Life’s Legalities

“… it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity…”

The pupil usually starts his pupillage with a set of ideas in his head. These ideas may not apply to every pupil, but each one has his unique set of ideas that form his imagination of pupillage. Here are some examples, generally:

1. I want to be a bastion of justice, rights, etc.
2. I want sane working hours
3. I want to earn a good amount of money during my pupillage
4. I want to learn as much as I can
5. Pupillage is a breeze
6. I only intend to do litigation/corporate/conveyancing alone

And for one very excited pupil, pupillage threw him a curve ball.

Reality kicked in. Belief seemed incredulous.

I came into pupillage like Moses entered Egypt after the burning bush experience – excited. Imagining myself in big cases, upholding the cause of the marginalised, defending liberty, etc. And within two months, the ‘hero’ in me died.

At that point, reality and I met face-to face. We had a talk. And the best place to chat? The KL Court cafeteria.

Was this what I really wanted to do? Would I pay the price? Is this what is demanded of me? All of my ideas of what it took to become a lawyer, those beliefs, were shattered. What would they be replaced with? What kind of beliefs would I hold on to eventually?

7 months on, and what seemed incredulous has been re-cemented as reasonable belief, forged by the circumstances of reality.

Yes, I still want to serve the marginalised. But I know a little more about what it takes.

Yes, I want to be a skillful and effective lawyer. But I know also that it starts with the mundane and routine.

Yes, I want to protect rights and do public interest litigation. But I need to also earn a living.

It is obvious then, how easy it is to lose sight of the vision, and replace it with the comforts of life. But I know my Lord has called us to a life of sacrifice.

On the day of my call to the Bar, my mover (the lawyer who moved my call the Bar) exhorted me:

Extreme in the defence of liberty is no vice; moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue

Thanks. I needed that.