Diksha Chhetri

I was born in India and moved to the United States when I was 17 years old. While my parents worked hard to build a life for themselves here, I remained in India with my grandmother to complete my high school education. Even though I missed having my mother by my side during my teenage years, she instilled in me the value of hard work and sacrifice. Her guidance taught me the difference between black and white and showed me the right way to lead my life.

I grew up in a traditional Hindu household, where everyone was taught to think beyond themselves. I saw this most clearly in my mother, who constantly prioritized the well-being of our family over her own comfort, and through my father, I learned that true success is measured by how much you can give to others. Yet I also learned that good people are not always protected by good intentions. There was a period in my family's life when we found ourselves struggling to navigate a legal system that felt unfair and inaccessible. I remember feeling helpless and at mercy of the system I did not understand at the young age of ten. That experience left a lasting impression on me and planted the seed to become the first lawyer in my family.

My grandfather served as an officer in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) of India, who was originally from Kalimpong, a town in the Indian state of West Bengal, but his CRPF service required him to live and serve in several regions across India, including Kashmir, where he met my grandmother and where my father was born. Both of my grandparents shared Nepali heritage and eventually settled in New Delhi, India, where I was born. My grandmother was a stay-at-home mother who also worked as a personal chef for several families on the side. I spent most of my childhood waking up to her morning pujas (prayers) and the smell of her full-course meals in the house, which also nurtured my early love for food.

After high school, I moved to California, and while it was difficult to leave behind my grandmother and friends, I was excited to reunite with my parents. Like many immigrant parents, my mother had high hopes for my future, but she never imposed those expectations on me. I still remember driving past UC, Berkeley, as she told me that although she would be proud to see me attend such a prestigious institution, there was no pressure to do so. Even so, I put that pressure on myself. Determined to earn my place at Berkeley, I became deeply involved in the Speech and Debate Team at Contra Costa College, an experience that profoundly shaped my interest in American legal system. I competed in numerous tournaments and speaker showcases, earning first place in persuasive speaking and developing a passion for advocacy. Through speech and debate, I learned the importance of standing by well-reasoned convictions, even when faced with criticism or disagreement – a lesson that continues to influence my approach in legal advocacy today.

As it turned out, I was accepted to University of California, Berkeley – an experience that has changed my life in so many ways. While at Berkeley, I worked for the City of Berkeley under Councilmember Kriss Worthington, where I helped develop and advance municipal policy initiatives focused on government transparency, whistleblower protections, venue fairness reform, and small-business advocacy. The experience showed me that impactful change often results not from sweeping reforms alone, but from persistent advocacy, coalition-building, and attention to the practical challenges people face. That lesson continues to shape my work at Brayton and Purcell today. Our team does more than represent individuals harmed by dangerous products and toxic exposures, we also advocate for broader policy changes and collaborate with regulators and OSHA to strengthen protections and remove hazardous products from the marketplace. I am committed to using law as a tool not only to remedy harm, but also to prevent it in the first place.

After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, I worked at law firms to determine whether a career in law was truly the right path for me. Through those experiences, I met several attorneys who not only guided me through the law school application process but also gave me the confidence to believe that I had what it takes to succeed as a lawyer. I ultimately made my way to law school during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, relocating to Washington, D.C., and embracing the challenges and opportunities that came with beginning a new chapter in the midst of extraordinary circumstances.

Law school was, by no means, an easy endeavor. The demands of a rigorous academic law school environment, coupled with beginning my legal education during the COVID-19 pandemic, tested my adaptability and commitment. During my first year of law school, I had the privilege of serving as a Judicial Intern for the Honorable Barry Baskin. Working closely with the court provided me with a unique perspective on the judicial decision-making process and analysis that underpins every ruling. The experience strengthened my analytical skills while deepening my appreciation for effective advocacy. Watching litigators present their cases and seeing how judges assessed their arguments reinforced my interest in litigation. From that experience, I gained clarity about both the area of law I wanted to practice and the impact I hoped my work would have. Determined to pursue a career in litigation, I worked part-time for a solo practitioner during the academic year while participating in moot court and mock trial competitions. Those experiences ultimately led to a 2L summer position at a trial and litigation firm, where I worked in the product liability group.

By the time I graduated from law school, my experiences in moot court, mock trial, judicial chambers, and litigation practice had given me a clear understanding of the kind of lawyer I wanted to become and the clients I wanted to serve. I knew that I wanted to advocate for people whose voices are too often drowned out by powerful institutions and profit-driven interests. Brayton and Purcell provided me with that opportunity. While the journey to get here and to be able to represent the clients we serve has been a roller coaster, I now realize how worthwhile it all was when I saw the pride in my parents' eyes as I took my attorney's oath. In that moment, I understood that I had become the lawyer I once wished my family had.

What are your hobbies and interests?

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my dog, Jacky, and attempting to recreate my grandmother's recipes, often with mixed (mostly failed) results. I also value spending time with my family and enjoy encouraging my mother to explore new hobbies and prioritize self-care. When I am not working, I enjoy reading for pleasure, particularly literature on moral philosophy and socio-political history, as well as traveling.