A year had passed and now I am in London, UK. I could still recall last December when I was just trying to apply for a place in the University of Law (ULaw) for the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC). A lot of people asked me : “Why did you choose ULaw?” I did not have an affirmative answer because I had to rely on secondary sources, such as the ULaw website and alumni feedback. However, three months down the line, I believe I had chosen the right institution because the experience so far has been extremely rewarding and invaluable to my personal development and academic progress.
In my opinion, ULaw tutors and workshops have been very useful because of their strong expertise and the active learning environment alongside with a highly international cohort. These have greatly enhanced and enriched my learning outcomes. Moreover, the life in UK is a completely new experience for me which has broadened my world view and understanding of diverse cultures. I am truly grateful to have met so many fantastic individuals from all walks of life who are willing to offer their helping hands when I am in need.
Personally, I have never known that BPTC could be this challenging for me as I thought I was sufficiently equipped with the necessary skills during my undergraduate studies. However, I found the course to be unexpectedly challenging and demanding. Hence, I had to step out of my comfort zone and work even harder for my goals. At the same time, I believe that this process will be rewarding to me in the future and enable me to work towards my career development.
It had always been my goal to undertake practical legal work so as to understand the implications of law in real life. After sending out applications to several chambers, I have recently (January 2020) completed a mini-pupillage at (QBE) Queen Elizabeth Building Chambers. This opportunity would not have been possible without the constant encouragement and support from the ULaw employability services.
My future plan after the BPTC course is to work in UK for at least another 3 to 5 years as I would love more exposures into the practical legal field abroad. I believe it will be both beneficial and rewarding to explore the working culture in another country before going back to Malaysia.
Just like many people, my dad has always been my inspiration for my career and life. He stood as a role model in all respects of my life and taught me to work hard so as to achieve my goals. His unlimited support both mentally and financially had kept me going all these years.
To sum up, I truly appreciate the fact that I get to experience the life abroad in such an eye-opening way. These experiences are undoubtedly treasures worthwhile.
