From suites to “suits”
For those considering a career in law, there are skills and knowledge essential for success. Navigating the legal system is an intricate process which requires more than mere academic know-how; it also includes adeptness at research, analysis and problem-solving.
Besides pursuing the traditional academic pathway of an undergraduate law degree, a successful legal career might begin with a solid foundation in transferable skills — some of which could be forged in other industries that could appear disparate from that of the law.
Although SMU Juris Doctor (JD) student Delvine Tan hailed from the hospitality industry, her professional experience helped develop key traits such as customer experience, communication, organisational abilities, attention to detail, and problem-solving, necessary components for any legal profession. After all, the JD programme is designed for students with undergraduate degrees in other disciplines, or those who have trained in other jurisdictions.
“Previously my work experience was focused in the luxury hospitality sector, which equipped me with an international outlook, and excellent interpersonal and communication skills to engage stakeholders in fast-paced, dynamic, and culturally diverse environments,” notes Delvine, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Business.
“I was able to apply these soft skills to my legal experiences in the area of communication, both with internal and external stakeholders. Internally, it’s important to clearly and coherently communicate research findings and thoughts on the legal issue to the partners and my colleagues. Externally, strong interpersonal skills are helpful in corresponding with clients of international backgrounds and facilitating pleasant and positive conversations and meetings.”
As a hospitality professional-turned-law student, Delvine’s ability to communicate clearly and effectively resulted from past interactions with cosmopolitan travellers in the hotel sector. Additionally, managing complex problems quickly and efficiently proved instrumental when handling cases requiring a quick thought process.
Delvine in the Capella Lady uniform when she was working in Capella Singapore
Trained to anticipate guests’ unexpressed needs and requests, and to accordingly meet those needs within her capacity, such skillsets were relevant in complex litigious circumstances such as in the area of family law, recalls Delvine.
During an internship practising family law, for example, she encountered clients who communicated inconsistent and unclear instructions to their partners on several occasions during their divorce proceedings. Applying her experience in hospitality, Delvine was able to assist the partner by trying to understand the client’s underlying needs and desires during correspondence with them to clarify the confusion.
“I find this to be helpful, especially in the dispute resolution and litigation context, where it would be important to reassure clients who may feel anxious and tense about the situation,” she adds.
Making the switch
While the hospitality industry is highly dynamic, Delvine hankered for “a more intellectually stimulating and personally fulfilling career”. She also craved the academic challenge of pursuing a complex and multi-faceted discipline, as epitomised by the study of law at SMU. Entering the JD programme at SMU proved to be a rewarding experience, both mentally and personally, as she gained invaluable knowledge and insight that she was able to bring back not only to her own life but also to others.
Taking on the exciting journey of becoming a lawyer was not without its challenges; however, Delvine rose to them with passion and ambition befitting a fearless achiever like herself.
“The learning curve was steep in the first semester,” she admits.
“There were many legal terminologies and concepts that were new to me. I encountered difficulties reading case laws as the judgements were long and complex, and often contained discussions of many legal issues, making it difficult to identify the relevant legal principles.”
Fortunately, the JD programme provided a Week 0 introduction to law that was essential for providing the cohort of students with a strong foundation. Diving into an analysis of case judgements and research for case laws can be daunting, but the professors’ instruction during this week helped to ease students into their legal journey.
Delvine also recalls how sessions held by librarians provided the tools necessary to begin conducting successful research and delve deeper into legal studies. With such invaluable help at the outset of the semester, JD students can make tremendous progress throughout their course of study.
Diversity for a richer JD experience
The importance of diversity in the classroom cannot be understated — it is essential for creating an environment where all students can flourish and reach their full potential.
By including individuals from various academic and professional backgrounds, the JD classroom quickly becomes a melting pot of various philosophies, perspectives, and outlooks. Each student brings something different to the discussion that adds an understanding of legal proceedings beyond standard methods or perspectives.
“The diversity in the cohort has contributed to a more dynamic and holistic learning experience which definitely broadens my horizons,” explains Delvine.
“Given the adversarial nature of the law, it is important to have differing and opposing viewpoints to have a balanced discussion. The diversity plays an important role as classmates form different opinions based on their personal background and experiences.”
For example, in the area of comparative law, classmates who had a prior legal background or have law degrees from different jurisdictions value-added tremendously to class discussions by sharing their personal legal experiences, comparing the various legal systems and their contrasting approaches, shares Delvine.
Also, classmates who possess a strong background in banking and finance contributed to corporate law classes by pushing the discussion even further by sharing their personal work experiences and discussing practical issues alongside the legal theory that was taught in class.
She adds: “By sharing their personal knowledge and insight, this enriches the discussion as we could explore the topic even more in-depth and possibly even learn content that was not in our syllabus.”
Skillsets for a 21st-century legal professional
Acing the JD programme not only provides graduates with essential legal knowledge and skills, it also offers insight into the benefits of critical and analytical thinking. By delving deeper into their topics of interest, students gain an understanding of how to use theoretical concepts and apply them effectively in complex real-world situations.
Additionally, this proficiency encourages graduates to expand their problem-solving capabilities by developing a more holistic view of their environment and recognise connections between seemingly unrelated issues.
The Legal Research and Writing courses, in particular, equipped Delvine with legal research skills which proved useful during her internships.
“The course also taught me how to write legal memorandums which trained me on how to marshal arguments lucidly, coherently and concisely,” she adds.
“This helped me to communicate my research findings clearly to my colleagues during internships. My biggest takeaway was the ability to think critically and analytically, which enabled me to apply the theory I have learnt in class to practical and real-life situations in the workplace.”
Beyond the classroom, student life at SMU is highly stimulating and diverse, asserts Delvine, creating innumerable opportunities to expand one's horizons. In addition to academic pursuits, taking part in extracurricular activities can be incredibly enriching and allow for the growth of invaluable skillsets. It is a great platform to grow problem-solving and organisational capabilities, as well as foster leadership, interpersonal relationships, and communications expertise.
“As the President of the SMU Law International Relations Club, I had the opportunity to organise international study discussions and legal conferences. In 2022, I hosted a dialogue session with present and former law faculty from NYU and SMU. In 2023, I organised a Russia-Ukraine war conference joined by academic and practising legal professionals who spoke about the legal implications of the war,” says Delvine.
“I believe that participating in student life builds practical experience and character which prepares me for the challenges I may face in the legal and corporate industry.”
Moreover, being involved in events or organisations with an international scope deepens the degree of intercultural understanding and provides global exposure. This vibrant atmosphere of engagement provides something for everyone, allowing SMU students to steadily approach their interests and passions.
Ultimately, the JD programme offers a holistic learning environment, forming the bedrock needed to build strong foundations in the ever-evolving legal industry. Through their holistic approach, SMU JD provides an extensive array of transferable competencies such as legal analysis and research methods, counselling and negotiation, communication and language proficiency that open a portal to endless opportunities.
“I intend to train as a commercial litigator in a renowned firm, and learn from the most recognised and sophisticated professionals in the industry on how to deliver excellent quality work,” expresses Delvine.
“I strive to gain as much knowledge and experience as I can about the industry and work hard to broaden my legal skill set. One day, I hope to make my family proud as this endeavour would not have been possible without their continued moral and financial support.”