Thursday - Talk with YB Hannah Yeoh

We had a talk @ KDU instead and took the day off at Cheang&Ariff.
Talk with YB Hannah Yeoh

‘Think like a lawyer’ talk.

Student who attended the talk: "Think like a Lawyer" - Photo taken from HannahYeoh.blogspot.com

Random thoughts I caught during her talk.
She mentioned about her legal background, 9 years in total:
1 year SAM,
4 years LLB. In UTasmania,
1 year CLP
1 year Bar (Tasmania)
2 years working
--
9 years

She mentioned of a few pointers of how to think like a lawyer and disadvantages of being a lawyer too!

Some quotable quotes:
“Law helps you to understand that there are general principles but there are always exceptions attached to it.”

“As you are legally trained, think before you talk – unlike many politicians!”

“It is the fear of being sued that keeps you safe”

You can always try to avoid liability by making sure that:
“The words you use are of utmost importance - saying ‘He alleged’, ‘ ‘I believe’, ‘I suggest’, ‘This is are my concerns’, not bluntly saying ‘I promise this that and the other!’”

“Always look at other possibilities/avenues/options than just one narrow view”

“There are implications to highlighting plights – e.g If one family is already poor and needy, they do not want the whole world to know that they are poor and needy!”

YB Hannah addressing the KDU law student in the Moot Court - Photo taken from HannahYeoh.blogspot.com

Disadvantages of being a lawyer
“You get paranoid sometimes, thinking of possible negligence situations; hanging banner on a tree/bridge”

“Your team gets a headache as you get too meticulous and always consider things that may not likely happen but would be reasonably foreseeable to happen”
(What more if you a couple up a law background with event management!)

“Don’t set an ideal working world, cause you will get depressed!”

On being a Politician.
“When people say don’t do this, say on what basis these people say it, if they mention that is because of their past experience, then there is hope. Cause we have not experienced it”

“Don’t simply give legal advice to people – people often only tell you 50% of the story”

“The heads have changed, the hands and legs are still the same"

“If we give up, nothing changes for our future generation”

“This is not some corny talk, Malaysia needs you, people who can contribute to the society. I appeal to you, when you graduate, do come back and serve. Cause if you don’t come back, they won’t be much left for Malaysia”

On money politics.
“It’s important to know why you enter politics, entering for fame or gain, check your motives, you must know the cause you are fighting for.”

“If you hold on to what is right, it is east to distinguish to be good and bad. I don’t know what holds for me in like 4 years time, but its fulfilling.”

Picture of my classmates during Sem3&4 who would transfer to Tasmania too.

On her studying in the University of Tasmania, (where I’m going!)
Your first week may be depressing being far from home but after meeting good friends and nice lecturers, you don’t want to come home already! The environment is good and quiet; there is no form of discrimination. Never skip classes! You will have a bad time preparing from exams after that! The stress of not doing well and telling your parents is not worth it!. This would be only one experience in life, make full use of it. When you’re there and when you come back, you’ll understand the difference between KL and Tasmania!

It was an inspirational talk no doubt, she even shared about it in her blog!

YB Hannah and I

Now is to just get more people like her around..