajaram Mvulane Attorneys
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL nozipho@rajarammvulane.co.za
Why LoA loves it….
For many people, getting legal advice can be an intimidating prospect, especially if they are going through difficult challenges in life or in business at the time. But Nozipho and Arisha are changing that with their highly accessible approach to the legal advisory services they provide to their clients. Their bi-lingual service offerings also speak volumes about their commitment to client centricity and accessibility, and as a result, their clients feel they are dealing with people who really understand them and their needs. Nozipho and Arisha are a winning team - expect to hear much more about them and their business in the years to come. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo of Lionesses of Africa