What were you doing before the MCL?
I spent more than five years practicing corporate law at one of the most reputable law firms in Indonesia, where I was primarily involved in complex M&A transactions and advised multinational companies in numerous sectors. These included pharmaceuticals, technology, and e-commerce, on their business operations in Indonesia.
What were your impressions of the MCL?
Prior to taking MCL, it was challenging for me to understand the train of thoughts of international lawyers when leading a cross-border transaction, particularly those with a common law framework considering that I was a qualified attorney from a civil law jurisdiction. However, the Deals course in MCL was helpful it this regard as I had the opportunity to learn directly from leading experts on their experience in handling real-life transactions in the UK, both from legal and commercial standpoints.
MCL offered the most comprehensive transaction-related courses with a blend of legal theory and practical skills taught by the most distinguished academics and legal practitioners from prominent law firms in the UK. These courses equipped me with the essential skills I needed to become a full-fledged corporate lawyer.
Since the MCL course period was short, the program felt quite daunting to me as there were a number of papers we had to work on within that short period of study. Nonetheless, I believe that enrolling in MCL was the best decision I've ever made for my professional development, especially because it allowed me to intellectually interact with fellow students who were practicing attorneys from various jurisdictions. I was able to bond with my cohort more easily due to MCL's small class sizes, which also made studying much more enjoyable.
What are your post-MCL plans and have they changed due to taking the MCL?
My lifelong aspiration has always been to practice law as an international transactional lawyer who manages cross-border transactions.
Upon completing my MCL, I have started my career as a corporate lawyer in one of the international law firms in Singapore with a thriving banking and finance practice. This will be a new challenge for me. Nonetheless, I believe the set of skills I gained from my prior work experience in Indonesia and the knowledge cultivated during my MCL will help me to navigate any cross-border transactions with confidence. While continuing my practice, I also intend to sit for the Solicitors Qualification Exam to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales.
