Many jokes about lawyers are best left unsaid. But no matter what you think about lawyers, Shulin Lee says, they deserve a chance to share their stories.
The lawyer-turned-legal recruiter is the brains behind After the Bar, a podcast that features movers and shakers in Singapore’s legal industry, providing them with a platform to share their backstories, struggles, and successes.
Notable guests on the show, now in its third season, have included the late Adrian Tan, former president of Law Society; Rahayu Mahzam, Minister of State for the Ministry of Digital Development and Information, and the Ministry of Health; and Jean Voronkova, a lawyer-turned-YouTuber based in Bali. Lee says.
“I wish I’d had this resource in my 20s when I was struggling to find my footing. Listeners have told me they feel like they’re eavesdropping on a coffee chat, which is exactly the vibe I wanted to create.”
Shulin Lee on her podcast After the Bar
Besides giving people in the field a voice, she also assists corporations in finding legal representatives through her firm Aslant Legal. Her work doesn’t just involve matching resumes to job descriptions—she makes it a point to place legal professionals in organisations where they are likely to thrive. “It’s important to build long-term relationships that benefit both the candidate and the employer.”
Aslant Legal’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is important to her because she knows what it’s like to be the minority. “As a Singaporean Chinese female in legal recruitment, I started on the back foot. I was disadvantaged because I wasn’t a white guy.”
But the tide has turned thanks to industry players like Lee. “Our team, while primarily Singaporean, represents a mix of backgrounds from Singapore, Spain, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the Philippines,” she lets on.
“We have seen how diverse teams foster innovation and better decision-making, especially in the legal field. Hence, we’re committed to advocating for equity and representation at every level of the legal profession, ensuring that diverse voices are heard and valued.”
