Law is mind without reason. Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC)

Why did I hang up my robe?

I wish I could answer that question with easy answers like 'Too much work' or 'Too much stress' or 'Too much crap'.

But I can't. There's no easy answer to why I made the decision to stop practicing law. It wasn't an easy decision to make. Quite agonizing, really.

One thing I have to make clear though, is that the Firm had nothing to do with it. Messrs. Z & Partners is a good legal firm and a great place to work. It has it's glitches sometimes, but which working place doesn't?
No, it wasn't the firm.

It was the legal practice.

I won't say much, will just toss in a quote...

What power has law where only money rules.
Gaius Petronius (~66 AD)

I guess I'm a little naive. Am still the silly law graduate who thought she could change the world, one case at a time. I probably still live in my self-made Utopian World where the law is the embodiment of justice and the manifestation of fairness.

It's best to get out before the reality swallows me whole.

No offence to my former brothers & sisters of the Bar.
We definitely need lawyers to help uphold justice. We need lawyers to protect the oppressed. We need lawyers to facilitate fairness in the business world. We need lawyers to advocate goodness and protect society against injustice. We need lawyers.
I'm just not one of 'em.

The welfare of the people is the ultimate law.
(Salus Populi Suprema Est Lex)
Cicero (106 BC - 43 BC)

Will I miss being a litigator?
Hell yeah.

I'll miss a LOT of things about being a litigator.
I'll miss the comradeship between lawyers and especially with my colleagues.
I'll miss the self-important aura that engulfs me in the mornings of highly-important trials.
I'll miss the pleasure that can be derived from effectively arguing a case.
I'll miss the adrenaline rush whenever the opponent surprises you with an unanticipated legal strategy.
I'll miss the euphoria of hearing the Judge rule in my favour.
I'll miss the post-trial breakfast at the Colonial Cafe or having a hot plate of yong tau foo at the old coffee shop.
I'll miss the clients (believe it or not, one can get attached to one's clients)

With so much to miss, why am I leaving, you may ask...

There are a lot of things that I WON'T miss.
Among which, is the helpless feeling I get when I lose a case, knowing fully well that justice should have rendered the judgment a lot different.
The righteous indignation that is suffered when an opponent pulls a dirty trick.
And many more... but I won't share it here with you as I don't want to be guilty of revealing too much :)
Besides, it's always best to relish the good memories...

Memory is a man's real possession...In nothing else is he rich, in nothing else is he poor.
Alexander Smith (1830 - 1867)

Oh well....
I guess this is the end of Mediha Mahmood's short-lived career in the legal practice.
There's nothing to stop me from going back though...
But at this point of time, I don't foresee such a thing happening.

I'll be off on a trip to the East Coast in a few hours.
Visit the in-laws in Kota Bharu and then off to Tg Jara.
Hubby and I have a nice romantic week planned out.
Very much overdue!

And after this... it's living the life of a lady of leisure for me...
Very very VERY MUCH overdue!