PETALING JAYA: Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) law graduates can still
practise if they pass their Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP) exam.
According to CLP examinations director Muniandy Kannyappan, the procedure
for graduates to enter legal practice is to complete the CLP, unless
exempted, then apply for chambering and be admitted to the Malaysian Bar.
“The question of degree ‘recognition’ doesn’t arise because the law
programme was accredited by MQA (Malaysian Qualifications Agency) in March.
However, the Legal Profession Qualifying Board (LPQB) views that evaluation
has to be done in order to determine if UUM graduates can be exempted from
the CLP exam for purposes of legal practice,” Muniandy told The Star.
The writer of the letter, whose daughter is pursuing her law degree at UUM,
said he checked with the Malaysian Bar Council and was told that the
Bachelor of Laws degree awarded by UUM had yet to be “recognised” for
admission to the Malaysian Bar.
UUM’s law programme, offered since 2003, is undergoing evaluation by the
LPQB.
LPQB’s evaluation committee visited UUM last month and will determine within
the next few months if its graduates can be exempted from taking the CLP
exam.
Currently, graduates from Universiti Malaya, Universiti Teknologi Mara,
International Islamic University Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
and National University of Singapore as well as barristers-at-law of England
are exempted.
“UUM feels that its degree is of the same standard as that of the other
universities. But the LPQB still has to declare if its law students should
be exempted,” Muniandy said.
He added that upon evaluation, should UUM students be exempted from the CLP,
its first batch of graduates from 2007 could apply to enter chambering
without having to sit for the examination.
A UUM official said the university would issue a statement today, to clarify
the matter.
CLP or Common Bar Exam should apply to all Law Graduates from Malaysia Local Universities. written by Tong Kuan Ling,
Thursday, September 11 2008 11:33 am
I believe that to be fair to all the Law Graduates notwithstanding those from Malaysia Local Universities who wish to practice law in Malaysia should sit for the CLP or Common Bar Exam prior to the Admission to Malaysian Bar to ensure the quality of a person before he/she starts his/her legal practice.
Tong Kuan Ling
Be Fair to All Law Undergraduates written by Tan Peek Guat,
Thursday, September 11 2008 06:45 pm
CLP Malaysia can also be taken to mean COMMON LAW PRACTICE in Malaysia.
Therefore, to qualify to practise law in Malaysia, all undergraduates reading Law ought to sit for this COMMON LAW PRACTICE EXAMINATION before they can be allowed to practise law in Malaysia. This is to ensure that the same standards are met.
It is not right or fair to exempt law undergraduates of only certain universities from this examination while the others have to sit for it - whether they are from public or private universities in Malaysia / abroad.
Afterall, we are ALL MALAYSIANS and we should be sufficiently resilient to face and overcome the same huddles - without any special preference/treatment. Afterall, who should be so authorised to treat Malaysians unfairly?
Tan Peek Guat
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Circular No 102/2012: Mahkamah Sesyen/Majistret Kajang Moving to Kompleks Mahkamah Kajang
I believe that to be fair to all the Law Graduates notwithstanding those from Malaysia Local Universities who wish to practice law in Malaysia should sit for the CLP or Common Bar Exam prior to the Admission to Malaysian Bar to ensure the quality of a person before he/she starts his/her legal practice.
Tong Kuan Ling