Her Story
About Megna
Megna Murali is a litigation attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia. After earning her undergraduate degree from SMU between 2013 and 2016 and a graduate degree in ecosystem science and management from Texas A&M from 2016 to 2018, she worked for nine years as an environmental consultant and air quality and sustainability specialist in California. In that role, she prepared compliance documentation under the California Environmental Quality Act and NEPA for various land use and development projects. Motivated by volunteer work in India developing dance programs to support survivors of human trafficking, she pursued a law degree at Vermont Law School, graduating in 2024, and obtained her HAZWOPER certification during her prior career. She now practices as a litigation attorney handling criminal defense, traffic court matters, and family law cases, with expertise in legal writing, analysis, and research. Murali belongs to the American Bar Association and its family law and criminal law sections. She volunteers extensively with organizations including BIBHA, Aim for SEVA, Raksha, Texas Pro Bono, Lone Star Legal Aid, the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, the Georgia Justice Project, and others focused on human trafficking support, disaster recovery, and tenant housing assistance for low-income communities. She attributes her success to the unwavering support of her parents and values empathy, respect, and the mindful use of time and energy in both her professional and personal life.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Megna
01What do you attribute your success to?
My parents have provided me with a level of support that is unheard of. They gave me the opportunity to choose my path. They came here with 50 bucks and worked in IT to give us the chance to mold our own path. They put us in classes and still support me with career decisions.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
A manager told me 'you want to be at week 3, but we're at week 1.' Learning how to redirect that energy has been helpful. Also, sticking to being committed to growth and the ideas and visions that I have.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Just not give up on yourself. Life is hard and challenges come up. Don't know how to quit, so keep pushing and moving forward. Learn from failure. Choose mentors wisely and be smart about what advice you listen to.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value time and energy a lot, whether it's mine or someone else's. I value respect. Being able to respect people from different backgrounds and empathy. Empathy would probably take the cake. Put yourself in other people's positions and understand what privilege means.
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