I first applied to SMU when it launched in 2000. It was a risk. A start-up with bold ideas. After seeing the quality of their faculty, and how modern their thinking was, I dived right in and never looked back. In my final undergraduate term, I applied directly to a Big 4 accounting firm in London. I got a job there as a trainee chartered accountant. My faith in SMU was vindicated.
Some years later, a similar situation arose. SMU Law School had not produced any graduates yet. It was again a risk. But I remembered how good the law professors were. The decision to choose the SMU JD was a natural one.
As an undergraduate, I was actively involved in CCAs. But my lifestyle as a JD student was different. I had more financial responsibilities and external activities. I spent much less time in school. Looking back, it would have been a pity had I focused only on studying. Fortunately, I discovered international moots. That sparked my interest in advocacy. It gave me the confidence as a young lawyer to be lead counsel in several tax litigation cases.
Did I specialise in tax law because of my accounting background? Yes, and no. Many tax lawyers do not have an accounting background. It is not necessary. But I have found it useful. I am able to integrate commercial and financial information with the legal submission. I have created financial models based on legal principles and negotiated settlements with insights gained from sensitivity analyses. That said, accountancy is not the only other useful subject to know as a lawyer. My JD classmates came from a diverse range of backgrounds. All of us have done well in our own ways. Some even chose not to practice law after graduating. We are more open minded and adventurous that way, having experienced the world in a different light.
I have no hesitation in endorsing SMU. If the SMU JD is something that you are considering, I would say go for it. Hope to see you as a fellow alumnus.
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