Seema Singh is a lawyer whose journey reflects her strong sense of spirituality, commitment to diversity, and professional accomplishments. Born Seema Mehta in 1961 in Asansol, India, near Calcutta, she grew up in a family deeply affected by the Partition of India. Her father, born in Lahore (now in Pakistan), and her mother, from Jammu and Kashmir, fled Pakistan during the Partition, leaving behind their wealth to start over in West Bengal. Her grandfather established a steel plant and coal mine business, which her father later managed, restoring their family’s financial standing.
Seema’s early life was filled with family and tradition. She spent summers in her mother’s birthplace, Kashmir, and grew up in a large family compound where all adults parented together, creating a strong sense of unity. Her father, who became the family patriarch, instilled in her a deep respect for diversity. Growing up in a multicultural environment, Seema celebrated Hindu, Sikh, and Christian festivals with friends of different faiths, and her father encouraged her to attend church and mosque services, promoting tolerance from an early age.
Seema’s education was rooted in Western influences, as she attended Loreto Convent, an English-speaking school run by Irish nuns. Her parents, highly educated themselves, had ambitious hopes for her to become a doctor. However, political and social turmoil in India during the Naxalite movement shattered these dreams when students with non-Bengali surnames, like hers, were excluded from medical school. Although this was a devastating blow, it marked a turning point in her life.
Her sister, living in the United States, offered Seema the chance to move to New Jersey and pursue her education there in exchange for childcare assistance. Although apprehensive about leaving her familiar life in India, Seema took the leap and began her studies at Rutgers University, balancing schoolwork with babysitting and later securing a student visa that allowed her to work on campus. Though she initially shied away from the sciences, her interest shifted toward business law.
A pivotal moment in her journey was reading Richard Nelson Bolles’ What Color is Your Parachute?, which gave her the final push to apply to law school. After graduating from Rutgers in 1988 with a business degree, she worked for several firms, gaining valuable management experience at a publishing company. However, feeling unfulfilled, Seema decided to pursue her passion for law. Although her first choice was Rutgers Newark, she eventually enrolled at Seton Hall University, where she found herself juggling her studies with pregnancy. She gave birth to her daughter in 1993 while attending law school.
Seema’s time at Seton Hall proved transformative. She gained valuable experience through an internship with Judge Dickinson R. Debevoise, a senior judge of the U.S. District Court, where she worked alongside high-profile lawyers and judges. After passing the Bar Exam, she began her legal career with a prestigious clerkship under Judge Patrick J. McGann in Monmouth County. This role, the highest-paid clerkship at the time, gave her the opportunity to interact with prominent attorneys and gain invaluable insights into the legal world.
Her career progressed as she joined Fox Rothschild as a junior associate and later moved to Reed Smith, where she worked on cross-border transactions. However, as a litigator at heart, Seema felt unfulfilled by transactional work. After a brief stint at Pepper Hamilton, she transitioned into public service in 2002 when Governor Jim McGreevey appointed her as the Ratepayer Advocate/Public Advocate Designate. In this role, Seema oversaw a large legal team, representing the Governor at events and legislative meetings.
Throughout her career, Seema was deeply involved in community organizing and politics. She served as president of the Asian Indian Chamber of Commerce, led delegations to India, and founded the first Indian Rotary Club in Plainsboro, New Jersey, which engaged in charitable work. Her advocacy extended to domestic violence victims, as she established the Asian Women’s Safety Net, a hotline that provided support and counseling to victims, particularly in cases involving cultural barriers.
Seema’s public service continued under Governors Richard Codey and Jon Corzine, though she eventually stepped down from her role when faced with the choice of either running for the New Jersey State Senate or joining Gibbons Law Firm. She opted to run for Senate in the 14th District, though her campaign against the incumbent Senator Bill Baroni proved to be an uphill battle. Despite her loss, Seema found the experience invaluable and described it as a confidence-building endeavor.
After her Senate run, Seema opened her own law practice near Princeton, which grew through word-of-mouth referrals and networking. Despite her legal success, she sought deeper spiritual fulfillment, which led her back to India to expand her spiritual practices. She eventually opened her own temple, which she runs with a dedicated team. The temple serves a diverse congregation, including Christians and Muslims, and plays a vital role in the community, though managing its overhead costs remains a challenge.
Seema’s career has been marked by both triumphs and challenges. As a mother and grandmother, she is proud of her personal and professional accomplishments, including her daughter following in her footsteps as a lawyer. However, she acknowledges the misogyny that exists in the legal profession, describing it as a “Boy’s Club.” Despite these barriers, Seema has developed resilience and takes pride in the growing representation of Indian Americans in law and government. She is particularly inspired by figures like U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and believes that the Indian American community has reached great heights in recent years.
Today, Seema continues to balance her legal career, spiritual leadership, and family life, serving as an inspiration for women and professionals alike.