Women’s Month often arrives with the usual predictable words: strength, resilience, empowerment, leadership.
All important.
All true.
But also, let’s be honest, sometimes repeated so often that they start sounding like the opening line of a corporate email nobody quite remembers approving.
So, this Women’s Month, we are doing something slightly different.
Instead of only speaking about women in the abstract, we are speaking to the women behind the work — the professionals who sit across from clients, solve problems, manage pressure, carry responsibility, and still somehow remember where they saw that sold-out item online for 30% less.
Because women in law are not one-dimensional. They are not walking court files. They are not only titles, qualifications and practice areas. They are strategists, negotiators, listeners, mentors, mothers, sisters, daughters, friends, food lovers, travellers, deal-finders, football fans, early risers and occasional TikTok researchers.
And yes, they also know exactly when something needs to be put in writing.
The legal backdrop: women’s rights are not a “nice idea”
Before we get to the lighter side of this profile, it is worth remembering why Women’s Month still matters from a legal perspective.
In South Africa, equality is not a motivational poster. It is a constitutional value and a legal right. The law recognises that dignity, equality and fair treatment are not extras that employers, businesses or institutions can offer when convenient. They form part of the framework that should shape how people are treated in workplaces, in business, in families and in society.
In the workplace, this becomes especially important.
Women should not have to earn respect twice: once by doing the work, and again by proving they deserve to be taken seriously while doing it. Yet many women still face assumptions about leadership, family responsibility, pregnancy, ambition, authority and confidence.
Sometimes discrimination is obvious. Sometimes it arrives wearing a polite smile and using words like “culture fit”, “not the right time”, “too emotional”, “too assertive”, or “we just thought you might not want the opportunity”.
The law does not fix every uncomfortable workplace moment automatically. But it does provide tools. Employees have rights. Employers have duties. Unfair discrimination, harassment, and unequal treatment are not just HR inconveniences — they can become legal issues.
That is why preventative legal advice matters. Not only after a dispute has exploded. Not only when the resignation letter has already been typed. Not only when the WhatsApp screenshots are being forwarded with the words: “Can you believe this?”
Good legal advice often works best before everything goes wrong.
Why this profile matters
When clients consult an attorney, they often arrive with more than a legal issue. They arrive with uncertainty, stress, deadlines, risk, conflict or the fear that they may make the wrong decision.
The attorney’s role is not only to interpret the law. It is to help people understand their options, make informed choices and move through complicated moments with clarity.
That is exactly why we asked Tasneem Mahomed to answer a few questions beyond the usual professional biography.
Because sometimes the most important thing to know about a lawyer is not only what area of law they practise in. It is how they think, what they value, what they notice, and whether they understand that people need practical answers — not a lecture in Latin.
So here is Tasneem, beyond the brief.
Beyond the Brief: Tasneem Mahomed
Why did you choose law?
I’ve always been drawn to helping people find solutions.
Law isn’t just about legislation, it’s about people. I love that every day brings a new challenge and an opportunity to guide someone through one of the biggest moments of their life.
What inspires you?
Resilient people.
Women who quietly build incredible lives. Beautiful spaces. Great food. Travel. And the idea that you’re never too old to learn something new.
What is your area of expertise?
My practice focuses on conveyancing, civil litigation, labour law and notarial practice.
I enjoy finding practical solutions to complicated problems — and I’m a firm believer that good legal advice can change someone’s future.
One lesson you’ve learnt in practice?
People may forget the legal jargon, but they’ll always remember how you made them feel.
The law is important, but empathy is unforgettable.
One piece of advice for young women?
Don’t wait for permission.
Apply.
Start.
Speak up.
Back yourself.
The confidence you’re looking for usually comes after you’ve taken the leap.
Law, empathy and the myth of the “cold” attorney
There is a strange myth that legal professionals must be detached to be effective. Serious. Untouchable. Slightly intimidating. Preferably surrounded by heavy books and a facial expression that says, “I bill in six-minute units.”
But the best legal work is rarely cold.
It is focused, yes. Strategic, yes. Professional, absolutely. But cold? Not necessarily.
Tasneem’s answer about empathy is important because clients often remember how they felt in the room. Did someone listen? Did someone explain? Did someone make the process feel manageable? Did someone give them enough clarity to breathe again?
Legal outcomes matter. But the client experience matters too.
This is particularly important for women seeking legal advice. Whether the issue is employment-related, property-related, family-related, commercial, contractual or personal, many women delay getting help because they worry they are “overreacting” or because they have been taught to first endure, smooth things over, wait it out or handle everything quietly.
There is nothing dramatic about asking for advice early.
Sometimes it is the most practical thing a person can do.
Three things about Tasneem
I became a lawyer because…
I’ve always believed that knowledge is powerful — but using it to help someone else is even more powerful.
