SEASON 4 EPISODE 7: THE CONVICTION

I went for a job interview yesterday afternoon for a dispute resolution paralegal in an international law firm based in Millenia Tower in the City. The circumstances that led to this interview are quite unique:

(1) I was never asked to see the recruiter for an interview- the one who put up the advertisement. This is different from the other recruiters who called me for an initial profiling session;

(2) all communication was done through email or telephone call; and

(3) interestingly, this position was not published on the law firm's careers page on their website.

One might what this has to do with the title of this episode. It has lots to do with the title and this is the link:

During the interview, I felt that I spoke with confidence and answered the questions with heartfelt sincerity. This confidence stems from an internal conviction that grew over time - the conviction that I am called to be a lawyer and that I will eventually qualify.

When all things seem to be gloomy, one's confidence and belief can be shaken. It was the same for me. This happened while I was in London where all my applications for training contracts and paralegal positions were unsuccessful. It was a dampener but despite all this, I stood up and completed the LPC successfully.

On my return home, I had the privilege of being an intern at an international law firm. During that period, I asked myself whether I was on the right track and wondered why is the route to becoming a solicitor so difficult. I wondered whether I should have done a general business degree or even be an accountant.

It was one night that I pulled out one of my journals which recorded some of the many circumstances that led me to pick up law. There were many circumstances that led me into the study of law, one of which was the exposure to law during my polytechnic days.

But, in one of my entries, I recorded that one of my lecturers informed me that the same law module will not be offered to subsequent batches of Business IT students because of a change of curriculum and the introduction of the cross-disciplinary module system. This document was a memory-jolting one!

I am unaware as to whether what my lecturer said really happened. But if it did, then the timing of everything could not be any better than this. If I had entered the course a year later, I would not be where I am right now. A year earlier, there will be no such course because I was the course's pioneer batch of graduates. Therefore, the feeling of been on the wrong track is purely academic because there is no alternate history for me! That means I am on the right track!

I even recalled that my heart was certain that I was to go ahead with my law studies, even though my then girlfriend discouraged me from doing so. In the process, I made a few sacrifices, one of which was to take myself out of the polytechnic Choir which I was quite active then. I also ended my relationship with her sometime then because of irreconciable differences.

So, putting all this together, I can say that my route to becoming a solicitor was a challenging one and it is through all this that have made me more capable to handle challenges. This is how I began my "speech" before the interviewers yesterday and I now await news from the recruiter.

I have been trained as a lawyer and even though the thought of doing business, finance or even accounting have crossed my mind, I have dismissed it because that is not what I am supposed to do.

My calling is indeed to be a lawyer and I look to the day where I will get my license to practice. I believe that even though nothing tangible seems to be emerging, the God of the Bible, the Creator of heaven and earth is working in the background and that we take heart that in all things, God will work for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

SOLI DEO GLORIA!