NLJ Career Profile: Ling Ong, London Market FOIL

What was your route into the profession?

During my second year reading law at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University, I was lucky enough to be offered a four-week summer job with a City law firm working with the head of insurance. I was immediately put to work on a High Court case involving a substantial insurance coverage dispute and got hooked. I subsequently qualified into that team and have practised insurance coverage (and reinsurance) law my whole career.

What has been your biggest career challenge so far?

There is no easy answer to this question. Certainly, I can remember a challenging trip to Texas where, as a young solicitor, I had to take 60 witness statements from blue-collar workers in Houston and Dallas during a three-week period for a reinsurance arbitration to be held in London. That was a rather harrowing and demanding experience, which taught me a lot about dealing with local cultures.

However, right now, I think that the legal profession faces an incredible challenge in dealing with the current era of artificial intelligence (AI). As lawyers, we must redefine our role as core legal tasks are increasingly automated. AI also introduces new ethical and regulatory concerns. The big challenge is working out how to integrate AI into our legal practice while safeguarding the human elements of trust, creativity, and moral responsibility.

Which person within the legal profession inspires you most?

Baroness Brenda Hale is a remarkable figure in the legal world. As the first and only woman to serve as president of the UK Supreme Court, she broke through centuries-old barriers in a profession historically dominated by men. Her work reflects a deep commitment to fairness, equality, and the protection of vulnerable individuals. Her judgments often balanced rigorous legal reasoning with empathy, showing that the law can be both principled and humane. She has been a vocal advocate for diversity in the legal profession, encouraging aspiring lawyers from all backgrounds to believe in their potential. Baroness Hale is a truly inspiring person.

If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you choose as an alternate career?

A restaurant critic—I love to go out to restaurants and to write; imagine being paid to do both! Popping out to lunch would be ‘conducting vital culinary research’, and my toughest decision would be whether to order the duck or the sea bass. How good would that be!

Who is your favourite fictional lawyer?

Definitely Rumpole of the Bailey, for the character’s unique blend of humour, wit and moral integrity.

What change would you make to the profession?

Over recent years, the legal profession has been taking deliberate steps to promote diversity and inclusion. However, more needs to be done to break through long-standing barriers such as socio-economic disadvantage and unconscious bias.

How do you relax?

When not cooking myself (which I greatly enjoy), I relax by reading about and researching restaurants, and then going to them!