Hard Study Results in High Pay for Students

By Soy Sophea

It took Lay Vicheka almost five years to reach his dream job as a legal consultant at a private law firm, starting from a position of law assistant to a parliamentary member.

25-year-old Vicheka, who studies for his Master’s Degree in International Business Law at the University of Cambodia (UC), said that he wants to be a well-known legal expert across the region.

He is now serving legal consultant at B.N.G-Advocates and Solicitors in Phnom Penh. He experienced some difficulties in his first year after taking a job as a legal assistant to a parliamentary lawmaker and freelance translator for private translation companies.

However, Vicheka realized that his employability was a result of the knowledge and experience he received at both workplace and university. He said it was a tough challenge, especially given the fact that one of his legs was amputated following a traffic accident at the age of 10.

“The loss of the left leg will not be an obstacle for me as I reach my goal of becoming an international scholar of the law,” he said. “This will be my ultimate job title and to attain it will require research,” he told the Cambodia Weekly.

Vicheka has recently advised to his friends who attend other classes to study hard and follow his example. He also advised them to pay attention to improving their English language skills.

“It depends on the individual student. If they not study hard, they will get nothing to show for their university years,” he said. “You are the architect of your life, and you write the direction of your future.”

He will be awarded his Master’s Degree next year and he will continue to study for a doctorate in International Business Law. He hopes that these developments will happen soon as he mentioned that time does not wait for anybody.

“If we get the study habit at an early age, it is easier for us to increase our knowledge because we are still full energy,” he said.

Vicheka said since he started working for an hourly wage at the legal consultation company, he was encouraged to work ever harder, otherwise he would not be able to compete with other lawyers in the region.

With experience, came his appreciation for the life of an academician, and he found that the knowledge he gained was of great practical value and he expressed his wish to see this experience placed in the service of his nation. He suggested that Law Students think beyond the narrow practice of law as there are many other careers that a law graduate can consider after graduation.

Cambodian students who have studied the law tend to seek careers as politicians, said Vicheka. He added that working as a civil servant they all will not be promoted any time soon. They should however concentrate on opening private companies to soak up future law graduates.

Kiet Korop, a classmate of Vicheka’s said he had been studying for his Master’s Course at the University of Cambodia, said that Vicheka is a friendly, patient and hard working student and good employee.
Korop, who studies International Relations, said he was impressed with Vicheka’s hard work. The two are of the same age but the do not as yet earn the same wages. However, Korop wishes his classmate all the best in reaching his future goals.