Why did you decide on a career in law?
My path to law was shaped by a deeply personal experience. Growing up, my family and I were closely involved in caring for my grandparents - one was a cancer patient and the other a double-leg amputee as a result of diabetes. During one hospital visit, a dialysis concierge pushed my grandfather's wheelchair negligently, causing him to fall and knock his head on the ground. Witnessing that incident was my first real encounter with the concept of negligence, and it left a lasting impression on me. It made me realise that the law has a very tangible impact on people's lives, and that motivated me to pursue it as a career.
As I began to explore the profession more, my interests evolved. In my first year of university, I attended the firm's First Year Insight Day, which introduced me to commercial law and opened my eyes to an entirely different dimension of legal practice.
I completed a vacation scheme with Taylor Wessing, now Winston Taylor, in the corporate real estate team, where I had the opportunity to assist on a joint venture deal involving a property company. That experience brought everything together for me - it reinforced my passion for commercial law and made me certain that this was the career I wanted to pursue.
Why did you choose to train with Winston Taylor?
Because of its distinctive sector-focused approach to legal practice. Rather than operating as a generalist firm, Winston Taylor organises its work around key pillars: private wealth, major litigation, critical transactions and strategic IP, which I find intellectually compelling. It means that as a solicitor you develop not just legal expertise but genuine commercial insight into the industries you serve, which I believe makes you a far more effective adviser to clients.
The firm's philosophy resonated with me on a very personal level, given how much those early experiences had shaped my own path. The firm was present at every formative moment in my journey into commercial law - from a First Year Insight Day to a vacation scheme that gave me hands-on experience. Each of those experiences reinforced my conviction that Winston Taylor was the right environment for me to begin my career.
Tell us about your training contract. What does this involve?
I am currently in my second seat, Real Estate. The training contract is structured so that you work closely under a supervisor. I am mainly assigned tasks from my supervisor and a partner in the team. There is also a wonderful sense of community in the wider team, with ad hoc tasks and opportunities arising organically, which keeps every day interesting and varied. These are tasks that I find genuinely valuable, as they give me client-facing experience as well as opportunities to learn the law.
Alongside the hands-on legal work, there is a dedicated soft skills training programme - with approximately one session each month - designed to help trainees grow not just as lawyers but as well-rounded professionals. It is a thoughtful investment in our development, and I find those sessions helpful.
What tasks do you complete on a typical day?
A significant part of my time is spent on client-facing correspondence - emails are a big part of life as a trainee, whether that is communicating with clients directly or corresponding with counterparty solicitors. I also spend a great deal of time drafting, reviewing, and marking up documents, as well as attending calls, which I find a great way to stay connected to the bigger picture of a transaction.
Reporting is another core part of my role. I regularly produce lease reports and reports on title, which require careful analysis and clear, precise writing - skills that I am developing all the time. I also handle a variety of Land Registry procedures, including completing Land Registry-compliant forms, swearing statutory declarations, and ordering and reviewing official copies. It sounds technical, and it is - but there is a real satisfaction in getting the details right and knowing that my work is contributing meaningfully to a transaction.
What do you enjoy about being a solicitor?
One of the tasks I have really enjoyed during my time in Real Estate is lease reporting and reports on title. The process is very satisfying - combing through the detail, spotting issues that might otherwise be overlooked, raising the right enquiries, and then watching the report take shape step-by-step into a polished, well-considered piece of work.
More broadly, what I enjoy about law is that it sits at the intersection of two very different worlds - the legal and the commercial. We are not just applying rules in isolation; we are constantly weighing legal considerations against clients' real-world business objectives and helping them find the best path forward.
And that, ultimately, is what I find most meaningful - doing work that matters.
What are the challenges?
One of the realities of working in a busy legal practice is that the environment is inherently dynamic and, at times, unpredictable. Transactions rarely run to a perfectly clean script. Deadlines shift, urgent matters land without warning, and you often need to reprioritise at short notice. That can be demanding, particularly when you are juggling multiple matters at once. I found this challenging, especially at the start of my training contract.
What has made a real difference for me is learning the value of proactive communication. Throughout my time in Real Estate, I have been fortunate to work with a supervisor who is wonderfully understanding and open to communication.
I think that is one of the most valuable lessons the training contract has given me so far: that clarity and two-way communication are just as important as legal knowledge. When everyone is on the same page, even the busiest periods feel manageable - and that is something I will carry with me throughout my career.
What three qualities are important for a career in law?
- Attention to detail. In legal practice, precision matters enormously. The difference between a well-drafted clause and a poorly worded one can have significant consequences for a client, so developing a sharp eye for detail is absolutely essential.
- Forward-thinking. The best lawyers do not just advise on the situation as it stands today - they anticipate how things might evolve, spot potential issues before they arise, and structure their advice in a way that protects their client's interests over the long term. Cultivating this habit of thinking ahead is something that truly sets great solicitors apart.
- Organisation. Legal work involves managing multiple matters, deadlines, and priorities simultaneously. The ability to stay on top of everything - and to do so calmly and methodically - is an invaluable skill that serves you every single day.
Can you debunk a myth about working as a solicitor?
A common myth I would love to debunk is that being a solicitor means spending your days buried in dusty textbooks, working in silence, and rarely speaking to another human being. The reality could not be more different.
On any given day, I might be on a call with a client, exchanging emails with a counterparty's solicitor, collaborating with colleagues across different teams, or presenting work to a partner. Relationships and communication sit at the very centre of what we do.
Tell us about an issue that is currently affecting the sector or your firm.
An exciting development that is very close to home for me is the recent merger between Taylor Wessing and Winston & Strawn to form Winston Taylor. Mergers of this kind represent a significant and energising moment in the life of a firm - and I feel genuinely privileged to be part of it at this early stage of my career.
What are your views on diversity in the legal sector. How can it better reflect the society it serves?
Diversity is a topic that is personal to me. Growing up as a Malaysian Chinese, I have always been aware of the value that different backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences bring to any environment.
Law is, fundamentally, a people-facing career. Clients come from every background, culture, and corner of the world - and I believe that a diverse legal team is far better equipped to understand, connect with, and serve those clients effectively.
I have found that the skills and perspectives I bring as a Malaysian Chinese solicitor - including language abilities and a familiarity with different cultural norms - are not just interesting extras but genuinely useful professional assets. I think that is something the sector is increasingly recognising: that diversity is not just a moral imperative but a commercial advantage.
The more the legal profession actively embraces a broad mix of people - in terms of ethnicity, socioeconomic background, nationality, and beyond - the more it will reflect and serve the society it operates within.
What are your career ambitions?
I have developed a real passion for real estate during my time in my current seat, and I am thrilled to be moving into corporate real estate in my next seat. At this stage of my career, my ambition is to qualify into one of these practice areas at Winston Taylor - and to continue building deep expertise in the commercial property space.
In the longer term, I am excited by the possibilities that come with a career in a firm with such a strong international platform. I look forward to growing into a solicitor who can advise clients with confidence, contribute meaningfully to cross-border transactions, and perhaps one day help inspire the next generation of aspiring lawyers - particularly those from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the profession.
What advice can you give to other aspiring solicitors?
Do not give up. The journey to qualifying as a solicitor can feel long and, at times, uncertain - but it is worth every step.
The application process for training contracts is competitive, and rejection is something almost every solicitor has experienced along the way. Each application teaches you something, each interview sharpens your confidence, and each experience - whether a vacation scheme, a mooting competition, or a law fair conversation - brings you one step closer to where you want to be. Every experience, no matter how big or how small, counts.
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