The best advice I’ve ever received is…
“Bloom wildly, even where you weren’t planted.”
Life rarely goes exactly according to plan, but sometimes the unexpected places are where we grow the most.
If I wasn’t a lawyer, I’d probably be…
A chef or a journalist.
One lets me tell stories.
The other lets me feed people.
Both make people happy in very different ways.
The “deal detective” side of the attorney
Every firm needs at least one person who can find the impossible thing.
The sold-out item.
The hidden link.
The better price.
The viral product nobody asked for but everyone now suddenly needs.
The holiday deal that somehow appears after 17 tabs and a level of determination that should probably be studied academically.
Tasneem describes her hidden talent perfectly.
Hidden talent?
I’m the unofficial “deal detective.”
If it’s trending, sold out, hidden online, or available at an unbelievable price… there’s a good chance I’ll find it. My friends have learnt that if they’re looking for something, they ask me first.
There is something wonderfully lawyerly about this, even outside law.
Because good lawyers are also investigators. They read the fine print. They compare the versions. They ask why one clause says one thing and another attachment says something else. They notice what is missing. They find what others skipped.
The deal detective and the attorney may not be as far apart as they first seem.
One finds the sold-out handbag.
The other finds the clause that saves you from signing a problem.
Both are public service, depending on who you ask.
Quick Questions with Tasneem
Coffee or tea?
Coffee, to start the day and chai tea to end the day.
Life is simply better after the first cup.
Early bird or night owl?
Definitely an early bird.
There’s something magical about getting things done before the rest of the world wakes up.
What’s always in your handbag?
Lipstick.
Perfume.
A pen.
Hand cream.
And enough random receipts to open a small filing system.
Favourite quote?
“She remembered who she was, and the game changed.”
Simple, whimsical and a reminder that confidence starts from within.
Favourite South African destination?
Boknes in the Eastern Cape.
It’s where I completely switch off. Quiet beaches, endless sea views and the kind of peace that’s hard to find anywhere else.
Dream holiday?
Japan.
I’m completely obsessed.
The food, the culture, the design, the gardens, the tiny cafés, the efficiency, Studio Ghibli, the cherry blossoms… honestly, all of it.
Last series you binge-watched?
Emily in Paris.
Yes, partly for the storyline…
Mostly for the fashion.
Favourite comfort food?
A really good homemade pasta.
Or anything that involves carbs and good company.
The legal myth Tasneem wants people to stop believing
One legal myth you wish people would stop believing?
That attorneys only come into the picture when something has gone wrong.
The best legal advice is often preventative — it saves you stress before you ever end up in court.
This may be one of the most important answers in the profile.
Many people still see attorneys as emergency contacts rather than strategic advisers. They call after the contract has been signed, after the dispute has escalated, after the dismissal has happened, after the deadline has passed, after the property problem has become urgent, or after the email has been sent to exactly the wrong person.
Legal advice is useful in a crisis. But it is often more powerful before the crisis.
Before signing.
Before resigning.
Before buying.
Before dismissing.
Before transferring.
Before accusing.
Before posting.
Before assuming.
Preventative advice may not sound dramatic, but neither does a seatbelt until the road gets dangerous.
The best compliment
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?
“You made a really difficult situation feel manageable.”
There’s no better feeling than knowing someone left your office feeling lighter than when they walked in.
This answer brings us back to where Tasneem started: law is about people.
Not just files.
Not just clauses.
Not just case numbers.
People.
The person buying a home. The employee who feels unheard. The business owner trying to avoid risk. The client who does not know where to start. The family trying to make sense of paperwork during an emotional time. The woman who needs to know that she does not have to face a legal challenge alone.
Good legal advice does not always make a problem disappear overnight. But it can make the next step clearer.
And sometimes clarity is exactly what people need most.
One legal right every woman should know
One legal right every woman should know?
That she never has to face a legal challenge alone.
Whether it’s in the workplace, at home or in business, knowing your rights — and seeking advice early — can completely change the outcome.
That is the message worth carrying through Women’s Month.
Not every challenge has to be handled quietly. Not every legal question needs to become a crisis before it deserves attention. Not every woman needs to wait until she is overwhelmed before asking for guidance.
Ask early.
Read before you sign.
Keep records.
Know your rights.
Back yourself.
And, if needed, get the right advice before the situation becomes more expensive, more stressful or more difficult to untangle.
Final word
Tasneem Mahomed’s answers remind us that law is not only about rules. It is about people, timing, judgment, empathy and practical solutions.
It is also, apparently, about coffee, pasta, Japan, fashion, quiet beaches, and having the online sourcing skills of a professional investigator.
This Women’s Month, Engelsman Magabane Incorporated celebrates the women who lead, serve, advise, build and make difficult situations feel manageable — often before anyone sees how much strength that requires.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice on your specific circumstances, please consult a qualified attorney.