A decade ago, the very first batch of law students graduated from the Yong Pung How School of Law and made their debut entrance into the legal profession. Since then, the pioneer batch of law students have made their mark in society, contributing in diverse and imaginative ways to various causes.
Associate Dean Dorcas Quek Anderson and Mr Adrian Neo catch up with law alumni Russell Low and Ruth Teng, a married couple from the pioneer batch (LLB Class of 2011) whose paths first crossed in law school. They share their fond memories of student life and their journey in making meaningful impact in their respective spheres.
REMINISCING ABOUT STUDENT LIFE
YPHSL: As part of the pioneer batch of students, you must have very memorable experiences of student life in the early years of the law school. Could you share with us some of your memories?
Russell: I recall attending Professor Yeo Tiong Min’s classes on Conflict of Laws and feeling “brain fried” after three hours of mental gymnastics involving the renvoi doctrine. But I also remember feeling privileged to be taught by a legend. Some of my most memorable and formative times include participating in overseas mooting competitions through the mooting programme established by Professor Chen Siyuan. Some of these competitions include the LawAsia Moot in Vietnam and the Jessup Moot Competition in Washington DC, where we tested out wits against top teams from other countries. These experiences helped me to learn to think and perform optimally under pressure, a skill which has been invaluable till today.
Ruth: I too participated in international competitions, including the International Commercial Mediation Competition in Paris in 2009 and the International Negotiation Competition in 2010 in Australia. These were wonderful times of bonding with my team-mates. The competitions also helped prepare me for the early part of my career with the Attorney-General’s Chambers, where court work was a staple. I also recall with great fondness my exchange programme to Southampton, UK, which was a tranquil paradise, and my subsequent travels on a shoestring student budget with friends and Russell, who was also studying in the UK (Manchester) on exchange.
YPHSL: We understand that your paths crossed in SMU and now you are a family of 4, with the 5th member arriving soon! Could you share more about how you both met?
Russell & Ruth: We met during our orientation camp when a friend asked Russell if he wanted to meet a beautiful girl who looked like Joanne Peh! We ended up being in the same Criminal Law class under Professor Rathna Koman in our first term. The chemistry was undeniable as we could talk about anything and everything under the sun, sometimes speaking on the phone until the wee hours of the morning. We will always remember our time jamming to music at the Big Steps, listening to live bands performing at Timbre, and having Week 13-14 study marathons at the SMU library. (Russell was drawn to Ruth’s big heart and beauty. And Ruth was drawn to Russell’s humour and desire to change the world.)
YOUR JOURNEY AFTER GRADUATION
YPHSL: Tell us a little more about yourselves and your journey thus far in your career.
Russell: After graduating in 2011, I joined the Supreme Court as a Justices’ Law Clerk with a dual portfolio of Assistant Registrar. It was a distinct honour working for the judges of the High Court and Court of Appeal. I decided to remain in the Legal Service after my stint with the courts and joined the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ Civil Division where I focused primarily on disputes work.
In 2014, I had a chance encounter with a prominent New Zealand investor and entrepreneur, Mr Richard Chandler. He shared his vision for a flourishing world and how businesses played a pivotal role in national prosperity. He called it “The Goodness of Business” – companies create goods and services needed by the community, create employment opportunities, and help to build a strong middle class which is crucial for economic prosperity. I was captivated by his vision for the world and decided to take a leap of faith and venture outside the law to work with him.
Over the past seven years, I have learnt a great deal from Richard Chandler. I have been involved in leading projects in investments, business management, philanthropy, and national governance (pioneering the Chandler Institute of Governance). Today, I serve as the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Clermont Group, a multi-billion international business group headquartered in Singapore. I’m blessed to work alongside a world-class team of industry veterans who, like me, joined Clermont to play our part in building a better world for tomorrow.
Ruth: I joined the Attorney-General’s Chambers as a Deputy Public Prosecutor after graduation and have not looked back since. Purpose and calling are very important to me, and working in the legal service – specifically practising criminal law – gives me a platform to combine work with a sense of purpose. I feel privileged to play a part in Singapore’s criminal justice system, and many of the experiences have shaped me as a person.
