To Be or

NOT TO BE

A few months ago, I wanted to quit. ‘I have had enough. Ten years is long enough,’ I complained to my wife.

‘Ok. You can become a house-husband then,’ she replied coolly. I was referring to leaving law and she, to our common goal of both of us turning full-time homemakers.

I was taken aback by her response. She had never concurred with my aspirations of becoming a homemaker before. ‘Huh?’ I exclaimed. I became suspicious of her sudden acquiescence.

It has been a hectic and difficult year for me. Law practice, be it as an employee or a sole proprietor, is difficult in Singapore. A young, female former lawyer had recently voiced that practising law does not pay good money to help young lawyers like her and her friends achieve the 5Cs and live a comfortable life. ‘We are better off working in a different line,’ she argued. I disagreed with her. Is this what the profession is all about? This brings me to the question, which I still have no answer to – Is law a calling or a business? To me, there is no clear answer to this dichotomy. Perhaps it is a helping business.

However, I agree that the pay does not commensurate with the hours that many of us put in.

‘Why don’t you become a legal counsel?’ my wife suggested helpfully.

‘I prefer work with a human element,’ 
I replied. 

It was at that moment that I was reminded of my motivation to stick to law which had dawned on me four years ago while I was in North India – law was an avenue to help people, something that matters to me. Many of us, like me, remain lawyers because we have been in it for too long. Or maybe it’s because we cannot come up with better career options. ‘Maybe I should put my writing skills to better use than just writing for the Law Gazette. Become a journalist? Or be a law firm manager …’

‘Why don’t you fulfill your other dream of becoming a social worker?’ my wife countered.

I shook my head. Realising that I was not going to end this meandering, she concluded, ‘Aiyah, actually you really enjoy your work. You just have to take it easy. Perhaps you are tired. What you need is a vacation.’ She had given her judgment. I smiled.

So, I won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.

The good news is that this year I have learnt to complain less and have been less preachy. I am more positive these days and have been focused on bringing my business to the next level. 
I have learnt to find pleasure in the simple things in life – enjoying my favourite nasi lemak, a good cup of coffee or teh tarik, and the voices and laughter of my loved ones.

After four years of running my own business, I continue to be bitten by the entrepreneurial bug. It is fun running a business – marketing, human resources, finances, office management and the helping business fulfill me. But sometimes, the enormity of it all can be overwhelming. Hence my thoughts about quitting. Being your own boss gives one autonomy and freedom. But you are subject to different stresses 
as well.

As the year draws to a close, here’s my wish list for the New Year.  

A Change in Clients’ Mentality

I am stressed by the moneymaking part of the business. It is difficult to widen the profit margin. I always wonder whether the Singaporean client understands the value of the legal service commodity. Where do lawyers’ services rank in a client’s needs? I never cease to be amazed by clients who bargain over legal fees. Do we haggle with a doctor or dentist over their fees?

Camaraderie

I received an e-mail recently from a fellow lawyer who lamented about the lack of professional camaraderie. I agree with him. Civility and mutual respect are perhaps the answer. We can develop the much-needed camaraderie in our interaction with our ‘learned friends’. Amiable opposing counsel does create a happy and satisfactory working environment for everyone. I have a lawyer friend who always has a ready smile and I find his positive outlook contagious. I hang out with him and his lawyer girlfriend frequently. It helps to de-stress with fellow lawyers.  

Passion

The smiling faces in the S2006 publicity materials amused me. Yes, we do not smile enough. Singapore aspires to be a cool, hip and fun place to live in. Perhaps a similar dose of passion should be injected into the legal profession. Passion will breed the much-needed positivism and good cheer within us. Perhaps, we need a publicity campaign. Picture this. A group of lawyers looking friendly, relaxed and sharing a laugh. Or a lawyer and client exchanging a warm and appreciative handshake.

Shortening the Waiting Time in Court

In one of the many SMS exchanges that I often have with my wife during the workday, she commented, ‘You spend half of your professional life waiting in court.’ It is rather inefficient to wait for an hour for a mere 10-minute hearing before a judicial officer. With the great in-roads made in the case management system by our courts, I look forward to the day in 2007 when a court system can be implemented where we do not have to wait for long periods of time.

Happy New Year! May we continue to find meaning and contentment in law.

Rajan Chettiar

Rajan Chettiar & Co

E-mail: rajan@rajanchettiar.com