Serving Justice and Community: How Nabeela Virjee Balances Law, Entrepreneurship, and Life

Nabeela Virjee is a civil litigation attorney at Plews Shadley Racher & Braun LLP, one of the largest environmental and insurance coverage practices in the Midwest. Nabeela has an extensive litigation background for clients in personal injury, employment, and civil rights matters. She previously held the position of Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Indianapolis, where she defended the city in complex civil rights and employment cases. Additionally, Nabeela was recognized both as a Rising Star by Indiana Super Lawyers and among Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for personal injury and commercial litigation.  In this episode… Navigating a legal career while staying true to your values, healing from trauma, and serving underrepresented communities is no small feat. Many professionals face burnout or disillusionment when their work no longer aligns with their true purpose. How can lawyers and public servants rediscover their passion, pivot effectively, and use their voice to advocate for justice and change? Nabeela Virjee, an experienced litigator in personal injury and employment law, shares a powerful journey marked by resilience, adaptability, and service. Drawing on her immigrant upbringing and early teaching career, Nabeela explains how systemic inequality shaped her desire to pursue a career in law. She offers insights on the value of taking unconventional career paths, the impact of real-life trauma on her decision to switch from defense to plaintiff work, and the importance of mentorship, vulnerability, and community. Nabeela emphasizes building authentic relationships and staying open to growth — even through pain. In this episode of the Circle City Conversations podcast, Alex Limontes interviews Nabeela Virjee, a civil litigation attorney at Plews Shadley Racher & Braun LLP, about transforming adversity into purpose-driven legal work. Nabeela also discusses lessons from founding a distillery, litigating high-profile civil rights cases, and raising young children while growing her legal practice.