Interview with Nicole Evangeline Poh
Get to know Nicole Evangeline Poh, our Associate Director on her journey through law thus far, a memorable case that shaped her and how she finds balance as a mother of two.
Tell me more about yourself.
I’m interested in people, listening to their stories and learning from their experiences. This led me to a legal career in public service for almost 10 years (with AGC, MOM, AGC-Legal Service Academy and then the Singapore Academy of Law). I thought I would be a career public servant but the demands of being a nursing mother, wife, daughter and caregiver drew me to independent legal practice. I now have more flexibility to organise my time and energy to serve both my family and the community.
What inspired you to become a lawyer?
It started because of my first brush with the law at 11!
I trespassed into a private condominium with a friend who lived in that condominium. After school, we had a project to work on, and were too lazy to walk the long way to the front entrance of the condominium. Instead, at my friend’s suggestion, we climbed over the locked back gate, which was closer, and were caught on CCTV footage by a security guard, who found it pleasant to scare little girls with the threat of a holiday at the Singapore Girls’ Home. He also rang up our school principal to report us, and after confessing my sins, I was blessed with “detention” for a week during recess. That enforced fasting made me understand:
(a) That laws exist to protect the rights of people,
(b) the existence of consequences,
(c) the concept of personal responsibility,
(d) that I should not abdicate my judgment to anyone else, and
(e) that there are no real shortcuts (or gates) in life.
I am living proof that fasting really increases mental clarity.
In short, it was through ignorance that I was inspired to help others navigate the law and find practical solutions to life’s problems.
What are your areas of specialisation?
I specialise in employment law and am starting up a practice in property law and real estate. I also do a broad range of general solicitors’ work – claims, probate and administration, family law, contract review, company law etc.
Having worked in the public sector for many years, I also have a broad range of experience and insight into policy and regulatory functions beyond just the law. This helps me to effectively understand my clients’ needs and troubleshoot problems. Good solutions usually cut across many domains, not just legal remedies. An informed, resourceful and practical mind is what I hope to bring to the table.
What was one case you handled that left a lasting impression on you?
A capital case that I successfully prosecuted for drug trafficking almost 10 years ago. I struggled with that as I am not for the death penalty in non-homicide cases. The context of the case made me very sad, as the accused persons were underprivileged, young, and had young children.
During the trial, the child of one of the accused persons held the door to the toilet for me during a break. That act of kindness made me reflect a lot on the seemingly opposite concepts of justice and mercy. While I could not change the law and had to do my job, I took my commitment to substantive justice very seriously while facilitating due process.
The pronouncement of guilt and imposition of the death penalty by the judge, followed by the one-minute of silence observed, which was interrupted by the wailing of the accused’s family members, is a heart-wrenching scene that I will always remember; it is a reminder to me I will also one day be judged and called to account for my life on earth. So, where I can, I strive to be humble and extend mercy to others while upholding justice.
What gives you the most satisfaction in your work?
Walking alongside a client facing a challenge, and helping them to move on with life/work by giving them legally defensible and practical solutions.
How do you handle the stresses of work?
Prioritising and reminding myself what matters, having a bias for action, and commiserating with my husband and trusted colleagues. All non-constructive grumbling has to end pronto so that I can get the work done and feel better after.
How do you like to spend your time outside of work?
I prioritise:
(a) Spending time with my family. Especially with my young kids – Quantity time > quality time as I don’t want to be just the “fun mum” but a mum who walks with them and whom they see doing quotidian activities.
(b) Exercise. I dance standard ballroom a few times a week to keep fit – it marries my love of music and dance. I also take long walks with my family.
(c) Learning. I listen to audiobooks, podcasts and sermons daily while getting ready in the morning, and when I shower. I love to read physical books but it is tough to find time to actually read quietly with young children around. Audiobooks on 2x speed are my compromise.
If I have time left over, I potter around the house doing some gardening, decluttering, and home organisation.