March 2018 | Aimee Nguyen, Senior Associate, Corporate / M & A, Clayton Utz 
I became a lawyer because …
...whilst studying my undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Music), I became interested in copyright law and its impact on creative industries, which led to a further interest in the law generally and my decision to do the Juris Doctor at the University of Melbourne.
I am really proud of …
…always being myself and remembering my background and heritage, and not allowing others, my job and external pressure to affect my personal integrity.
You can have it all …
…but not all at 100%. I don't believe you can "have it all" if you also want to be truly engaged in everything you do. I once read that life is like burners on a stove, each burner representing something you want out of life (family, career, health, etc). Unfortunately, the reality is that energy is limited so the burners can't all be on at maximum heat at the same time. There are only so many hours in a day, so at some point you have to assess your priorities and make sacrifices.
I am extremely grateful for …
…my health and the support of my family and friends.
A key mentor who influenced my career is …
…all the partners and more senior lawyers at my firm who have given me opportunities to develop my career, challenged me, and given wise counsel along the way (and continue to do so).
If I wasn’t a lawyer …
…I would probably be working in the music industry, as a performer, teacher or maybe in arts administration.
Before I started at Clayton Utz …
…I was studying a Bachelor of Music (piano performance), playing gigs and in orchestras, teaching music, and travelling far more than my bank account would allow.
The best advice I ever received was ...
..."back yourself" and "fake it 'til you make it". To me, the two maxims go hand-in-hand because no one will believe in you if you don't first believe in yourself, but sometimes you need to trick yourself into believing in yourself!
One of the key legal initiatives I am involved in …
…is the Melbourne Lawyers' Orchestra (or "Lawchestra"), which I founded in 2013. It's a 40+ full symphony orchestra made up of people from the legal profession, from lawyers, to barristers, to academics, law students, court officials and a judge. It's a great way to unwind after work and meet new people who share an interest in music. The Lawchestra is a project of BottledSnail Productions, which is a not-for-profit production company run by lawyers to provide other people in the legal profession with creative outlets with the aim of promoting good mental health and wellbeing. Our next concert is on Saturday 14 April at Deakin Edge, Federation Square - tickets are available at www.bottledsnail.com. It's going to be spectacular!
Outside of the law …
…I'm trying to fit in as much music as possible (other than the Lawchestra, I play violin in chamber groups and recently finished directing a musical), cooking and eating, and reading.
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