After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in engineering, Tan Wei Chieh joined the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) as a staff officer. While working at Mindef, he obtained three postgraduate degrees in engineering. However, as he has always had an interest in law, he left his "iron rice bowl" job three years ago, to enrol in SMU School of Law’s Juris Doctor programme, which he has recently completed. While SMU requires all JD students to complete 50 hours of community service, out of which 20 hours must be in approved pro bono work, Mr Tan has exceeded this requirement by contributing about 105 hours over three years. For his contribution, the SMU Pro Bono Centre awarded him the 'Spirit of Pro Bono' award on 20 November.