Meet Arpita Legha

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Arpita Legha. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Arpita below.

Arpita, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Short answer: I have not…yet! Imposter syndrome is still something I manage daily. Growing up in an Indian family, there was a huge push towards science or medicine careers, so choosing to practice law made me feel like I was swimming against the tide. Starting law school at 19 years old, surrounded by experienced and seasoned classmates, I often questioned if I belonged. I initially began working in international tax planning before finally settling into family law. This only added to my feeling of being behind professionally and lacking technical skills in my field.

I recall one of my first big cases was a tough custody battle. My client’s relationship with his children had suffered due to the mother’s constant parental alienation. Despite months of preparation, I kept feeling out of my depth and feared failing my client. Fortunately, I connected with experienced mentors and colleagues who shared their own stories of self-doubt and helped me realize that I had done everything I could to prepare. That weekend, my client spent Father’s Day weekend with his children for the first time in three years!

Networking and connecting with colleagues in my field showed me I wasn’t alone and others saw my potential even when I doubted myself. Taking on more complex cases improved my technical skills and gradually built my confidence. I learned from my mistakes and celebrated my wins, no matter how small.

While I still feel like an “imposter” at times, I remind myself of my achievements and the positive impact I’ve had on my clients’ lives. It’s human nature to strive for perfection, but I try and focus more on my growth. They don’t call it a law “practice” for no reason, right?

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

At the risk of repeating my bio page on our website, I am a cofounder, along with my law partner Jason Oxner, of the Oxner Legha Law Firm. Oxner Legha is a boutique law firm located in Jersey Village, serving Houston and the surrounding areas. We are a general practice law firm offering legal services in several civil areas such as personal injury, insurance disputes, business law, estate planning, and more. I exclusively focus on and manage the Family Law section of the firm.

Something personal about me: I moved to Houston in 2002 from New Delhi, India. I started law school when I was 19 years old and began my legal career in international tax planning at PwC. Missing the personal aspect of practicing law, I left the corporate life and fell in love with family law. I have been exclusively practicing family law for about eight years and have no regrets! One of the most exciting aspects of my work is being able to make a tangible difference in people’s lives. Our clients often come to us at a time of great emotional stress. Being able to guide them and help them find resolutions that are in the best interests of their families has been incredibly rewarding.

As an immigrant woman, I never imagined I would ever own my own business. It is important for me to support minority voices, such as mine, especially in my field. Something unique about my firm: out of the eleven staff members at the firm, 10 are women. Our firm may be small, but a quick look at our client reviews will show its might!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

If I had to pick three, I would say embracing the unknown, proactive commitment, and flexibility.

Embracing the Unknown: Embracing what I didn’t know has been essential for my professional growth. Early in my career, I shied away from interesting casework for fear of making mistakes. Soon I realized that taking risks, even as I stumbled through them, resulted in a better version of myself today than yesterday.

Proactive Commitment: While being open to new ideas and experiences is important, I strive to proactively seek out opportunities, such as applying to mentorship programs, taking additional courses, and attending networking events.

Flexibility: Understanding and meeting the needs of those we serve is fundamental in any profession, whether it’s clients in a law firm, customers in a retail business, or followers for a TikTok account. It’s important to focus on active listening and empathy to understand your audience’s perspective. Tailoring your approach to your audience’s need will lead to greater satisfaction and success

How would you describe your ideal client?

An ideal client is someone who values clear communication and collaboration. In litigation, especially in family law, the stakes are often very personal and emotional. For an attorney to advocate effectively, a client must be forthcoming and open to advice that will achieve the best outcomes. A strong attorney-client relationship is built on mutual respect and trust that both attorney and client are working towards a common goal. This mutual respect and collaboration helps create a positive and productive working relationship.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Danny Nguyen Photography

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