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For many law graduates, the next step after university is usually straightforward. Find a job, gain experience and work towards qualifying as a lawyer.
But for Malaysian law graduate Resshma Mohan, the road towards the Bar came with one major hurdle: money.
With the total cost potentially reaching almost RM200,000, Resshma knew she did not want to place that financial burden on her retired parents.
So instead of simply waiting and saving, she opened a café.
A dream shaped by her mum
Resshma completed her law degree in Belfast and later worked in legal roles, including as a paralegal and research compliance officer.
Growing up, education was always important in the Mohan household. Resshma said her mother, who had to stop her own studies after Form 6, played a big role in pushing her to complete her degree.
“My mother had big dreams herself, but had to stop her education with Form 6. She saw a way to pursue her dream through my journey, I guess,” Resshma told WeirdKaya.
That support made Resshma even more determined to complete the Bar, but also made her think twice about asking her parents to fund it.
‘It’s unfair to put the burden on my parents’
After working for a couple of years, Resshma began looking seriously at how she could finance the next stage of her legal journey.
To be honest, it took me some time to realise that it’s unfair to put the burden of funding my Bar studies on my parents,” she said.
She also realised that saving the amount through a regular salary would take a long time.
After a couple of years of working, I realised that it’s almost impossible to save up to pursue this dream, especially when you’re spending most of your time building someone else’s dream.”
Entrepreneurship was not completely foreign to her. Resshma grew up watching her parents run several businesses while raising her and her elder brother.
Together with her co founder Joshua, who has a background in marketing and content creation, Resshma launched Kaapi Kreat, a South Indian lifestyle café in Cyberjaya.
Working towards an almost RM200,000 goal
According to Resshma, pursuing the Bar could cost her almost RM200,000 once everything is taken into consideration.
She has yet to reach the full amount, but said the café is gradually bringing her closer.
“It’s not something that happens overnight, but every day, every customer and every step forward brings me a little closer to achieving it.”
Despite taking a less conventional route, Resshma said she never saw the café as abandoning her legal career.
Had to pitch the idea to her own parents
Resshma’s parents were initially concerned when their daughter, fresh from completing a law degree, told them she wanted to start a café.
“At first, they weren’t particularly keen on the idea. Naturally, they were a little concerned because I had just completed my law degree, and they wanted me to follow the more conventional path into the legal profession.”
She presented her business idea, sales projections and marketing plans while explaining that the end goal had not changed.
I had to treat my parents like any other potential investor,” she said.
Eventually, seeing the planning behind Kaapi Kreat and her determination to complete the Bar convinced them.
Law is still very much the plan
Even if Kaapi Kreat becomes extremely successful, Resshma said she still intends to pursue the Bar.
Knowing she may eventually leave to continue her studies, Resshma and Joshua have been putting systems in place so the café can continue operating without her.
She is particularly interested in intellectual property law, including copyright and patent law, an area she believes could complement her work as an entrepreneur.
For Resshma, the two dreams do not necessarily have to compete with each other.
“We live in an era where it’s possible to multitask multiple work and passion at the same time.”
‘A café is also a customer experience business’
Running Kaapi Kreat has also changed how Resshma views the food and beverage industry.
She said good food and drinks alone are not enough to keep customers coming back.
“Most customers who come to Kaapi Kreat are there for the coffee and food. But almost all of them come back because of the way they were made to feel during their time at the café.”
From the way customers are greeted to a simple goodbye before they leave, she believes the small details matter.
Her advice to aspiring café owners is to learn branding and storytelling, instead of assuming one viral video or a good menu will automatically bring people through the door.
Making a great tasting dish is important, but sharing that information via a compelling customer story is equally important.”
For now, every cup served at Kaapi Kreat is helping Resshma build two dreams at once: growing a business she can call her own and getting closer to becoming the lawyer she has always wanted to be.
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