One law school, multiple learning opportunities
Legal curriculums are often regarded as highly rigorous, requiring students to think critically and analytically about complex issues. For SMU Yong Pung How School of Law (YPHSL) PhD candidate Xu Yan, an insatiable passion for legal knowledge had led her to embark upon not one, but four advanced law degrees. Expressly, three of which are provided by SMU — including her upcoming studies for the newly-launched PhD in Law, Commerce and Technology programme.
Xu Yan, surprisingly, did not always have her sights set on becoming a top lawyer. Instead, she studied life and living organisms as a Biosciences undergraduate at the University of Science and Technology of China.
“I changed my career trajectory from natural to social sciences, as I found myself more interested in the interaction between human beings and social institutions,” quipped Xu Yan, whose undergraduate research project delved into epigenetic mechanisms in paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Hence, Xu Yan made the leap to law, which, in essence, is the study of human behaviour as it relates to society. And with legal industry changes being inevitable in a world facing digital transformation, unprecedented crises and increased global regulation, Xu Yan soon realised that a well-rounded law education provides a depth and breadth of knowledge that is unmatched in the job market.
Hence, having obtained her first law degree — a Juris Doctor (JD), Law — in Hong Kong, Xu Yan completed a Master of Laws (LLM), Cross-Border Business and Finance Law at SMU. The specialisation exposed her to a broad range of legal issues that businesses in Asia are likely to encounter, to be better advise on cross-border matters in the region.
“When I obtained my first law degree in Hong Kong, I was interested in business law and wanted to pursue further studies in that area,” expressed Xu Yan.
“A friend in Singapore recommended the SMU School of Law, which was relatively new then. She said SMU was famous for its seminar-style learning, and small class sizes.
Through my research on Master of Laws programmes offered by universities in common law jurisdictions in Asia, I also found that the programme offered by SMU, which had a particular focus on the business and finance law, perfectly met my needs.”
A whole new world
Unfortunately, the traditional law school curriculum is no longer adequate in preparing lawyers for the rigours of practice in today's globalised world. Globalisation has resulted in a dramatic increase in the cross-border flow of capital, technology, and information, leading to a corresponding increase in cross-border transactions. To succeed in this new legal landscape, lawyers have to be able to deeply understand the economic, political, and cultural forces that drive globalisation.
The LLM experience is a unique pathway toward global citizenship, with classes comprising 70 per cent of international students from Australia, China, France, India, Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam. It also creates multiple opportunities to interact with global faculty and leading practitioners; and encourages real-life learning through study tours to multinational companies, international law firms and organisations.
“Our professors brought into the classroom rich practical knowledge; they taught us not just about the theory of law but also how it’s used in practice,” noted Xu Yan.
“I learnt practical skills at SMU, such as drafting contracts, which helped me to quickly adapt to work when I started my first job at a law firm. We had senior lawyers and bankers from different jurisdictions in my classroom; it was very interesting to work together in group projects and to learn from each other.”
Tailor-made education
Xu Yan added that SMU YPHSL offers a high level of flexibility in selecting elective courses. Every semester, the school provides a variety of electives that enabled her to tailor her legal studies with courses relating to her interest in business law and financial law. At the same time, other classmates could explore courses in mediation.
As she had planned to practise in Singapore as a lawyer, Xu Yan returned to SMU to pursue the JD programme, several years after completing her LLM, as it qualifies graduates for legal practice in Singapore. The decision to undergo the University’s Juris Doctor programme was all the more enticing, given that SMU LLM graduates could transfer some elective courses to the JD programme, while YPHSL alums also receive a tuition discount on further programmes.
Moreover, students are drawn to the SMU JD degree as it enables an understanding of how their knowledge is applied in practice. The programme generates opportunities to build professional networks and connections and includes talks by legal practitioners and mooting experience to impart tenets of the law via a hands-on approach.
“The programme provided regular networking opportunities to engage with SMU alumni from different backgrounds and identify different career options,” recalled Xu Yan.
“These opportunities were beneficial for my job search as YPHSL invited many guest speakers, usually senior practitioners to attend these events. It was a good opportunity to network and pick up career advice at the same time.”
Having explored a wide range of legal topics through her LLM and JD, Xu Yan realised that her goal of becoming a lawyer shifted: During her JD studies, she found herself increasingly drawn toward legal research and focused on corporate law. By being able to investigate, analyse, and synthesise complex legal issues, a leading legal researcher is in high demand across industries ranging from academia and think tanks, to government agencies and law firms.
Coincidentally, YPHSL announced plans for the new interdisciplinary PhD in Law, Commerce and Technology. The first of its kind in Asia-Pacific and among a handful of interdisciplinary research doctoral programmes offered by law schools around the world, this research degree includes close partnerships with major stakeholders in the legal, finance and technology industries.
“Prospective students should ask themselves, ‘what kind of person do you want to be after three years or even 10 years?’,” said Xu Yan.
It is not just about selecting a programme, but about your future career.”
“During my LLM and JD studies, I became familiar with YPHSL and learned that SMU provides the best support for students. I believe that I am in good hands continuing my studies at SMU, which is why I chose to pursue my PhD with SMU as well."