Law toppers

Consistent reading, says Yasmin Tavaria, helped her top the list of successful students who appeared for their second year LLB examination from the Bombay University in mid 2001. Effort and good fortune, according to Freddy Daruwala, were important in his standing second in the same examination. While Tavaria who scored 66 percent was conferred a gold medal, two scholarships and two prizes, Daruwala scoring 62 percent was awarded two prizes. Both these Government Law College students had resumed their formal education after many years.

Due to a fractured hand Tavaria had been unable to write both her first year and second year law papers and had to resort to the help of a writer, she mentions. Despite this handicap she stood first in both the examinations, she says. She was attracted to the legal profession following a series of litigation involving her ailing father, her landlord and even a tussle with the Bombay University, she narrates. Since most of the spade work for this litigation was required to be done by her personally, she decided she might as well qualify as a lawyer herself.

Tavaria (left) and Daruwala

After studying at St Anne’s High School, Tavaria proceeded to K. C. College to complete her science graduation. She then joined the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute for a course in management after which she worked as manager for Bharat Petroleum, she mentions. In 1997 she resigned from her job to look after her ailing mother. Tavaria plans to practice law, stressing that it is important for an individual to know his/her rights and duties.

Since January 2000 Daruwala has a private practice, specializing in income tax, company law matters, trust matters, audit and drafting of wills, partnership deeds, etc, mentions his bio data. A qualified chartered accountant who ranked 44th in his final CA examination, Daruwala had completed his articles with Ratan S. Mama and Company. For five years he worked in the financial field with Airfreight Limited and its sister concern N. S. Guzder and Company. Thereafter for two years he was commercial controller with Madison DMB and B Advertising and for the next two as commercial director of Rediffu­sion D. Y. and R. Advertising. Whilst his study of accountancy has improved his accuracy, law has taught him the importance of written work and presentation. An alumnus of the Scholar High School, Daruwala studied science at the Jai Hind College, specializing in physics. Daruwala ranked fifth in the Bombay University in his graduation examination in 1985, according to his resume. S. J. P.