Contributed by the National Young Lawyers Committee
“Don’t get lost with the time in wilderness”
Lee Chooi Peng graduated from the University of Leicester and is currently in
her 5th year of practice just having accepted partnership. She practises in the
area of estate, trust, banking and general litigation. She took some time off
her busy schedule to speak to Audrey Quah of the Committee.
Was it your life long ambition to become a practising lawyer?
No. I wanted to do psychology after high school but was discouraged by my
father. He said I would be facing the mirror ‘counseling’ myself everyday as it
is not part of Asian culture to consult a psychologist or psychiatrist. He
wanted me to be a lawyer and I must say I have no regrets going to law school
and practising law. I’m sure most of us who went to law school will agree that
we are more analytical in our thinking compared to other graduates.
Was it difficult at first to study law when it was not what you wanted?
I never enjoyed subjects like administrative and constitutional law, and English
legal system and these are the two subjects they taught in first year. So, first
year was quite difficult because half of the subjects were like Greek to me!
Have law and practice been all that you have expected it to be?
It has been less colourful than I expected it to be. Every now and then I hear
stories from a retired court clerk about how practice was 30 years ago and it is
unfortunate that now the bond between members of the Bar, and between the Bar
and the Bench is not as close as it used to be.
Could you please indulge us with your theory for that change in attitudes
amongst members of the Bar, and between the Bar and the Bench?
I wouldn’t call it a theory. This is just what I feel when I compare my
experience with those that I heard about. In the 70s, the relationship between
judges and lawyers was very cordial. I was told that it was quite common to see
judges and lawyers having tea at the same table without fearing of being accused
or suspected of being biased or corrupt. When a judge was being elevated or a
lawyer was called to the Bar, there was a sherry or tea party attended by judges
and lawyers who had a jovial time mingling with each other. Compare this with
the Bar and Bench get–togethers that I have attended in practice, and I don’t
see the cordiality that I’ve heard so much about. It sounded so colourful then
and it’s unfortunate not just that it is less colourful now, but there seems to
be a barrier between the Judiciary and the Bar now.
I felt that practice was livelier and more colourful in the 70s than it is now.
I have never heard of anyone getting injunction from a judge within 24 hours in
my short time at the Bar, but it happened in the 70s and I thought it only
happens in movies in the West where a lawyer would go to the Judge’s residence
after office hours to obtain the necessary orders due to the urgency of the
matter.
There was no gap between senior lawyers and young lawyers in the 70s but what I
observed from the Bar and Bench get–togethers was that most young lawyers will
mingle with other young lawyers and the same for senior lawyers and judicial
officers. The close bond that we used to have is missing, and hopefully it will
grow back one day.
In your opinion, are young lawyers subjected to less favourable treatment
from court staff, judges and senior peers while carrying out their job compared
to senior lawyers?
Yes, but not all the time. Sometimes, I feel that registrars and judges tend to
put more weight in arguments forwarded by senior lawyers even though the
arguments are not sound in law. It could be unintentional but unfortunately it
happens sometimes. On the contrary, sometimes I see court staff treating young
lawyers more favourably than senior lawyers.
Why do you think this happens?
It could be that some registrars feel intimidated or influenced by senior
lawyers or counsel from the Attorney–General’s Chambers because of their
seniority. It could also be ‘human nature’. People tend to believe or help a
familiar face than a fresh face. So, a message to all young lawyers – don’t fret
when you’re asked to do a file search or check with court clerks regarding
extraction of documents. Not just that you acquire the skill, you can be quite
sure that in due course you won’t be given ‘cold’ treatments anymore.
Moving on from the subject of law, what’s your take on the suggestion of
higher tax rates for fast food and banning fast food advertisements?
I don’t agree to higher tax rate. It will not curb the problem and it is the
consumers who will be paying the higher tax. In my opinion, banning fast food
advertisement is more effective because these fast food advertisements tend to
promote eating fast food as a celebration, a gesture of love and reward.
Do you think it will realistically reduce the amount of fast food consumed
by Malaysians if those suggestions are implemented?
I don’t think a higher tax rate will reduce the amount of fast food consumed
because fast food in Malaysia has never been cheap anyway and yet so many people
consume it. In fact, some youngsters patronise fast food outlets because they
think it is ‘trendy’ to be in one. That is why so many schoolchildren patronise
fast food outlets on their own now. Therefore, it is the image that fast food
operators portray through advertising that influence people to consume fast
food. Most of the advertisements promote eating fast food as a celebration, a
gesture of love for your children and a reward for your children and loved ones.
