Plan for Your Future: HELP and Beyond

Friends of the Law Society,

We are at the edge of the next level. Some of us will be continuing year 2 at HELP but many more will be flying off to the UK soon. Other than excelling in our exams this coming May, have you thought a bit about how you wish to make your mark in this world?

A few things to think about if you will be at HELP another year:

NEW - Law Firm Internship, Firm at E & C
Direct from the Career Center to my Inbox! Let me share with you, my friends!

• Internship(s) Available:
  Chellam Wong Advocates & Solicitors Scope of Work: - Assisting lawyers to research on points of law.- Accompany lawyers to court and assist in trials and hearings.- Attend to preparing sale and purchase agreements and attending to signing of the same. Contact Person: Pn. Norifah Ahmand Tel: 03 2096 1234 Posted: 16 April 2007

• HELP University College is setting up its first HELP Joint Student Council (HJSC). This Council represents and acts on behalf of every student at HELP University College. Members of the Council will have direct access to top administrators in the school and to leaders in the community. This Friday, I have been nominated by the Department of Student Affairs to represent HJSC in a conference chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister.* See the kind of access you can get? One member of the Law Society gets a reserved seat on this council. If you are interested please contact me.

• Internships at Local Law Firms. The Career Center has been posting sporadic announcements of internship opportunities on the board next to our 7th floor elevator. If you would like to search more actively for an internship, even in another field (who knows!) the 5th floor Career Center is an amazing resource and they will search out the firms for YOU then send you the descriptions to your e-mail! Trust me, I've done it! They also offer training for how to interview well and they are prepared to help polish your CV.
  

• Legal Aid Programs. I will do a bit more research on this then get back to you.
  

For those of you venturing off to the UK:

• Get involved in your university community. It will help to overcome any kind of homesickness when you are too busy to even think about home ;) Think about events you want to run, clubs you may want to found or take leadership positions in. Think about lecturers you may want to do research with! Remember that a good lawyer is not only one who knows the law, but has a variety of experiences and resources to draw upon. The people that you meet and the lessons you learn from each one are invaluable!

• Import some local flavor into your life. The last thing the UK wants is more UK, so breathe a little life into your classroom by giving a Malaysian perspective, by offering a Malaysian comparison. Some of the most mature classmates I have encountered have been the most fierce advocates of change in their own country. Constructive criticism is never a bad thing. It shows that you will be passionate in the application of your knowledge.

• Stay tuned and stay in touch. I mentioned that one of our unique strengths is to offer an international perspective. What are the biggest issues that legal practitioners are facing in the UK? Your lecturers will be engaged in some of the most challenging intellectual dialogues. Tune in to what is going on in the field and let us know. We can bring these issues into the classroom here in KL! The learning will be exponential for both sides involved.

Love the Law,
Michelle


* edit: 4/9 - Boo hoo! After having confirmed my spot, DSA informed me the entire conference would be held in Malay. We decided that it would be best to have another representative go who could understand Malay! Oh well, another time :)

edit: 4/17 - This Friday marks the meeting of the two Societies! The United Kingdom Solicitors Regulation Authority is sending representatives to visit our department. The Executive Committee as well as our beautiful lecturers and administrators will be there to greet them and impart all amounts of Society LOVE! Wish us luck!