Time flew so fast and this essay is actually my last tick on my to-do list before I leave the firm. It has been a challenging yet inspiring one-month working as an attachment student at Alex Chang & Co. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my days working here and learnt a lot throughout the process.
FIRST THING FIRST
On my very first day, I learnt that every second that I got to spend in this firm is of infinite value and should not be put to waste. Every task or assignment given must be dealt with seriously and done in a precise manner. Therefore, if you don’t understand an instruction, instead of wasting your time doing something you’re unsure about, might as well ask for the the correct instructions. This is because if you spend too much time thinking on something, you’ll never be able to get it done at the end of the day. Better late than never, right?
EFFICIENCY IS KEY
During my second week of internship, I had the opportunity to attend hearings in the Court of Appeal and High Court together with Mr Chang and his team. Throughout this experience, I learnt that efficiency is key if you aspire to be in the litigation field. As a litigator, you have to think and act efficiently in every circumstance. I really admire how Mr Chang and Miss Lim were able to make use of our time in the car when we were on our way to the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya to “forecast” judges’ questions and concerns for the hearing. I do feel that only the best can do that.
GO FOR GOLD
“What’s your ETA?” is Mr Chang’s most common question to his team after he delegated a task to be done. Since every case has a designated timeline, Mr Chang and his team are always ahead of time. Mr Chang sets a high standard for every task given, as the judges in court will NEVER take anything less. Don’t be shocked, this applies to your tasks as an attachment student as well! This is where I hone my skill to multitask and to prioritize the tasks given to me accordingly. I’m forever grateful that Miss An Ni, Miss Jaryne, Miss Janice and Miss Chow were there to familiarize me with the formats and SOPs for every task.
LEARN IT THE HARD WAY
Last but not least, since time is of the essence, I believed that in the course of self-betterment and self-development, we have to understand and accept with an open heart that sometimes, best lessons were meant to be learnt the hard way. It goes without saying; your best teacher is actually your last mistake. From mundane tasks to very important tasks (i.e. research assignments, case discussions with Mr Chang and his team), I learnt that there are a lot of reasons, lessons and values behind every task. It may not be significant for some of us but it is very significant for someone like me who is still young and has limited views on a lot of things. It was only yesterday that Mr Chang asked me if I had a fruitful one month in Alex Chang & Co and I remembered I replied to him with a yes. Truthfully, working in Alex Chang & Co has taught me more than what I have to acquire as a future lawyer. It taught me how important each and every role in a law firm is, be it an attachment student, a clerk, a secretary, a pupil or a lawyer. Hence, hustle hard as a lawyer but don’t forget to stay humble as a person!
APPRECIATION
As my time with Alex Chang & Co. will come to an end, I would like to express my gratitude to Mr Chang for giving me the opportunity to learn, to step out of my comfort zone, to widen my perspectives and to gain new knowledge and experiences in Alex Chang & Co. To Miss Lim, Miss Chow, Miss Janice and Miss Elaine, thank you for all the guidance and it was a pleasure meeting all of you.
Finally, to Miss An Ni and Miss Jaryne, thank you for always coping with me on a daily basis despite everything. I really hope our paths cross again in the future and I really can’t wait to see you in that exquisite robe!
Farewell and thank you.
Nur Qamarynna Kamarudin
Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam
