The phrase “no one is above the law” seems like a cliché but it is a fact that the law excuses no one who breaks it. That is why I strongly believe that the laws in our country have teeth and will continue to bite and chew anyone, rich or poor, so long as they have breached the laws. When I was a child, my greatest dream was to become a lawyer. However, due to my family’s financial problems, I wasn’t able to study law. I still admire lawyers because I think it is a noble profession. Chia Boon Teck is one of the lawyers whom I think highly of. I first noticed him because he is always featured and interviewed in Singapore newspapers. Then, I visited his firm’s website www.chiawongllp.com to read about his experience and reported cases and was deeply impressed by the reviews of his clients.
It will be rewarding to be mentored by this good lawyer. One way is to enroll for internship with his law firm Chia Wong LLP. Many students have found the experience extremely rewarding and fulfilling. Below are some of their reviews:
“Interning at Chia Wong LLP has been extremely challenging and rewarding. The partners of Chia Wong LLP make very good tutors and the opportunity to work directly under them has allowed me to gain a better understanding of work in the litigation arena and at the same time, build up a solid foundation for my development in the legal fraternity.”
Sarah Lim
University of Leeds
June 2009
“What struck me most about both Mr Chia and Miss Wong was their humility and kindness, something that I never really defined lawyers by. In the course of the internship I had the privilege of observing the strong sense of honorability and responsibility that both mentors possessed, and the pride they took in the profession. The gratitude on the clients’ faces after court cases showed me the immense impact on lives the lawyers had, and made me desire to follow in their footsteps should I ever join the profession.
I can confidently state that both Mr Chia and Miss Wong are the best mentors one can ever have. They took the time off their busy schedules, explaining extensively what studying law entails, and the options available to us after we graduate, giving a far more comprehensive and personal picture than what one would obtain from reading such sites as those of law school websites (which would understandably gloss over the more unpleasant aspects of a study in law) . Far from trying to keep us out of the way given their exceedingly hefty workload (mountains of cases and endless appointments) they made every effort possible to ensure that we underwent our internship in as immersive an environment as possible. The tasks we were assigned were never unchallenging-we read the at times incomprehensible codes and clauses, researched into cases, drafted affidavits and attended court cases, all the while having constant guidance and feedback. There was no hesitation on our side in asking questions because we knew that the mentors would be more than willing to listen and to help. The internship has allowed me to gain exposure, and convinced me to pursue studies in law.
I would like to take this opportunity once again to thank both mentors for accomodating us for the entire period. It has been a great honor.”
Lee Ming Mei
Raffles Institution
November 2009