Paralegal (pending admission)
I joined Baker McKenzie as a summer clerk without a clear sense of where my interests lay, and I consider myself fortunate to have been admitted through the Firm’s scholarship scheme. I was drawn, in part, to Baker McKenzie’s global presence and the breadth of experience it offers across its many practice areas. For someone still in the process of identifying their interests, the Hong Kong office presented an ideal environment: it offered not only a wide range of practice areas, but also the option of three-month rotations, giving trainees the opportunity to explore their strengths and interests.
During my training contract, I rotated through five distinct practice areas. I was fortunate to attend a regional retreat in Bangkok, where colleagues from across the APAC offices convened to connect and exchange perspectives, and I subsequently went on secondment to the Shanghai office. The firm’s global network is something I now draw upon daily as the majority of the matters I handle carry a multi-jurisdictional dimension, and working alongside colleagues across offices has considerably broadened my exposure.
I ultimately qualified into the Finance and Projects Group, drawn by the profound satisfaction of seeing matters through to completion. Whether assisting with the conditions precedent process for a syndicated loan facility or compiling licensing documentation for an ETF listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, I find myself particularly motivated by coordinating workstreams, facilitating communication among stakeholders, and ensuring alignment across parties.
Outside of work, I have also joined the Firm’s own band, BakerBeat , a reminder that colleagues here bring the same energy to their work as they do to life outside it, and that the connections we build extend well beyond the matters we work on.
To any student or prospective trainee, my advice is to remain curious and to embrace every opportunity to explore. I remain deeply grateful for the guidance of the partners and the breadth of experience I have gained throughout my time at Baker McKenzie.
