Career direction which a Vietnamese law student need to know

"What is your aspirations and desires of career as a law student?"

When I receive this question, I spent so much time to have my own answer. Honestly, as a senior law student, I do not have any permanent answer, and only try to keep going on the normal way to be a law practitioner.

Referring to my aspirations and desires of career as a law student, my road ahead opens up in many turns. As a result, like many students entering their final year of university, I feel that it is very difficult to immediately choose which area of law to turn to. Meanwhile, I have strongly believed that the huge goal of my life is to be useful in every position taken in my own career.

Since entering the law path, I always keep in mind that the beginning point of my dream is to work as a legal counsel for a multinational corporation in Vietnam. Gradually, I learned that it will not be easy with a short career’s age, especially when I am not such an outstanding student. The little experience I have recently accumulated is focusing on the intellectual property area. Therefore, my first goal is to become an associate of a law firm, who has a profession in intellectual property.

I came to the field of intellectual property accidently when I read an article about legal issues on intellectual property in the context of the explosive metaverse. Then I decided to do a project to join Scientific Research for students of my university. Although I only got third prize, it helped me gain more theoretical knowledge about trademarks and e-commerce. This experience consolidates my confidence to take part in another related-competition such as “Soul of law” from Foreign Trade University.

I consider the internship period as a vital stage of becoming a lawyer. With the young people, there is nothing but time and energy. Additionally, this is the most effective method because “Observations is the best teacher”. Thus, when I had the opportunity to practice at a small law firm, I actively searched for tasks related to the intellectual property field to improve basic skills such as information search, registration, procedures related to extension, conversion, modification of registration information, handling of state agencies’ notices, etc. Besides, I applied for a short internship at the National Office of Intellectual Property. Each internship period is also an opportunity for me to be exposed to the legal profession and enhance my legal knowledge, lawyering skills by shaping from predecessors. Therefore, I bear in mind to demonstrate a “can-do” spritit and proactive with any task and try to absorb to strengthen.

On the way towards the goal of a consulting lawyer, I have designed my own map. After receiving my bachelor’s degree, I will study a lawyer course and enter the apprenticeship stage at law firms as an intern or even a law clerk for 3-5 years, and then be promoted to an associate the next 5-7 years. Finally, partner will be the highest step of a consulting lawyer, but I will not aim to reach it. Instead, after absorbing enough experience to practice individually, I will turn back to my first way: as a legal executive for enterprise. This long process will require at least 10-15 years to master, but I think it’s appropriate.

Illutration of law counsel's stage

By persevering with steady steps, I believe that one day I will meet the entrance of my career path. As the quote of someone that I am much into:

“The long journey always begins with small steps”.

On the path of finding myself, I will always use my wisdom and sincerity to make my dream come true: to be useful in my own career./.