Many Careers in One Life

There are police officers, civil servants, engineers, teachers, accountants, surveyors, bankers, doctors and architects in our legal profession. These individuals chose law as a second or third career. The experiences obtained in their first career and maturity placed many of these lawyers in a better stead than lawyers who studied law only.

In 1981, John Chung graduated as an architect from the National University of Singapore. He practiced architecture for 10 years. In the 1980 recession, John, an architect, married with a family decided to study law under the University of London External Degree Programme. He also studied the rigorous and demanding English Bar Finals alone in Singapore, flying to London only for the mandatory dinings in the Inns of Court.

Melina Seah studied accountancy in the Nanyang Technological University. During her course of study, she embarked on the same law degree programme as John did.

‘Unlike the construction industry, I saw the legal profession as stable. There was finality in law. In my previous job, I had to put up with the endless defective work complaints’, said John, a boyish looking, ever smiling and soft spoken man. John enjoyed architecture, especially the design component.

Melina’s dream was to be a lawyer. She enjoyed the challenge of exploring new issues in detail. New varied experiences and challenges rule Melina’s life. It gives her a high level of excitement and an endless zeal towards life. Having known Melina for a long time, I feel that she is in her element when she engages in diverse activities in her life.

Melina did not jump ship from accountancy to law only. After an accounting job, she was a Singapore Girl with Singapore Airlines, a corporate lawyer in Allen & Gledhill, worked in Bank of America, had a job in sales in a pharmaceutical company and in Westlaw legal publications. In between these jobs, she took long breaks and travelled and spent time in the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia.

Melina currently works as a corporate lawyer in ASG Law Corporation. During her short stint as a corporate lawyer in Allen & Gledhill, I met Melina. ‘Corporate law allowed me to build up on my accounting background. I had an edge over many corporate lawyers in that I had first hand experience of the business aspect of a corporate deal.’

John’s legal career centers on litigation and arbitration. He concentrates on his niche of construction and engages in construction litigation in Kelvin Chia Partnership. He may be the only architect turned lawyer in Singapore. John acknowledges his pupil master, the late Mr C S Wu for the training that he received during his pupillage. ‘Studying law and starting from scratch at a later stage in life as a lawyer is tough’, John admitted. He credits his lawyer wife’s enthusiastic support during those demanding years. Talking to John over tea in Suntec City, I felt that John’s choice of law was a result of a clear and single minded decision which served as the driving force in his journey to become a lawyer and remain a lawyer for the last 13 years. His love for the law is evident from the way he talks about it.

The architecture training gave John an eye for design and details. He appreciates the aesthetic aspect of buildings. He takes pride that the architecture course at the National University of Singapore had undergone changes which his classmates and he had mooted for during their student years.

Besides litigation, John does arbitration work. A supporter of alternative dispute resolution methods, John has been the arbitrator in several construction disputes. ‘An arbitrator is required to have two crucial qualities — patience and a good listening ear.’

Melina dismisses the tough journey she took to become a lawyer lightly, explaining it as another course of study she undertook in her life. ‘When I left the legal profession, I knew that I was not leaving law completely. I left it because I did not want to regret not having tasted life experiences at my death bed at the age of 80. I wanted to enjoy the diverse experiences life has to offer in my youth.’, Melina said passionately. Melina does not believe in vicariously living through the experiences of her friends or those gained from books, television or the cinema. To play, live and have fun, she became a flight stewardess with Singapore Airlines. ‘It was a very unreal life then. I met all types of people and heard stories which I would have never heard. Travelling to different countries and staying in five star hotels was fun. It was like a paid vacation and I fulfilled my dream of seeing the world.’

Melina’s career in Bank of America was a series of attachments to the various departments in the bank. ‘My boss, the Country Manager, wanted me to familiarise myself and be hands-on in the various bank operations. The result was that she spent time in corporate communications, event management, credit analysis, operations and forex exchange sales. ‘I felt that to be a good corporate lawyer, I needed to be exposed to the business aspects of transactions.’

It is well known that sales is difficult and challenging. Melina felt that her stint in sales provided her an opportunity to look at things from a new angle. In order to sell a product, she had to be exposed to the different brands of the product and also personally believe in the product. She recounts her waiting times at clinics to meet doctors in her sales job as a humbling experience.

Both John and Melina are examples of individuals who have stepped outside their comfort zone and took risks in their lives to achieve their dreams. John had obligations to a young family when he left architecture for law. Melina took the unpredictable and uncertain career path which did not guarantee many comforts that money can bring. She sacrificed the five Cs that yuppie Singaporeans religiously believe in. She had traditional middle class parents who had their first attack of worry when she declared to them that she wanted to travel to Kuala Lumpur alone at the age of 18. ‘Many of my friends tell me that they cannot pursue their dreams because of their parents. I admit my father worries about my actions but I also realised that he gets used to it and overcomes his own worries.’

According to Melina, Singaporeans have a very bad relationship with money. ‘Money controls our lives. When a new product is introduced in the market, people feel that they need to buy it. Once that is done, that is the end of the experience. We feel that we need money to fulfil the Singaporean dream. Money equates with security. If this is the case, why aren’t people of my generation happy in their lives? We have only one life. When are we going to live it the way we want?’ Melina has discovered that money could not have bought her the experiences that she has enjoyed in her life. Her string of extra curricular activities had always surprised me. In fact, whenever I meet her after a long time, my first two questions are always whether she is still in the same job and her latest pursuits. Melina swims, gyms, roller blades, cycles, scuba dives, wind surfs and the list goes on. Sports keeps Melina’s adrenalin running high for a long time after the end of the event.

Having lived in Singapore all her life, Melina wishes to live in Australia. ‘Sydney is my choice for its strategic location near the coast with its most lovely beaches and proximity to Melbourne and Queensland. It is a great place to live, work and play in.’ A city full of corporate activities, Australians work hard and they have the endless choices to play hard at, according to Melina.

Sydney reminds me of its beautiful coastal suburb of Manly which is only accessible by ferry from the city. Manly beach is one of my favourite beaches in Australia. I remember the quiet, sunny, carefree and peaceful day I spent in the beach soaking in the scene and the activities happening around me in Manly. I wished that day did not end at all. I felt envious of the inhabitants of Manly. I would exchange Manly for the skyscraper city I live in where my playground consists of shopping malls, restaurants, cinemas and night spots. Perhaps, John may wish to retain his yacht. His children may be grateful to him for the alternative weekend pursuit the yacht may provide them in their adult life in Singapore.

Rajan Chettiar
Rajan Chettiar & Co
E-mail: rajanchettiar@pacific.net.sg