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The National Young Lawyers Committee (“NYLC”) convened its first meeting on 5th May 2006 at the Bar Council Secretariat. There was an encouragingly large turnout of 45 lawyers and pupils, which included representatives from Penang, Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Malacca. 3 Deputy Chairs were elected - Richard Wee (Kuala Lumpur Bar), Kenny Lai (Perak Bar) and myself (Malacca Bar) - who would rotate chairing the NYLC after the 2nd meeting.

Edmund Bon, the new Chair of the NYLC, informed the Committee that he wanted to start afresh from “ground zero” and invited the members to brainstorm plans for the coming year.

Richard Wee started the ball rolling and said that the common values and objectives of the young lawyers include representing the voice of young lawyers regarding professional practice and affairs of the Bar and to support the initiatives of the Bar by contributions in terms of time and energy. Simran Gill suggested that the issue of sexual harassment must be addressed. She noted that the Bar Council should implement the Code of Conduct on Sexual Harassment which was drawn up by the Ministry of Labour. Latheefa Koya and M. Moganambal stressed on the need for young lawyers to be a visible force in the Bar. It was then suggested that the NYLC have a three days workshop-planning meeting to forge a mission statement and blueprint for the NYLC.

Francis Soh spoke about the need to look into the interests of the chambering students as they are the future generation of the Bar. Gavin Tang was of the view that the NYLC should have only one aim - to safeguard and promote the interests of young lawyers in all areas of practice. Phee Boon Leong suggested that young lawyers are to sit on every single committee of the Bar Council to ensure that the interests of young lawyers are sufficiently protected, and to provide young lawyers' perspectives on issues of the Bar.

I spoke on career and practice development for young lawyers and proposed that a nationwide survey be conducted to gauge the working conditions and struggles of young lawyers. I took the view that the NYLC should look into the welfare of young lawyers and start engaging in issues such as salaries, continuing legal education and assisting young lawyers to find their niche in the profession. S. Karthigesan touched on the issue of section 46A and urged the Committee to follow up on the matter.

Edmund Bon then unveiled some of his plans for NYLC which included re-activating the Young Lawyers Committee at all State Bars, elevating the profile of young lawyers by way of interviews in and contributions to PRAXIS and the Bar website, and the conferment of the Outstanding/Most Promising Young Lawyer Award each year at the Bar Annual Dinner and Dance. He was also of the view that the NYLC should provide its input on the decisions made by the Bar Council at the end of each Council meeting.

As can be seen, there was an abundance of fresh and interesting ideas generated at the NYLC’s “ground zero” meeting. The enthusiasm and energy of the young lawyers could be felt in the room as the members were fired up about the plans for the coming year. Anecdotal evidence informed that some who attended a Bar committee meeting for the first time were overwhelmed by the number who participated and spoke at the meeting. With the subsequent execution of its ideas and plans, the NYLC hopes to galvanize the idealism and energy of young lawyers across the country and make a positive contribution to the legal profession and the country as a whole.

The NYLC will be having a three days workshop planning meeting on 9-11 June to flesh out its ideas and plans in more concrete terms. We are grateful to the Bar Council for its strong support and approval of the budget for the meeting given on 13 May 2006.

In the meantime, WATCH this space!

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