Citi, Rajah & Tann tie-up for law students

NUS law students will learn practical skills in the banking industry under a new internship in partnership with Citi and Rajah & Tann

NUS law students now have the opportunity to complement books with practical legal experience in the banking sector, thanks to the Citi Legal Internship Programme. An inaugural partnership between NUS Faculty of Law (NUS Law), Citi and Rajah & Tann, the programme was launched this February to meet the increasing and evolving needs of the financial and legal industries by nurturing the future workforce.

The programme attracted 80 applications, with nine students finally being selected. Those chosen were attached to a senior counsel for three months, gaining exposure to the in-house legal function at Citi. The stint provided the students with insights into global financial regulatory trends, product developments and contract negotiations, presenting a unique opportunity to receive training in both a bank and law firm setting. "There is now an increasing need for law students to look beyond the traditional private practice career path and seek out alternative career choices, said Mr Andrew Wan, General Counsel Markets & Securities, Asia Pacific, Citi. According to Mr Lee Eng Beng, Managing Partner at Rajah & Tann, such commercial sensibilities and industry knowledge have become a fundamental requirement for lawyers in today's challenging world.

All interns are granted a guaranteed interview opportunity with Rajah & Tann and the best performing among them will be chosen by Citi and Rajah & Tann to receive a training contract with the reputable law firm. 

NUS Law Dean Professor Simon Chesterman believes that the practical skills imparted through the tie-up would serve the students well in their future endeavours, whatever they might be. "Virtually all of our graduates start out as lawyers, but many go on to different career paths ' often in the financial sector. The students who take part in this programme will emerge with deep insights as to the possibilities available in the banking industry, as well as skills that will serve them in whatever path they choose to follow, he said.

Final-year student Bernice Gan who participated in the programme agreed. "The programme has definitely validated my choice to join the legal profession, and presents going in-house as a meaningful alternative to traditional private practice, she said. 

The Citi Legal Internship Programme will accept up to 10 law students each year, with the next intake commencing in early 2016. 

From left: Mr Louis Chan, Director and Deputy General Counsel, Markets & Securities Services, Asia Pacific, Citi; Bernice; Ms Evangeline Chua, Head of Human Resources, Citi Singapore; Mr Wan; Mr Lee; and Prof Chesterman