Internship Dates
31 January - 28 February 2011
Where do you call Home?
Sydney, Australia.
Where are you now?
Sydney, Australia.
Where have you been in between?
Other than living in Sydney and my internship with TP in Malaysia, I have lived and worked in New York, studied in Italy, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Japan and Indonesia.
Career progression since TP?
Since my internship with TP I have had a varied career! I have engaged in several short-term contracts, which has helped me gain experience in government and the private sector – from law firms, government departments, financial institutions and more.
- Marsdens Law Group - Law Clerk
- Department of Justice (LawAccess NSW) - Legal Information Officer
- Civil Law Project Officer – Legal Aid NSW
- Department of Finance (NSW Fair Trading) – Consumer Law Specialist
- Office of the Privacy Commissioner – Privacy Administrator
- University of Sydney – International Support Officer
I am currently working at the University of Sydney Law School, I work closely with the academics. It definitely is a privilege to work side-by-side with some of the best legal minds in the country!
Personal highlights?
A personal highlight in my career progression so far would be my time at the Department of Justice (LawAccess NSW). I was in this role for four years, during which I was able to give legal help to hundreds of clients who were vulnerable, distressed and needed assistance to resolve their legal issues. It is one of those roles which really taught me so many things about the variety of legal problems people face in living in the community, such as neighbour disputes, family law matters, child protection, domestic violence, legal disadvantages and socioeconomic disadvantages faced by culturally diverse people and Aboriginal Australians.
The future…..?
In addition to practising as a lawyer, there are other things I want to accomplish.
In the future, I would love to complete a PhD, and teach law in a university environment. I am definitely a people person and love communicating and conveying ideas, and I love starting lively discussions about important legal topics and matters of the day. In this way, I would be contributing to the tertiary sector, the legal profession and engage the future leaders of tomorrow.
In terms of practice areas, I have primarily been working in compliance thus far. In the future, some areas for myself to explore include: employment law, international law, indigenous law and immigration law, as well as intellectual property – at this stage these are some of my interest areas – broad, but beautiful!
Interests away from work?
I am a part time actor, visual artist and dancer. I know what you’re thinking – when does he sleep? I have acted in sold-out theatre productions and short films in Sydney, played a zombie in a feature film and have attended acting school here in Sydney. A bit of creativity in one’s life makes life just that much more sweet – and the best part? The skills gained are transferrable and useful in my legal career.
Reflections on your time in Kuala Lumpur and at Thomas Philip?
Ahhh! The tough question. How can I possibly articulate an experience that meant so much to me, more than I can ever convey? But I will try...
My time in KL and TP was a process of discovery. Kuala Lumpur is a fascinating city, steeped with history and so many layers, culturally, linguistically and not to mention the culinary! It felt amazing to be in such a hotbed of diversity, giving me access to explore different cultures, heritage sites and learn more about the complex history of Malaysia and its place in the world – very important considering Malaysia is one of Australia’s closest neighbours. On a personal level, I found the people hospitable, the infrastructure very well developed and again I have to mention how amazing the cuisine was!
As for TP, I am so grateful to Mathew and Peter for giving me this opportunity. I found the staff warm, professional and I was mentored closely by Lavinia, Balan and Hean-Leng. I am grateful to everyone for making me feel a part of the team. I loved watching how legal practice works within a common law country, but in an Asian context – getting insight into a dual legal system (common law and sharia law) would be fascinating for anyone, particularly a young aspiring lawyer. Some highlights included going to the District, High and Supreme Court, the awesome team lunches and dinners had, and the bittersweet poignant but still enjoyable farewell I was thrown… I will always be grateful to the team at TP, or as I like to call them – my Malaysian family! Saya sayang awak! (I love you)!