1. Tell us something people don’t often know about you.

One thing people might not know about me is that I love watching Friends – I’ve watched the entire series more than 5 times! I can probably recall the plot of every episode off the top of my head 😊

2. What did you learn from the internship – best takeaway?

My biggest takeaway from this internship has been appreciating the practical application of what I’ve learnt in the classroom. For example, I had the opportunity to review and proofread director and shareholder resolutions – something I had only ever studied in theory before!

Additionally, observing and taking minutes at client meetings taught me the art of clear and effective communication. I was particularly inspired by how Andrea and Dana actively listened to clients, understood their underlying business objectives, and communicated complex legal concepts in a way that was accessible and client friendly. This experience made me realise that while drafting contracts might seem purely legalistic at first, the process is dynamic and nuanced, with every term carefully crafted to align with the client’s unique needs and strategic goals.

3. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

The main challenge I faced was becoming familiar with what to focus on when proofreading documents. I initially found it difficult to evaluate whether a clause would benefit or disadvantage the client, as it required careful consideration of the language in each clause and identifying what was missing from the agreement and why. Fortunately, I could take guidance from the handout given to me at the start of my internship, which outlined the document review process. I was also able to seek help from the lawyers when in doubt, which was incredibly valuable.

4. What advice would you give future interns?

Keep an open mind and always be willing to learn! During your time here, you will be exposed to various agreements and research tasks that may be unfamiliar, but always approach them as valuable learning opportunities.

If you’re unsure about something, don’t hesitate to seek clarification from your mentor or anyone in the team. Additionally, be proactive - take the initiative to reach out when you see the opportunity to contribute and learn.

5. Did you enjoy your time?

Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed my time here. I really appreciate the warm, welcoming environment at the firm, where everyone was always willing to offer guidance and check in on my progress. I also enjoyed the lunch breaks which provided a great opportunity to get to know the team in a more relaxed setting. With exposure to a wide range of work, combined with the supportive and friendly atmosphere created by the people at AEI Legal, I am truly grateful for this experience.

1. Tell us something people don’t often know about you.

I am fluent in both the Japanese and Korean languages and have lived, studied, and worked in Japan and Korea for several years.

2. What did you learn from the internship – best takeaway?

The best takeaway I obtained from the internship came from observing the team’s management of clients and the clients’ queries and legal needs during meetings. These opportunities to sit in for client meetings and hear more from the lawyers about their processes and preferences in managing files gave me valuable insights into how I would like to develop my own legal practice skills and client management skills.

3. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge I faced during the internship came from having to learn how to quickly navigate an area of law which I was initially unfamiliar with, but which I found highly interesting. The legal work handled by the firm dealt with many aspects of corporate and commercial law, and required me to have an understanding of the needs and activities of clients across various industries.

While my internship gave me a taste of how challenging the work can be, I believe that over the course of the internship I overcame the challenge of the initial unfamiliarity through diving into the various pieces of work that the firm allowed me to try my hand at.

4. What advice would you give future interns?

My advice to future interns would be to:

1. Expect to get significant hands-on experience. AEI is a firm that gives you real opportunities to do real work; and

2. Come with an open mind. You’re going to learn, not just about the law, but also about what it means to be a good lawyer.

5. Did you enjoy your time?

I certainly did enjoy my time here. It was personally enriching to be able to learn from a team that is committed to the work they do, has strong experience in their field of practice, and that cares deeply about delivering to clients legal work that meets rigorous standards. What is clear to me after my internship is that the team has shown me a high set of standards of legal practice that I would like to emulate and demand for myself from my future legal career as well.

I think that interns looking for an opportunity to find out more about corporate practice would also similarly enjoy an internship with this team.

1. Tell us something people don’t often know about you.

A pipe dream of mine is to someday live with an Italian nonna just for a little while – somewhere in southern Italy, or perhaps Sardinia – learning their ways of rustic cooking, pasta-making, subsistence farming, and just enjoying the sweet life.

This may seem strange, or far-fetched, and it probably is. But if you get the chance to watch a few of the many videos on the Pasta Grannies YouTube channel, you might find yourself dreaming of the same.

Whilst all that remains a pipe dream I often keep to myself, I find myself indulging a little at times, by trying to recreate sauces, shapes of pasta, or desserts at home, to share with friends and family whenever I can.

2. What did you learn from the internship – best takeaway?

My three weeks at AEI Legal were each filled with novel, challenging, but ultimately enriching experiences. Throughout each of them, I’ve come to realise how multi-faceted corporate practice can be.

I’ve learnt how a dedicated corporate practice of the highest level looks, where the legalese fits within the broader approach taken by the team in catering to clients, when dealing with the unique circumstances and prevailing needs of each client. The work AEI does has shown me how an intricate balance can be struck between expertise, warmth and genuine connection.

A further facet of corporate practice which I’ve discovered is the role of creativity. I’ve had the benefit of observing how the team navigates evolving circumstances of deals in the making, along with often complex and sometimes uncertain state of the law. To contribute to, and then realise how the team crafts their advice and strategies for each client, has given me a newfound appreciation for the importance of thinking outside the box. In this regard, the people at AEI stay true to their dedication to deliver innovative solutions for their clients. This inspires me to consider how I might do the same.

3. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

A conundrum I found myself struggling with is how best to deal with situations where findings on points of law are uncertain, or seemingly unfavourable in light of a client’s needs or circumstances. In such situations, I’d also find myself unsure how I could deliver the most practical or helpful suggestions to members of the team, or transpose legal conclusions into workable or actionable advice which can be conveyed to a client. Zooming out, thinking of how the documents I was tasks to review, or draft, may find their way to clients, could have been daunting at times.

Thankfully, in the face of these difficulties, knowing that the work at AEI is done as a collective, with mentors and other team members willingly offering support along a steep learning-curve, was heartening. I did not have to try overcoming these challenges on my own, out on an island. Instead, I could count on the advice and purposeful direction from the team members along the way to overcome them. This then gave me greater assurance and confidence throughout my time at AEI to take on each challenge that came my way.

4. What advice would you give future interns?

For future interns, I would encourage you to be bold – bold in seeking out opportunities to put yourself outside of your comfort zone, and bold in seeking (and accepting) support when you’re there.

The first step – making an application for an internship at the firm – could be daunting. But the rewards of this foray into the dedicated corporate practice and growth-oriented environment at AEI will be more than worthwhile. Then, when faced with a range of novel assignments and circumstances, or even areas of law, be bold to take them on with your best effort. You’ll know that the people at AEI are there to facilitate your growth, always ready to help despite the many things on their plates, and will meet you where your queries are.

Finally, take the time to enjoy your lunches with the team on days when everyone’s in. The people at AEI do not let any lunch go to waste – they are always looking out for the most satisfying lunch fixes around the office (and post-lunch snacks too).

5. Did you enjoy your time?

I most certainly did. Though short, my time at AEI was thoroughly enriching. The scope of work was broad, diverse, and engaging. Though challenging, the encouragement from the team for me to dig deeper and refine my work along the way has given me direction and paths for growth that I can continue on even beyond the internship.

More importantly, the people – and the environment they’ve created at AEI – is perhaps what’s left the fondest impression on me. Each team member at AEI is true to themselves in the best way possible, each bringing unique quirks and energy to make for an enjoyable environment. Yet, in the midst of that, seeing how they each bring the best out of each other to deliver their collective best for clients, has been inspiring.