PKM

Feelin' major Monday blues here… with the blues, my thought process usually runs overtime into the "negative" territory, with thoughts like "what am I doing with my life? There has to be more to life than just this" "I am unfulfilled", "is it worth it?" "I just wanna go home" (literally and figuratively speaking). These, I suppose, are products of my negative thoughts that seem to creep into me every Monday morning when I get out of bed. Usually it will pass sometime after lunch, but I am still feeling the general malaise till now. I have to try and snap out if this.

Anyway, just an update on developments that have taken place of late- many of you are aware that I am now working in a law firm in Sg. It has been 9 months since I uprooted myself from my comfortable existence in Bolehland to try my hand at legal practise in Sg. What you may be unaware of however, is the fact that I'm not a practising lawyer in Sg for all intents and purposes. Why is this so? The reasons are various- but in summary, for purposes of admission to the Singapore Bar as an advocate and solicitor, one has to fall within the definition of a "qualified person" within the purview of the Legal Profession Act, and I, pm19, did not fall within that definition.

Not until recently, that is. I have taken the 1st step towards being admitted to be an advocate and solicitor here- the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority have accepted my application to be a Permanent Resident of Sg. This does not exempt me from registration or any other conditions required under my profession, for which professional registration to practice in Sg is a prerequisite. I was reliably informed that I need to take a course, sit for the examinations (and pass it, of course!) and serve the required period of pupillage. I can apply to study that particular course. Because I'm required to be a full time student during the duration of the course, I may have to take a period of unpaid leave/sabbatical from my current place of employment. The duration of this course will be 1 whole year. So, we're looking at the possibility of me being out of work for one whole year, which is a rather daunting thought, financially first and emotionally second.

All this of course is based on the assumption that my application to do the course is accepted in the first place.

If everything goes to plan, then I am due to start in August. This in turn, may leave me with plenty of free time to do what I love doing- running high mileage!!! That will give me the opportunity to regain my previous form and make a real effort out of running within the 21k 1:35 timing in the Singapore International Marathon. Realistically, it would take more time than that, because based on my past experience, it took me around 6 months to regain my form. August to December is only around 4 months, which is 2 months short. I don't know if overcompensating on my training can make up for the deficit of 2 months. But that is not a very good idea either.

So it bring me towards a period of uncertainty at the moment. The application date for the course ends on 31st March. I expect to submit my application by this week or next week at latest. But then I would have to wait and see if my application is accepted.

You may be wondering why is it my intention to be admitted to the Sg bar. Well, with all due respect to the positions of paralegals, legal executives, foreign lawyers, foreign consultants (and any other similar designation given to law graduates who are unable to practise law whether in their own country or abroad), I don't intend to remain one. Being admitted to the Sg bar means greater marketability to other positions and better income earning potential. The time to do it is NOW.