Letter from Beijing: The Young Lawyers movement is still very much alive
Contributed by Mohamad Hairol Kamal Bin Razali
Friday, 10 March 2006 04:34pm
I refer to Charles Hector’s article entitled “Is the Young Lawyers movement dying?”, my answer would be, “I’m afraid NOT”!
Whilst I thank Charles in highlighting the problem faced by some of the State Bars, in this instance, the Selangor Bar Committee, I do not agree with such a sweeping statement.
By just giving one example of "inactiveness" in the participation of Young Lawyers Rep in a particular state and to generalise its "application" to the rest of the other State Bars, I believe, is quite inaccurate.
I still believe in the movement initiated by the Young Lawyers.
I still believe in the drive and energy within the Young Lawyers.
I still believe in the fight against the many struggles faced by the Young Lawyers within the legal fraternity.
But, I also believe in collective wisdom and intellectual discourse to find a solution to the many problems faced.
Aggression, such as street demonstrations may not always necessarily be the best approach.
Bearing in mind that the movement in Young Lawyers must not always focus on the “internal” problems only, for that is shallow.
I think is about time for the Young Lawyers think “out of the box”. We must be able to reach out to the society and make ourselves relevant to not just “OUR” interest and welfare, but use our knowledge and “tools of trade” to REACH OUT, REACH OUT and REACH OUT!
The Young Lawyers must work hand in hand with the more experienced / senior members of the Bar and take an active part in NOT just fighting the so called struggles against inequality, i.e. S.46A of the LPA, but also to learn from the seniors in decision making process in a larger and more important issues affecting not just the practitioners, but the public at large.
This, can you term as “...decline in the strength and fire in this once feared young lawyers movement?...” I must, and will, categorically disagree with you.
On the same note, perhaps it is about time for the more senior members / office bearers of the respective State Bars to sit back, and think whether they are wiling to share, to train, and to instill good values and principles in demonstrating their leadership qualities by create a meaningful platform for the younger lawyers to participate, demonstrate and show their worth and value in a collective manner. First, the seniors and the so called Bar Council elected leaders would be willing to reach out to the younger practitioners and let their voices be heard!
I believe, and I observed, some of the other State Bars had done so, to name a few, such as the Kedah / Perlis / Malacca / Kuala Lumpur Bar Committees. It very much depends on the leaderships of the State Bar Committees of the day whether to include or to exclude the younger lawyers in a decision making process, or at least to hear what they have to say first before coming to any conclusion and on a presumption that: “...nay, what you younger fellas know?...”
As for the younger lawyers out there reading this piece of article, let us not be afraid in expressing our views and opinions in all matters, if need be, be bold in defending your stand with conviction and engage in the power of persuasion without fear or favour, most importantly, we must begin to do so with a humble heart and able to take criticism with grace, for we might not always be right, so are the seniors!
It is good to hear that the Young Lawyers movement may still be alive written by Charles Hector,
Friday, March 10 2006 05:29 pm
Dear Will,
The article of mind was meant to challenge young lawyers out there who seemed to be becoming apathetic. Your prompt response is very encouraging indeed - for it seems that all is not lost for the young lawyers movement.
I agree that one must start to think out of the box. There is also no need to do the same things in the same manner as in the past. But there definitely is a need to go back and "re-ignite" or rejuvenate the dying fire in the hearts and minds of young lawyers.
It was also sad that there seem to be not much talk about who and who to vote based on matters that "he/she is a lawyers of less than 10 or 12 years and as such may understand more the concerns of young lawyers" or "he is a strong advocate for the repeal of s.46A and/or for opening the doors more for young lawyer participations, etc...". All that seem to be going around when it came to the State Bar Elections was "Vote him...or vote her..." - but the "WHY?" seem to have been not clear at all. Was it purely becos if elected this candidate or that candidate will support person A or B for a post of Office Bearer in the upcoming Bar Council elections? What are issues they stand for and will fight for seem to have taken a very back seat this year.
Will, you have responded from Beijing stating "Hey - the young lawyers movement is alive and kicking..." but I really do hope that a similar passion and conviction burns in the other thousands of young lawyers out there. It would be really good if that is the case.
... written by Richard Wee,
Friday, March 10 2006 06:03 pm
Dear Charles and Will,
Charles - your comment earlier is sweeping and in my view somewhat demoralising.
If the issue is pertaining to Selangor Bar Young Lawyers, please limit your comments to that state. I'm from KL Bar YLC, and we have carried out, organised and initiated many activities, causes and actions the last term.
At the NYLC, you are the Deputy Chairman of the NYLC. If you feel that the Young Lawyers are not up to the mark, then you could and should have done something there.
I said your earlier comments were somewhat demoralising, as you suggested that the current set of YLC in other states are 'lembik' and not vocal. The KL Bar YLC is so vocal on so many issues. We initiated a letter of protest to Badruddin over his remarks in Parliament. We issued statements condemning the Nude squat. etc etc .. too much to write here.
Your reply above is also different from your earlier write up. The issue of "vote him" or "vote her", was not mentioned at all in that write up. What are you saying now?
Will - I applaud your declaration above, and we at KL Bar YLC will miss you now that you will be in Beijing.
Response to Charles, Will and Richard written by Stephen Tan Ban Cheng,
Friday, March 10 2006 10:28 pm
My dear Will, Charles & Richard
Charles, you succeeded in provoking a response. Will, the speed of your response shows your commitment and Richard you are on the ball.
Weeks earlier, Kiang of Malacca wrote in the Forums Page of this website about convening the Young Lawyers' Conference.
The response was a lack of funds, a response that I felt was nonsense upon stilts since we young lawyers contribute 70 per cent of the revenue of the Bar Council.
