Whilst I continued to be in charge of the legal related matters, I was
thrown in unfamiliar territories again and again but that challenged me to
survive and to be who I am today. It turned out to be a fortunate series of
events that I was given the opportunity to see how corporate world works.
The first few baby steps in the legal profession
I continued to be with the automotive company despite having obtained
the CLP because I enjoyed the work so much and I looked forward to work
everyday. However not forgetting what I always wanted to be, with a
heavy heart, I decided to move on after most of my proposed projects
have been implemented – that is, to undergo and complete my pupillage.
Without knowing which area of law to practise in, I have joined an
established mid-size firm in Kuala Lumpur which enable the pupils to go
through the rotation within selected departments. I spent most of my
pupillage in the corporate and commercial department and the litigation
department. During my pupillage, I finally realised that my passion does
not only lie in law but also problem solving. That was why I found the
passion in litigation and I have never looked back since.
I am very grateful of the opportunities and exposures given to me (and still
am) in the firm even when I was a young and fresh lawyer. The experience
that I have gained from the firm had equipped me with the abilities and
knowledge to develop a pattern and style of handling and solving
problems.
The Practice - Munhoe & Mar
After spending about 7 years in the firm, I was at another cross road of my
life. I felt that I can do more for the legal profession and it is my hope to
see that the profession be transformed into a modern industry. My friend
and I then started Munhoe & Mar in 2013. It was another fun yet exciting
journey of my life as setting up a new firm offered a different set of
expectation and experience which I never knew existed. Instead of just
dealing with legal work and lawyering all the time, I have to handle the
management and business aspects of the legal business. Without me
realising it, the management skills which I have acquired from the
corporate world were put into use when I am running Munhoe & Mar. I
quote Steve Job’s famous words “you can’t connect the dots looking
forward, you can only connect them looking backwards…” and this is
exactly what was happening to me.