Imagine losing everything—could you fight your way back? In Part 2 of this episode, I continue my raw and powerful conversation with Josephus Tan, the "Gangster Lawyer." He reveals how he faced rock bottom and still found the strength to rise. Despite his career success, Josephus hit some brutal low points: Low Points: - Overcommitted to free legal work—almost bankrupt. - Marriage collapsed. - Suffered a mild stroke. - Ended up living in a van. But Josephus didn’t just survive—he came...

In this episode, I sit down with an extraordinary guest, Josephus Tan, famously known as the "Gangster Lawyer," whose life story is a compelling testament to the power of transformation, resilience, and redemption.  Josephus shares candidly about his descent into gang life, his struggles with alcohol that led to destructive behaviour, and the moments of darkness that made him question his path.  At his lowest point, he nearly ended it all.  Discover how a profound spiritual awakening and a...

⛔️ Stop telling yourself you can’t pivot your career. Think it’s impossible? Meet Lara Quie. She went from: ➨ Lawyer to Montessori Teacher ➨ Teacher to Kitchen Designer ➨ Designer to BD Manager ➨ BD Manager to Coach ➨ Coach to Podcast Host Lara Quie, dubbed the “Queen of Pivots” 👸🏻, has done it all. She’s thrived in diverse roles across Singapore, Hong Kong, the UK, Spain, Germany, and Belgium. Each transition wasn’t just a move—it was a reinvention. 🔥 — Our latest podcast...

Meet the powerhouse behind Psychobitch. Amanda Chong is a lawyer trained in Harvard and Cambridge, with endless accolades. Outside of law, she’s an award-winning Poet, Playwright and Advocate for Social Justice. Her play 'Psychobitch' sold out in record time, cementing her reputation as a trailblazer. (Could she be Singapore’s answer to Taylor Swift?!) Simply put, she is a powerhouse you absolutely need to hear from. In this episode, explore: 🧩 The perception of single women in our...

What are some things you must NEVER say in a job interview? How can you effectively negotiate your salary package?  What are the biggest mistakes people make during their job search? How can you turn your career transition into a success story Ten years ago, Tessa moved to Singapore from Spain to embark on a new career in legal recruitment. She went from knowing nothing about the legal industry in Singapore to becoming a director at Aslant Legal.  Tessa’s journey is nothing short of...

Why is the mid-life career pivot so daunting? Why does networking pose a greater challenge for women? How can we retain more talented women in the workforce? And is it really possible to eradicate mum guilt? Five years ago, Rachel Eng embarked on what she calls the scariest career move of her life! Amid countless paths, she chose the “hardest” one. Leaving a prominent role at a top law firm to start her very own law firm. What once seemed audacious, has since paid off! Today, she...

Would you leave a well-paying legal career to be a pastor? That's what Raymond Fong did. An ex-Deputy Public Prosecutor with a career in the Legal Service, he took a different path to be a pastor. He is now a Pastor-in-Charge at Wesley Methodist Church, a role that he holds with a deep sense of purpose. In this episode, you will hear about his story: a prosecutor turned pastor. We'll explore the challenges he faced during this career shift, the lessons he learned, and the journey that led...

What if you get retrenched? What if you need to terminate someone? Do you know what your rights are? Or what to do? In this episode, you’re going to learn what your rights are if you get retrenched in Singapore. We talk about retrenchment, termination and employment law with two senior lawyers - Amarjit Kaur, Head of Singapore Employment Practice at Withers KhattarWong and Seow Hui Goh, Head of Singapore Employment Practice at Bird & Bird. Hear their views on the recent Lazada...

After the Bar is back with Season 3! And this time, we're delving into the theme of navigating transitions. Join Shulin as she speaks with lawyers from various walks of life – past, present, and future – to explore their journeys in law, with a special focus on the pivotal moments in their careers and personal lives. In our season opener, Shulin is joined by Sophie Mathur, a Mergers and Acquisitions lawyer and the Asia Head of Corporate with Linklaters. Sophie takes us on a journey through...

Roles are reversed, for this bonus episode! For once, I’m in the hot seat, answering your questions on After the Bar. Joined by my coach and mentor, Georgina Chang, I opened up about my journey, after quitting law.    In this episode, you will hear about: Why I started After the Bar How I overcame my Fears How I pivoted from Lawyer to Recruiter Memorable moments on this podcasting adventure And the many Lessons I learnt along the way… You will see a different...

A first in After the Bar history, we speak to Rahayu Mahzam, Senior Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Law and Ministry of Health, and Member of Parliament for Jurong GRC. Rahayu, a former lawyer and passionate advocate for inclusivity, shares her personal career journey from law to politics, discussing the immediate changes after winning the election and the mindset shift she experienced. She also reflects on her legal career, highlighting the insights gained from practicing civil...

In this episode of After The Bar, join us as we delve deep into the world of law with the esteemed guest, Jean Woo, a banking specialist lawyer heading local law firm Ashurst. Jean shares invaluable insights on various aspects of the legal profession from hiring processes and managing the different dynamics of lawyers. Jean begins by discussing the qualities she looks for in a lawyer and how the self-selecting process plays a crucial role in shaping a successful legal career. She sheds...