Sometimes people patronise it because of the toys and free gifts that come with
a meal. Moving ahead, I think we should also ban all carbonated drinks which has
no nutritional value in it.
Any words of advice or encouragement you’ll like to impart upon the
younger and fresh lawyers?
I came across an article which is very relevant to most of us, especially young
lawyers. Especially those who think the grass on the other side is greener. I
find this article so wickedly true yet so inspiring. It is a forward that I
received which was untitled, so I named it ‘Lost with the time in wilderness’.
Do read it when you have the time or when you’re contemplating to change of firm
or when you think the grass on the other side is greener. Although a bit long, I
reproduce it:
Oh, one last question – are you single?“The grass isn't always greener on the other side!! Move from one job to another, but only for the right reasons. It's yet another day at office. As I logged on to the marketing and advertising sites for the latest updates as usual, I found the headlines dominated by 'who's moving from one company to another after a short stint' and I wondered, why are so many people leaving one job for another? Is it passé now to work with just one company for a sufficiently long period?
Whenever I ask this question to people who leave a company, the answers I get are: ‘Oh, I am getting a 200% hike in salary’, ‘Well I am jumping three levels in my designation’, ‘Well they are going to send me abroad in six months’.
Then, I look around at all the people who are considered successful today and who have reached the top – be it a media agency, an advertising agency or a company. I find that most of these people are the ones who stuck to the company, ground their heels and worked their way to the top.
And, as I look around for people who change their jobs constantly, I find they have stagnated at some level, in obscurity.
In this absolute ruthless, dynamic and competitive environment, there are still no shortcuts to success or to making money. The only thing that continues to pay, as earlier is loyalty and hard work. Yes, it pays!
Sometimes, immediately, sometimes after a lot of time. But, it does pay. Does this mean that one should stick to an organisation and wait for the golden moment? Of course not. After a long stint, there always comes a time for moving in most organisations, but it is important to move for the right reasons, rather than superficial ones, like money, designation or overseas trip.
Remember, no company recruits for charity. More often than not, when you are offered an unseemly hike in salary or designation that is disproportionate to what the company offers its current employees, there is always an unseemly bait attached. The result? You will, in the long term have reached the same level or may be at lower levels than what you would have in your current company.
A lot of people leave their organisations because they are 'unhappy'. What is this so called unhappiness? I have been working for donkey years and there has never been a day when I am not unhappy about something in my work environment – boss, rude colleagues, fussy clients etc.
Unhappiness in a work place, to a large extent, is transient. If you look hard enough, there is always something to be unhappy about. But, more importantly, do I come to work to be ‘happy’ in the truest sense? If I think hard, the answer is ‘No’. Happiness is something you find with family, friends, maybe a close circle of colleagues who have become friends. What you come to work for is to earn, build a reputation, satisfy your ambitions, be appreciated for your work ethics, face challenges and get the job done.So, the next time you are tempted to move on, ask yourself why are you moving and what are you moving into? Some questions are: Am I ready and capable of handling the new responsibility? If yes, what could be the possible reasons my current company has not offered me the same responsibilities? Who are the people who currently handle these responsibilities in the current and new company? Am I as good as the best among them? As the new job offer has a different profile, why have I not been given by the current company the option to offer me this profile? Why is the new company offering the new job? Do they want me for my skills, or is there an ulterior motive?
An honest answer to these will eventually decide where you go in your career – to the top of the pile in the long term at the cost of short – term blips or to become another average employee who gets lost with the time in wilderness?”
Oh Audrey, you are so funny!
Other YL Personalities:
YL Personality:
Angeline Cheah Yin Leng
YL Personality:
Mishant a/l Thiruchelvam
YL
Personality: Shahrizal Bin Mohd Zin
YL
Personality: Rezalman B. Bahran
YL Personality:
Gavin Tang Cheng Loong
YL
Personality: Noreen Ahmad Ariff
YL
Personality: Nadia Ashikin binti Maduarin
YL
Personality: David Dinesh Mathew
YL
Personality: Nizam Bashir Bin Abdul Kariem Bashir
YL
Personality: Amer Hamzah Bin Arshad
YL
Personality: Ernie Suffiani Binti Salim
YL
Personality: Ahmad Syukri Bin Yusoff
YL
Personality: Dipendra Harshad Rai
YL
Personality: Soo Wee Loon
YL
Personality: Tracy Hah
YL
Personality: Aminuddin bin Abdullah