Alumni profile - Victor Ting

3 March 2025

Introduction

Hello, I am Victor from Malaysia. I graduated with an LLB in 2020. After spending a year working in Malaysia and feeling uncertain about my career path, I pursued an LLM at Harvard Law School as the only Malaysian and one of the youngest students in the cohort.

What was your background before studying your LLB? 

I spent my entire childhood in the small town of Ipoh where I followed a typical state school education system. In my hometown, law is seen as a prestigious career with lawyers often regarded as figures of authority and respect. Perhaps because of this, the idea of pursuing law was always floating in the background as some sort of “ideal” path. That said, I would not claim I had a burning passion for the law from age five, nor can I say I do even today. It was more a mix of social pressure, family expectations and my own curiosity. In a community that places such high value on “safe” career choices, it is easy to talk yourself into believing law is the logical step. Eventually, I decided I would rather jump into it and see for myself whether the legal field was truly for me than spend my life wondering.

Why did you choose to study at Queen Mary?

Choosing Queen Mary was actually pretty straightforward for me. I wanted a real campus environment but I also wanted to be in London. Most other London universities are scattered across the city or lack a proper campus feel. Queen Mary is unique because it genuinely offers both.

Additionally, having spent my entire primary and secondary education in a vernacular system that basically meant being around people who were all the same ethnicity as me, the chance to be in a genuinely diverse setting was a huge draw. I wanted to break out of that bubble and engage with people whose perspectives and life experiences challenged my own. Beyond the academic reputation, it was the sheer variety of nationalities and outlooks in both the faculty and the student body that really stood out. If I was going to invest in an international degree, it felt right to do it somewhere that would actually broaden my worldview rather than keep me in my comfort zone.

Beyond the academic reputation, it was the sheer variety of nationalities and outlooks in both the faculty and the student body that really stood out. If I was going to invest in an international degree, it felt right to do it somewhere that would actually broaden my worldview rather than keep me in my comfort zone.

What were the highlights of studying your programme?

I started out with zero clue where my law degree might take me. In my first year, I was surrounded by classmates laser-focused on landing training contracts while I felt completely unsure about my own path. The highlight of studying at Queen Mary for me was connecting with some truly passionate faculty members such as Professor Morris, Dr. Jancic and Dr. Burnay, whose enthusiasm for their respective fields was contagious and showed me the broader scope of what a legal education could offer beyond the typical training contract tunnel vision.

Those conversations were a game changer. They helped me realise there is a whole world of career routes out there if I was willing to explore. Whether it was competition law, international law, entrepreneurship or politics, I learned there was more to law than joining a corporate firm right out of university. Having direct access to professors who genuinely cared about my development and who were willing to share their time was easily one of the best parts of my degree. It pushed me to keep asking questions, testing the waters and ultimately chart a path that felt right for me instead of just following the crowd.

What are your plans for the future?

I have just wrapped up a short six-month stint working in Malaysia and accepted an offer to join the antitrust department of Weil, Gotshal & Manges in Brussels. Needless to say, I am very excited to dive into competition law at the heart of the EU. Practicing law thus far has brought me a lot of fulfillment and I am ready to see how far I can stretch myself in this environment. One huge advantage of having an English law degree is the versatility it offers and if at some point I want to pivot or explore other areas, I will have that option. But for now, I am committed to a career in antitrust.

What advice would you offer for future students?

Be proactive, curious and always ask questions. No one is going to hand you answers on a silver platter. The legal practice is intensely competitive so figure out what truly sparks your interest and carve out a niche that sets you apart. Law is far too demanding to halfheartedly commit to and if you are not genuinely interested, you will just end up exhausted and disillusioned.  

If you are on the fence about whether law is right for you (I have been there too), talk to as many people as you can. Do not be afraid to reach out to alumni from Queen Mary. Personally, those chats helped me immensely in clarifying my goals and gave me a realistic look at different career paths. And if anyone reading this wants to pick my brain, you are more than welcome to reach out. For those with a specific career path in mind, take concrete steps to build the relevant skills by joining societies, doing internships or networking with professionals in that field.

Finally, do not underestimate the value of your professors’ office hours. Sure, they can seem intimidating but they are often gold mines of wisdom and can point you toward resources or perspectives you might never have considered.

If you are going to pour your time and money into a law degree, at least make sure you get the most out of it. In the end, you will thank yourself for being inquisitive and unapologetically driven.