Join us on this podcast episode as we speak with Lyn Lee, the Head of Group Legal at OCBC Bank, as well as a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Speaker, Coach, and Trainer. Coming on to After the Bar a second time, Lyn delves deeper into how she finds and maintains balance in life with her faith, family, and friends. While being successful herself, she also maintains that the definition of success takes on a very different meaning for each individual. She also shares what motivated her to get...

Join us in this episode as we speak with Yingyu Wang, an accomplished Tech & IP lawyer for Simmons & Simmons. Watch as she shares her journey in the legal and business world. Yingyu opens up about her experiences in managing a law firm and the challenges she faced along the way. She also shares her insights on the intersection between the tech world and the legal industry, and how her decision to move into tech has impacted her career. But it doesn't stop there. Yingyu is also a...

Join us on this podcast episode as we speak with Lok Vi Ming, Senior Counsel, about his path to becoming a Senior Counsel and his illustrious legal career. He provides valuable insights into how his personal values have shaped his approach to law and the significant effort he has dedicated to his craft.  Most importantly, he sheds light on how he made it a point not to change the kind of person he is, even after achieving the prestigious title of Senior Counsel.  We also dive into some of...

In this episode, we sit down with Maree Myerscough, COO & General Counsel for Aquila Clean Energy Asia Pacific, a clean energy platform that funds, develops, builds and operates solar PV, wind power and battery storage assets across the region. Maree opens up about a traumatic time in her life after she was laid off from her previous company and how it has shaped her approach to professional setbacks.  In the wake of so many lay-offs and retrenchments, it’s refreshing to hear from a...

In this episode, we sit down with Ivan Cheong, an experienced lawyer who specialises in family and divorce law. He has helped many individuals navigate the legal system during challenging times, from custody battles to property division. Ivan shares some of the common challenges that people face during divorce proceedings. Why mediation is a better option, instead of litigation and how therapeutic justice is solution-driven for families Join us as we delve deep into the world of family law,...

In this International Women’s Episode Special, we sit down with three female lawyers - Debby, Kimarie, and Seow Hui - to discuss their experiences working in the law industry. As women in a traditionally male-dominated field, Debby, Kimarie, and Seow Hui share their insights on what it's like to navigate the challenges of being a female lawyer. From facing gender biases to balancing work and personal life, they discuss the unique struggles that women in law often encounter. They also shed...

In this episode, we delve into the world of criminal law with one of the top criminal lawyers in the business, Sunil Sudheesan. With over a decade of experience, Sunil has become known for his successful track record in representing high-profile clients in some of the most challenging criminal cases. From representing clients accused of white-collar crimes to those facing serious charges like murder, Sunil has seen it all. We'll explore Sunil's journey into criminal law, his approach to...

Shulin sits down with Jean Voronkova to talk about her journey leaving corporate law and how she built multiple passive income streams to enjoy an early retirement in Bali. Jean also opens up about the pushback she received from her family after leaving the corporate world and how they eventually accepted her new life path.  Born in Singapore, Jean Voronkova worked as a corporate lawyer for several years before taking a leap of faith to pursue her passions full-time. With her engaging...

In our season finale, Shulin Lee speaks with Nan, on her unexpected journey from lawyer to restaurateur. We hear of many professionals who venture into the world of F&B. This isn’t exactly a new storyline. Except that this time, we get to hear the rawness of challenging situations and the reality of what goes through the mind of a restaurant owner, in the midst of crisis management. Propelled by her passion for lifelong learning, she empowers her team to contribute ideas. Honouring...

Shulin Lee sits with Lyn Lee to talk about mentorship and re-defining your own success. Having a mentor to support us through our journey, can make all the difference. Lyn shares about how mentorship took such a stronghold, how it’s impacted her career and exactly how do we go about finding a mentor? She speaks candidly about a turning point in her career and what drives her to continue paying it forward, to mentor others. Lyn Lee is Head of Group Legal at a large regional Bank. She manages...

Shulin Lee talks to Norman Ho about his winning formula to becoming one of the most prolific real estate lawyers in Singapore. How he manages to stay so grounded, humble and down-to-earth, and still remain so driven and passionate about his work, after 35 years of practice. Armed with a philosophy to befriend his clients, it’s an ongoing journey to continuously stay relevant in a rapidly evolving market.   Norman Ho is a well-known face in the world of real estate in Singapore. He’s regarded...

Shulin talks to high-profile R&I lawyer Meiyen, about her journey to becoming the first female to lead a restructuring and insolvency legal practice in Singapore. In this interview, we discuss how she overcomes imposter syndrome, differentiates herself in a male-dominated industry, and how she’s embraced her feminine qualities. Meiyen is the Co-head of R&I with Oon & Bazul. A career that spans across more than 20 years, Meiyen has acted for and advised individuals, multi-national...