Article contributed by Gayathri Chidambara Iyer, Executive Officer, and photos by Anne Andrew, Personal Assistant, Bar Council
Despite the wet weather last Friday, 4 Dec 2009, and it being a weekend day in Kedah, 55 participants, including Members from as far as Penang, came all the way to the Kulim Golf & Country Resort to attend the Workshop on Client Accounts – Getting It Right.
In his welcome address, the Kedah/Perlis Bar Chairperson, Ahmad Taufiq Bin Baharum, introduced Hendon Mohamed, a senior Member of the Bar and past President, who delivered a short address to the participants.
Despite the wet weather last Friday, 4 Dec 2009, and it being a weekend day in Kedah, 55 participants, including Members from as far as Penang, came all the way to the Kulim Golf & Country Resort to attend the Workshop on Client Accounts – Getting It Right.
In his welcome address, the Kedah/Perlis Bar Chairperson, Ahmad Taufiq Bin Baharum, introduced Hendon Mohamed, a senior Member of the Bar and past President, who delivered a short address to the participants.
Thereafter Heron Khalid Goh commenced his topic by explaining the concept and definition of client accounts. He gave advice on how to set up and manage client accounts by giving examples of the common dos and don’ts. He complemented his talk with samples of documents that can be used to record the transactions of client accounts and to prepare the accounts for audit.
Every year, auditors have indicated that legal firms submit incomplete documents, thereby hampering their preparation of the accountant’s reports. This will in turn delay the issuance of the lawyers’ Sijil Annual and Practising Certificates. Wanting to remedy that situation, Heron used real–life examples with detailed explanations to assist the participants in their management of client accounts and thereby obtaining the audited accountant’s reports with ease.
The floor was opened for a question–and–answer session before Lim Chee Wee, the Vice President of the Malaysian Bar and the Chairperson of the Practice Management and Support Committee, addressed the participants. He stressed the importance that must be given to maintaining records properly, citing that lawyers have been struck off the Roll of advocates and solicitors due to mismanagement of client accounts .
The event concluded with a thank you speech from Ahmad Taufiq who expressed his appreciation to Heron for presenting the talk and to the Bar Council for organising the Workshop.
The participants were treated to a sumptuous high tea prepared by the Kedah/Perlis Bar Committee.
Every year, auditors have indicated that legal firms submit incomplete documents, thereby hampering their preparation of the accountant’s reports. This will in turn delay the issuance of the lawyers’ Sijil Annual and Practising Certificates. Wanting to remedy that situation, Heron used real–life examples with detailed explanations to assist the participants in their management of client accounts and thereby obtaining the audited accountant’s reports with ease.
The floor was opened for a question–and–answer session before Lim Chee Wee, the Vice President of the Malaysian Bar and the Chairperson of the Practice Management and Support Committee, addressed the participants. He stressed the importance that must be given to maintaining records properly, citing that lawyers have been struck off the Roll of advocates and solicitors due to mismanagement of client accounts .
The event concluded with a thank you speech from Ahmad Taufiq who expressed his appreciation to Heron for presenting the talk and to the Bar Council for organising the Workshop.
The participants were treated to a sumptuous high tea prepared by the Kedah/Perlis Bar Committee.