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

I’m a music nerd – I love listening to everything from modern pop to 1920s jazz, and I’m also in a punk band in school. Further, my interest in the music industry was a large catalyst for my decision to study law. I would read about the history of record labels and how their business practices influenced the output of iconic musicians, which led me to explore the legal issues behind famous recording contracts and label mergers.

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

During my time with AEI Legal, I had the chance to attend meetings with clients and legal counsel from other jurisdictions, through which I realised the importance of having good communication skills as a lawyer. While one may think of speaking well as simply being an eloquent content master, watching the team in action reminded me that getting one’s message across well requires personal skills. For instance, the team was not only highly prepared knowledge-wise, but also knew when and how to present complicated ideas concisely. Their use of clear language and analogies helped me, and their clients, catch on to unfamiliar concepts quickly.

I also learned that having patience and a helpful attitude is a hallmark of an effective communicator. I was never made to feel that the team was too busy to entertain my questions (even though they were, in reality, quite busy). During calls, I saw them display the same attitude towards clients, giving full attention to their needs. Ultimately, I’m grateful to have learned how to tackle the client-facing role of a corporate lawyer through the friendly, cooperative environment that the team has cultivated.

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

The most memorable task I was assigned required the localisation of a set of agreements that were based on U.S. securities and tax laws. I was unfamiliar with this area of law and felt challenged by the scope of the task.

However, Andrea’s style of guidance greatly helped me craft my approach towards it. She emphasised that I should take a step back, start with the basics, and gain a proper understanding of the agreements’ subject-matter, purpose, and implications. By using this strategy with every unfamiliar research area, I gained a greater sense of clarity and momentum with the task. I identified the issues that were the most unclear to me – for example, variations in legal terminology between the U.S. and Singapore – and went back to basics to educate myself on them by finding resources and guides.

Still, there remained specific clauses that did not exist in Singapore law and so could not be localised. I sought feedback from Andrea, and learned that in these scenarios, one can highlight issues for clients to confirm internally or with other advisers.

Overall, I was reminded of the importance of being proactive in seeking guidance when unsure, but also using my mentor’s advice thoughtfully to deepen my understanding beyond the boundaries of that specific task.

4. What advice would you give future interns?

Completing Company Law or a corporate law-related module may help you make the most out of your internship with AEI Legal. It was fulfilling to observe the practical application of concepts that I had previously learned about. However, even if you have no prior experience with corporate law, I believe that this internship will serve as a good introduction to the field. If you ask questions, the team will gladly provide informative answers with plenty of context.

I found it useful to take stock at the end of each day and compile whatever I had learned into a journal.

5. Did you enjoy your time?

Definitely. It was a joy working alongside a friendly, bonded team. I always felt looked out for – even on WFH days, my mentor, Bao Long, would check in to see how I was doing. I also appreciated that the team conducted meetings with external companies on issues salient to the legal industry in the era of disruptive technology. I was grateful to sit in and learn about the intricacies of the industry beyond work.

I truly appreciate the guidance and care I experienced from the team during my time in AEI Legal. It was a fulfilling, eye-opening experience, and I would recommend this internship to both first-timers and more senior law students!

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

I can bake bread. For about 6 months in JC, I went through all sorts of trials and tribulations in the kitchen until I could consistently bake a good loaf of bread, and now I’m the proud owner of a Dutch oven that has seen more dough than anything else. Not a lot of people know that I can bake bread because I grew very tired of eating it all the time, and eventually decided that the best way to avoid eating bread every day was to stop making the bread.

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

There is no better way to get a feel for corporate work than having a go at it yourself. There is truly an immense gap between the skillset and acumen required of a corporate lawyer and what law school can actually teach, and I believe an internship with a firm (like this one) where you’re consistently assigned with meaningful work is a great way to discover what areas you need to grow in.

For example, I’ve found that even skills that I’ve constantly relied on in university, like researching and writing, need to be adapted to suit corporate practice. Being able to look up and learn the full picture of the law is one thing, but being able to quickly extract pertinent issues and give a useful response to a client is another.

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

I struggled with unfamiliar documents and new areas of law, especially when I was assigned with reviewing something, or answering a client’s query. Because I didn’t know what I didn’t know, I was constantly second-guessing the accuracy of what I was writing, and doubled back on my research a lot to ensure that I didn’t miss anything important.

It was useful to receive feedback on my work from my mentors—knowing what I did well and where I could have done better really helped me gain more confidence in tackling a task the next time around, because I had a clearer idea of what was required of me. I also received practical advice about how I could be more structured when approaching a task, which helped me become more efficient as well.

4. What advice would you give future interns?

You’ll get as much out of the internship as you put in, so really take advantage of the fact that the team at AEI is so open and willing to take questions and give pointers.

Don’t hesitate to speak up and ask more about the work that you’ve been assigned, why a client is doing something, or even how you should start going about a specific task. Earnest questions are never stupid ones, and the lawyers really make a conscientious effort to address them.

5. Did you enjoy your time?

I absolutely did. Despite only being here for 3 weeks, I got a good feel for the culture of the firm, and frankly it’s quite refreshing.

There’s a sense here that the people are just as important as the work, and that the team functions with a high level of trust and respect. It feels like the anti-thesis of the typical horror stories your seniors tell you about associates having to sleep under their desks and shower at the office gym because they’ve been given too much work and too little guidance.

I was given a variety of different tasks to stay meaningfully occupied but was never overloaded with work. There was never a time where I didn’t feel welcome or safe to speak up, even though I was just an intern. In fact, my mentors regularly checked in with me to see how I was faring, and to ensure that I wasn’t being assigned too many things to handle.

If you’re thinking about applying, just do it!

As we mark another anniversary tomorrow, we’d like to express our heartfelt thanks to you, our clients, partners and friends, for the trust & confidence you’ve placed in us over the years.

Your support is truly invaluable to us – it is the cornerstone of our success, and the reason we strive for excellence, day after day.

In celebration of AEI Legal’s 6th year, our offices will be closed on Friday, 7 June 2024.

Thank you for being a part of our journey. We are excited for the future, and look forward to many more years of attaining new heights together.