Post by CW Gea

It’s been just over a week since I officially graduated from SMU’s JD programme. For the benefit of Those Who Wish To Take On A Legal Career Later In Life (and I say this unironically, because 35 will be a late start against bright eyed and bushy tailed twenty-somethings), here are some opinions on law school that you may wish to consider: - Talent matters somewhat. I’ve never been much of an exam taker, “preferring” instead to digest, trim, and strategize. At the same time, I live with the hope that Some Modern Legal Workplace will tolerate/accommodate/appreciate me even as the Legislation Division used to. - Some experience with legislation takes you maybe a tenth of the way. Strong language and memorization skills to parse and commit case law details to heart will help better with grades. - Naturally, I learnt not to care too much about grades. That said, some organizations care about them though. Pick your battles! - That said, your mileage may vary :) - But in any case, try not to beat yourself up too much if you feel like you “came from somewhere” and “have to perform up to a certain level”, yet “fail to”. Many things happen in adult life beyond law school, things that younger candidates, even the undergrads, may not have to deal with. Self compassion will be an invaluable skill to acquire and practise. - Make friends. Practice those people skills. Group work sucks, but is a thing. On that note, thank you to my pillars Yeh-Chen (ALSO) CHEN and Charmaine L. (and a host of other good classmates and friends, of course) for the many lovely/hard/stimulating conversations on all things relating to law school and otherwise. I thank 3 persons especially: - My parents, who made this ambition possible; - My partner, Darren Gabriel Leow, who saw me break down in Year 1 Week 4 from struggling to finish readings and somehow stuck by me for another 3 more years, supporting me both emotionally and financially. The best is yet to be!🤞🏻