My argument in support of Kiang's response, which is on record, was that it is time that the Young Lawyers' Conference evolve into a National Bar Conference for ALL lawyers since the "young" lawyers of today will be the "old" lawyers of tomorrow as we "age" on the roll of the Bar.
On the repeal of S46A, I am on record as having said that a promise remains a promise unless performed.
So, while we wait for the politicians to perform - and there's many a slip betwixt cup and lip when politicians fulfil their promise (nothing sinister intended for our de facto Minister of Law) - we have to keep up the pressure AND move beyond the single issue that has united us.
That was the rationale behind my call for the evolution of the Young Lawyers' Conference towards a National Bar Conference.
By doing that, we are also acting in accordance with our clarion call for the repeal of s46A since we are signalling that we will no longer buy into the process of categorising lawyers into "young" and "old."
It is about time that our fellow senior lawyers take this idea seriously since the more I learn about legal practice, the more odd ends I confront.
I am moving beyond the No-Discount Rule. There are other bigger issues out there.
What were you doing at NYLC last year? written by Francis Soh,
Saturday, March 11 2006 03:16 pm
Charles,
What were you doing about the YL movement when you were at the NYLC as the Deputy Chair? I was there for the first few meeting in Bar Council NYLC but decided to work on other commitees since we have good representatives from the KL Bar YLC last year. When you were the Deputy Chair, why was this issue not raised? Now you are out of council you are raising all this in hindsight, you need to walk the talk?
In any event, I think the KL Bar YLC has done more for the YL troughout last year with the Chairmanship of Richard.
May I also enquire how you have contributed towards the YLC of the Selangor Bar? Apart from moving resolutions I mean.
Will, have a good time in Beijing. KL Bar YLC will be in Richard's good hands this year.
Write comment
You must be logged in to a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet.
2012 Bar Council Subscription Click the link above to download Circular 072/2012 pertaining to the 2012 Bar Council subscription, including the payment guide and a set of Frequently-Asked-Questions.
2012 Hotel Corporate Rates Attending seminars? Going for a holiday? Click on the link above to check out the list of hotel corporate rates for Members of the Bar, which is updated regularly.
Bar Council Bookshop Read MORE … but pay LE$$! Members enjoy a 20% discount on LexisNexis publications at the Bar Council Bookshop. Click on the link above for the list of available titles.
International Malaysia Law Conference (26 to 28 Sept 2012) Hurry up! The countdown continues and the current promotion rate ends 30 June 2012. Don't miss what is going to be the best conference in the region! On top of that, if you sign up with 5 or more people from the same organisation, we will give you a 10% group discount. Click on the link above to register.
Talk on Summary Judgement (25 May 2012) Organised by the Selangor Bar Committee, this talk will take place at 5:00 pm, at the Selangor Bar Committee Auditorium, on 25 May 2012 (Friday). The talk will be conducted by Ramesh Supramanian. Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on Tax Issues in Financial Transactions (25 May 2012) Organised by the Kuala Lumpur Bar Professional Development Committee, this seminar, featuring S Saravana Kumar, will take place at 3:00 pm, at the Kuala Lumpur Bar Auditorium, on 25 May 2012 (Friday). Click on the link above for more details.
Dialogue with Criminal Law Practitioners (26 May 2012) Organised by Bar Council, this dialogue will take place at 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, at the Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council, on 26 May 2012 (Saturday). Click on the link above for more details.
Conference on Competition Law (31 May 2012) Organised by Bar Council with the support of LexisNexis, this conference will take place at 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, at Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel, on 31 May 2012 (Thursday). For more details or to register, please contact Vilashini Vijayan (03-2050 2095; vila@malaysianbar.org.my). Click on the link above for more details.
Talk on What Clients Want (7 June 2012) Organised by the KL Bar Practitioners' Affairs Committee, the talk, presented by Ong Eu Jin, will take place at 5:00 pm, at the KL Bar Auditorium, on 7 June 2012 (Thursday). Click on the link above for more details.
4th LAWASIA Family Law Conference, Penang (13 and 14 July 2012) Supported by Penang Bar Committee and the Malaysian Bar, this conference, themed “The New Global Family: Emerging Trends and Challenges to Family Practice”, will take place at Traders Hotel, Penang, on 13 and 14 July 2012 (Friday and Saturday). Click on the link above for more details.
News/Notices 
I refer to 
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Circular No 109/2012: Be a Part of the Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee
Dear Will,
The article of mind was meant to challenge young lawyers out there who seemed to be becoming apathetic. Your prompt response is very encouraging indeed - for it seems that all is not lost for the young lawyers movement.
I agree that one must start to think out of the box. There is also no need to do the same things in the same manner as in the past. But there definitely is a need to go back and "re-ignite" or rejuvenate the dying fire in the hearts and minds of young lawyers.
It was also sad that there seem to be not much talk about who and who to vote based on matters that "he/she is a lawyers of less than 10 or 12 years and as such may understand more the concerns of young lawyers" or "he is a strong advocate for the repeal of s.46A and/or for opening the doors more for young lawyer participations, etc...". All that seem to be going around when it came to the State Bar Elections was "Vote him...or vote her..." - but the "WHY?" seem to have been not clear at all. Was it purely becos if elected this candidate or that candidate will support person A or B for a post of Office Bearer in the upcoming Bar Council elections? What are issues they stand for and will fight for seem to have taken a very back seat this year.
Will, you have responded from Beijing stating "Hey - the young lawyers movement is alive and kicking..." but I really do hope that a similar passion and conviction burns in the other thousands of young lawyers out there. It would be really good if that is the case.