What you were doing before the MCL?
I was a practising lawyer at Zaid Ibrahim & Co, a leading full service law firm in Malaysia with a regional presence in South East Asia. My main practice area was corporate litigation covering contractual and commercial disputes, insurance and reinsurance issues, general debt recovery as well as insolvency matters. I conducted court and regulatory proceedings and was also involved in alternative dispute resolution such as arbitration and adjudication.
Your views on the MCL
I joined the MCL because I wanted a solid corporate foundation on which to better understand commercial disputes. However, the MCL is much more than just a practical legal course with a small and diverse cohort. Students were exposed to the business side of the legal industry with subjects concerning the governance of law firms as well as financial management. Our professional development was also heavily supported by the Faculty as networking events with reputable law firms in London were arranged, a conference with academic leaders in the field of practical learning was held, as well as workshops on important issues such as negotiations and drafting contracts. I thought the MCL was very holistic and comprehensive as we had assorted modules to learn from and were graded not just according to written exams but on our group work, presentation and reports as well. More than anything else, the MCL fosters an environment where students were always happy to participate and where your cohorts could become your closest friends. It was more than just a course for me. It was truly a complete and enlightening learning experience.
Future plans
I entered the MCL determined to improve my corporate law background to bolster my skills in dispute resolution. However, I am now exiting the course determined to become a corporate transactional lawyer instead. The MCL allowed me to grow, develop and reconsider my future options and career.
