Interview with Sarah Teo

We chat with Associate Sarah Teo about her journey to becoming a lawyer, a case that sparked her passion for the law, and how she unwinds outside the courtroom.

Tell me more about yourself.

Prior to graduating from the Singapore Management University with a Juris Doctor degree, I worked in the Central Provident Fund Board as a Project Manager disbursing national payouts such as the GST Voucher Scheme. My first degree was a Bachelor of Arts degree from the National University of Singapore where I majored in History and minored in Sociology.

What inspired you to become a lawyer?

I have always had a soft spot for championing the cause of the underdog and the law combines my love for learning, reading, writing, and my need for a meaningful career.

What are your areas of specialisation?

I trained in commercial litigation with a focus on novel crypto disputes. However, I hope to eventually specialise in family law as family law has always been my passion.

What was one case you handled that left a lasting impression on you?

I represented the beneficiaries of a trust against their trustees. This case really left a lasting impression on me because I had written a research paper about the history of their family during my undergraduate studies and also learnt about their family during the equity & trust module in law school. Being a part of the legal team that represented them felt incredibly surreal because everything that I had learnt in school literally came alive for me. They were also really nice people who invited us to dinner at their home and introduced us to Straits Arab cuisine where I had the best kueh lapis in my life.

What gives you the most satisfaction in your work?

The relief on my clients’ faces when they know that their interests are well taken care of and they need not have sleepless nights over their disputes anymore.

How do you handle the stresses of work?

I either take a long walk, book a massage session, or book a karaoke session to sing my worries away.

How do you like to spend your time outside of work?

I read and knit a lot. I am also a foodie so you will also find me “fooding” around Singapore.