A moot court competition ignited this KWM senior associate's passion for law
As a kid in Vietnam, Ha Dinh had one dream growing up, and one dream only – to be a diplomat. But while working towards this goal, she wound up taking an international law course, which led to a moot court competition that changed her life.
In the first part of this interview, the King & Wood Mallesons senior associate talks having “eureka” moments before a bench of judges, and the one sticking point in her "trusting" relationship with her teammates.
What made you choose a career in law, and what's your favourite part of the job?
A bit cliché, but the intellectual challenges and rewards it offers. Growing up in Vietnam, my only dream was to become a diplomat. After high school, I applied to a university known as the training hub for Vietnamese diplomats studying International Relations.
As part of the degree, I studied international law and competed in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition in Washington DC. Vietnam has a civil law system, so the competition was the first time I argued before a bench of judges. Experiencing those ‘eureka’ moments when addressing questions from the bench and finding a new opening for my case on the spot ignited a new passion which ultimately led to me moving countries, learning a new legal system and embarking on my current career path.
I feel fortunate to continue to find my work intellectually challenging and rewarding. Working alongside some of the most brilliant legal and commercial minds who are also some of the most down-to-earth and humorous human beings I’ve met is also something that I treasure about my job.
What in your opinion has been the most memorable event of your career to date?
My promotion to senior associate, partly because of the celebrations different teams organised to celebrate it with me. Those celebrations made me truly appreciate the significance of that milestone, even for internal teams. At the time, my plan to celebrate was to sleep in the next day after a large project I had been working on for months reached a milestone earlier that week.
What has been your proudest accomplishment in the last year or so?
I transitioned into a new team and expanded my practice into a few new areas of law earlier last year. Reflecting on the transition, the trusting* and supportive relationship I’ve built with my new supervisor, new team and new clients is something I’m most proud of, and grateful for. Hearing from clients that they feel like we are part of their team is incredibly satisfying.
*The one carve-out to the trusting relationship with my new team is their complete lack of trust in my ability to have a proper meal without reminders. From the partners to our beloved personal assistants, the team usually doesn’t pass up any chance to bring up my bad (non-) eating habits and the fact that I am one of the slowest eaters they know.
If you could relive one day in your life, which day would it be and why?
Probably one of those days during the Philip C. Jessup Competition to experience again that pure passion about something and the resolution to pursue it. Washington DC during the cherry blossoms season is also simply heaven on earth.
