Eleanor Wong

It was on television that I first saw Eleanor Wong. The programme was the National University of Singapore debate series and Wong was one of the few shining stars of the programme.

A Public Service Commission Merit scholar, she stood tall, and spoke eloquently, with conviction and authority. The television programme, perhaps the beginning of Wong’s public career, made many Singaporeans, including myself, pay attention to her.

More than two decades later, and after having worked as Deputy Public Prosecutor and State Counsel of the Commercial Affairs Department, transactional lawyer in international law firms in Singapore and New York and in various senior positions in The Right Angle Group, Wong is now in another new and challenging post — Director of the Legal Writing Programme conducted by the Law Faculty of the National University of Singapore. She speaks of the programme that she pioneered and teaches with such great excitement and fondness as a mother would speak of her newborn baby. ‘The current aim of this subject is to teach our first year students to think, apply their reasoning skills to a given problem and then apply the law to the problem.’ Practical skills such as advocacy, research and writing in plain English are taught to these students twice a week. An advocate of drafting in plain English, Wong feels that a lawyer must write for his intended audience — often his client. ‘If the client does not understand the piece of communication, then the writing is useless. Language filled with legal jargon should be left for court documents.’

A deep respect for law, order, societal values and an overwhelming sense of responsibility to Singapore are guiding principles in Wong’s life. To her, law is a set of rules which gives order to society. She is fascinated by how the law can be applied to help ordinary citizens in their daily lives, a basic but essential skill which Wong hopes to impart to her students at the beginning of their legal education.

One of the few things that Wong did not do was to practise in a local law firm. Early in her legal career when practising in foreign law firms was not favoured by many, she chose to work in international law firms such as Coudert Brothers and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. ‘International law firms tend to have a corporatised management and culture due to their sheer size and resources. Local law firms are more dependent on individuals and their relationships with each other.’

One who did not believe in planning her career meticulously and taking the normal path of life, Wong believes in charting her own independent direction in life. A non-believer of norms in life, she does not object to being confined and to think within a box, when necessary. Wong’s varied and interesting career path was a result of the opportunities that she chose to answer ‘yes’ to. ‘I was lucky to be able to do that and even luckier when the opportunities produced uncalculated benefits later. I learnt to be flexible and derived good experiences from these opportunities’, she says modestly.

According to Wong, the current trend of lawyers leaving the legal profession is a natural phenomenon. ‘Let these lawyers go and follow their hearts. These individuals are bringing their legal skills to other fields. This trend shows that legal training is versatile and it benefits society as a whole.’

Wong enjoys what she does and does what she enjoys. Therefore, she never had to distinguish between her work and her personal pursuits. Her personal life is far from lacking — she contributes to the ‘Remaking Singapore’ Committee and to the arts scene by writing plays which she began doing in 1985 during her Postgraduate Law Course days. Her first play was ‘Two’s Company or Peter’s Passionate Pursuit’. ‘It all started when some of my hostel mates wanted to write a musical together. I then wanted to write plays for myself and have continued to do so till today.’ She adds that there is a natural connection between law and theatre. ‘Good advocacy is evocative theatre and good theatre is excellent advocacy.’

A staunch supporter of Singapore, she feels at home here. To her, it is her duty to contribute to Singapore in the best way she can. Her life has shown that the methods of contribution are varied and endless.

She has no sympathy for the whining Singaporean. In an exasperated tone, she said: ‘Except for persons who are bound by family and financial commitments, no Singaporean is a victim of his situation. A person’s life situation is a consequence of the choices that he makes. There is no point about complaining about one’s life. You choose it. Live by it!’

Wong’s life is like a buffet served in hotel restaurants — one filled with an array of various stimulating and colourful pursuits, which is appealing to others and to her; the taste gives her happiness and satisfaction.

Rajan Chettiar
Allen & Gledhill