In 2019, I was seconded to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) as Legal Director for 2 years. It was a challenging yet interesting time to join the HSA when the COVID-19 outbreak hit Singapore. I had the opportunity to contribute to our fight against the pandemic, such as providing advice on the legal aspects of regulating critical vaccines and therapeutics in Singapore. I am now back in the Attorney-General’s Chambers, practising criminal law.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
YPHSL: Russell, it is most heartening to hear of the work you've done to direct philanthropic efforts towards impactful changes across different spheres of society. Do you think that your SMU education has shaped your desire to make a difference in such imaginative ways?
Russell: Since young, I’ve always been taught that we are blessed to be a blessing to others. The SMU education reinforced that since day one, through the mandatory but highly fulfilling community service programmes that all undergraduates had to complete.
SMU has also been very empowering for its students. When I wanted to use the cafe at the B1 concourse as a gathering ground for students from all nationalities and walks of life, I formed a team and submitted a business plan for COLOURS cafe – colours representing diversity and life. We were selected and SMU allowed us to run the cafe with minimal rent. That episode taught us how to pitch a business and important management skills which no textbook could teach. It also demonstrated SMU’s commitment to student life and inclusion.
YPHSL: Ruth, could you share with us how you have been contributing to our legal sector through your work as a legal service officer?
Ruth: As a Deputy Public Prosecutor, I’ve managed a wide variety of cases, and have a particular interest in cases involving youth offenders. I have seen first-hand how the wise management of youth offenders can provide tremendous opportunities for rehabilitation and integration into society, giving them a new lease of life and a chance to contribute to the community.
Apart from conducting the prosecutions of these young offenders fairly and independently, I have served on committees tasked to develop and improve the law as applied to them, for example, the National Sub-Committee on Diversion for Youth Offenders from 2014 to 2016 – experiences which I have found very meaningful.
EDUCATION AS THE GREAT EQUALISER
YPHSL: We notice that you both have never stopped learning and have jumped at every opportunity to acquire new skills and knowledge. Could you share more about your drive to learn new things?
Russell & Ruth: We told ourselves that we are only young once, and a time will come where family commitments may prevent us from pursuing opportunities for overseas education. We also know that learning new skills will help us perform better in our jobs, and also open up new opportunities for us. Hence we’ve seized every opportunity to upgrade and upskill ourselves early on in our careers.
YPHSL: You have contributed to the Russell and Ruth Low Bursary for SMU business and law students. What spurred you to jointly set up this bursary?
Russell: There is a quote which goes: "Education, beyond all other devices of human origin, is a great equalizer of the conditions of men -- the balance wheel of the social machinery” (Horace Mann, 1848)."
Today, income inequality is a hot topic. Rather than looking at equal outcomes, we believe the focus should be on providing equal opportunity for every young person in Singapore. Education provides one of the best pathways to social mobility. Ruth and I believe that no one should be denied an education because of financial constraints. Within our community, we personally know of many individuals who came from very humble backgrounds, but have become industry leaders through the opportunities provided by a good education.
Ruth and I were also very privileged to be scholarship recipients during our time with SMU. Setting up this bursary is our way of paying it forward to the next generation.
FINALLY, SOME WORDS OF ADVICE…
YPHSL: Finally, if you were to give some words of advice to your younger freshman self, what would you say?
Russell: It is always important to put yourself in a place where good things can happen. In life, the ability to identify opportunities is just the first part of the equation; the courage to seize opportunities with boldness and conviction is another. Take the path less travelled if you feel called to do so. As the saying goes, “Fortune favours the brave”.
Ruth: The SMU experience is what you make of it. Chasing grades is not the be-all and end-all. Building life-long friendships, discovering your strengths and inclinations, and learning how to learn are other important aspects that one should look at, during university days.
Connect with Russell and Ruth on LinkedIn.
In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the pioneer batch’s graduation, the Yong Pung How School of Law has set up the Yong Pung How School of Law Postgraduate Scholarship Fund to offer postgraduate scholarships to qualified graduates of the pioneer batch to enrol in SMU’s Master of Laws (LLM) programme in AY 2022/2023. Each scholarship has a value of $10,000. Interested applicants may refer to https://law.smu.edu.sg/llm/programme-overview for enquiries and information on the LLM programme.