Sok Sam Oeun, executive director of Cambodian Defenders Project, responded to Mory’s question of how to become a good lawyer. Oeun said that if Mory aspires to work in the legal sector, he should have a high commitment,  love and respect for justice, and be willing to learn new things.

After graduating, students should prepare well to take a seat in the Cambodia Lawyer Club, for it is the place that allows people to start their career in law. Afterward, they should work for a famous legal representative group or firm to get a chance to show their talents to the public.

“When you have enough qualifications, and become well-known, people will want to use your service,” said Ouen.

In Cambodia, lawyers sometimes face threats or anger from the losing side. As the Khmer expression goes: “Go to court, there must be a win and a loss, and it never happens that one side may both win and lose.”

The winner is happy and becomes admired, but the lawyer will be cursed by the losing side. It is a big challenge for this career, so how to deal with it?

Oeun advised that legal practitioners follow the bylaw ethics and use their position to gain popularity and value from the public. The main point is that the attorney should think about their client’s turnover. It does not mean he or she always has to win, a good lawyer should cling tightly to justice, fairness, and regulation.