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Why did you choose to study at UCL Laws?
Having spent my formative years in a jurisdiction that has deftly adapted the Westminster parliamentary system and common law tradition to its modern needs, I was keen to pursue my legal education in London, where these concepts had originated.
UCL Laws also attracts a diverse global community of students that I felt would offer me valuable new perspectives as a young adult. Finally, I had the impression that UCL Laws would offer a good balance of academic rigour and fun, and my experience has certainly proven that to be true.
What did you learn during your time at UCL Laws, in class or out?
Academically, I learnt that the law does not exist in a vacuum. The nature of teaching and assessment at UCL Laws provokes reflection on the wider implications of the law. In particular, I enjoyed the “Big Book” coursework component of Jurisprudence in second year, where we got to select from and critique a range of texts by various legal and political philosophers.
With its location on the fringe of the City of London, we had the opportunity to interact with a variety of firms and organisations at UCL Laws. Beyond academic growth, we were able to gain a measure of commercial savviness and streetsmarts from these experiences. Being involved in the Law Society, I found the Faculty supportive yet willing to entrust us to run things independently; the process of finding synergies and aligning the interests of our members, partners and sponsors augmented my development of soft skills.
Finally, I was pleasantly surprised at graduation 2019 when the master of ceremonies asked that we turn to acknowledge our family and friends for their support throughout our LLB programme. Not only was it a nice gesture, but also an indelible parting thought from UCL Laws that beyond our own merit and hard work, there were many factors in our favour enabling our academic success and we did not do it alone.
What is your fondest memory of your time here?
I recall rising early on a chilly morning in January 2017 to catch the Miller judgment live at the Supreme Court (and obtaining a hardcopy judgment both for revision and as a souvenir while at it). It was really apposite for me then as a first-year student at UCL Laws, studying public law during an epochal era of the UK’s constitutional history. I also remember helping my friend from UCL Laws with door-to-door campaigning for the South London council elections in March 2018, which was a new experience for me.
I appreciated the genuine interest in the law that many of my peers brought to the programme, which set the tone for our learning at UCL Laws. Also, I remember (with much gratitude) my peers freely sharing their personal notes and helping each other out on the more esoteric points of the law on our Facebook group chat, purely out of goodwill – as the design of the LLB programme omits rankings and bell-curve grading, it promotes a positive culture of collaboration at UCL Laws.
What are your plans for the future?
We’re all lawyers after graduating from UCL Laws, be it in academia, the business of law or at heart pursuing non-legal endeavours. I am personally drawn to the business of law, where law ultimately serves commercial needs of the day. Given the thriving wealth and asset management industry in Singapore, that is where I hope to add value for the foreseeable future. But change is a constant, be it in terms of commercial trends or personal interests, and I look forward to exploring different but related tangents as my career progresses.
Beyond law as a craft, I believe that it is important as an ongoing concern for us lawyers to contribute both to the administration of, and access to, justice; I hope that my actions will match my intentions in the years ahead.
What advice would you give to prospective or current students at UCL?
I would advise them to make the most of their time and opportunities at UCL Laws, as the three-year LLB programme goes by so quickly. I would also encourage them to stick with it when the going gets tough, as most (if not all) law students who have gone before them would have faced similar steep learning curves in the initial months of law school (it gets better with time!). I would also emphasise that one’s journey at UCL Laws is a personal marathon and not a competitive sprint.
On the same note, I would remind them that support is always available at UCL Laws - from personal experience, the tutors and staff are always willing to make time to offer good counsel and guidance. Conversely, if in a position to do so, I would also encourage them to be pro-active in lending a helping hand to those around them.
Finally, all work and no play is not sustainable, and I would definitely encourage them to get involved in the myriad extra-curriculars and events both within UCL Laws and with the wider UCL community.
