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NYLC Convention, final day: Reflections on the Convention

Contributed by Robin Lim Fang Say

Tuesday, 22 January 2008 07:35pm

Some of the young lawyers at the Convention

• Statement of the NYL Convention 2008
• Closing address by NYLC Chair, Edmund Bon

PENANG, Sun: The 3rd Young Lawyers Convention drew to a strong conclusion with its final session on the morning of 20 January 2008. For the past two days, delegates of this Convention were exposed to numerous topics and issues involving legal education, information technology, work-life balance and activism at the Bar.

In the final session, Desmond Ho who moderated the session, invited delegates to reflect on the Convention. Most of them who expressed their views emphasised the need for young lawyers to “stand out in the crowd”. Damian Yeo of the Malacca Bar stressed that a young lawyer needs to achieve excellence in order to stand out in the crowd. To do so, one must be competent in the area of law that he or she is practising in.

Khaizan Shahrizat of the Kuala Lumpur Bar echoed similar sentiments when she asserted that “standing out” is a matter of choice and the young lawyers need to live up to the expectations of their clients and the profession.

After some time discussing the issues raised in the Convention, the delegates moved on to formulate concrete plans of action and steps to be taken after the Convention. Edmund Bon pointed out that in the previous Conventions in Cherating (2003) and Pangkor (2005), participants had made statements in support of reforms aimed at advancing the objectives of the Bar. It was beneficial as a good guide for assessment, and many of the proposals made previously have been met.

Dipendra Harshad Rai with the assistance of two speakers in the final session namely Noor Arianti Osman and Dara Waheda Mohd Rufin then discussed tentative points to be included in the draft “Statement of the 3rd National Young Lawyers Convention 2008”.

Delegates deliberated, discussed and made suggestions. Numerous views were taken from the floor.

Finally, a Statement was finalised which reflected the collective aspirations of the delegates.

The Statement called for the following, among others:

• That all members of the Bar and pupils-in-chambers strongly support and encourage the existence and/or re-activation of the Young Lawyers Committees (“YLCs”) of the State Bars.

• That YLCs at all State Bars continue to exist and if abolished, to be re-activated immediately, and the NYLC continues to exist consistent with the Bar Council’s decision of 2 December 2006.

• That the Bar Council carries out and does all that is necessary to ensure that YLCs continue to be a mandatory committee in every State Bar.

• That the following plan of activities be strongly recommended, encouraged and actively pursued by the respective YLCs of the State Bars:

(a) To continue to represent the views and promote the interests of the young lawyers in relation to issues of practice, areas of concern and rights at the Bar.

(b) To carry out appropriate community projects to assist the less privileged members of society.

(c) To support, defend and/or take up human rights issues domestically and internationally.

(d) To actively support legal aid and legal aid centres all over Malaysia.

(e) To organise and/or participate in Bar-led sporting, social and recreational events.

(f) To continue engaging and building close relationships with all institutions of higher learning and Government agencies/ministries.

(g) To build, network and maintain a working relationship with other professional bodies and civil society organisations.

• That the Bar Council, State Bar Committees, law firms and all lawyers take all necessary steps to address the issues identified in the Working Conditions Survey Report dated 26 October 2007.

In the NYLC chief’s Closing Address, Edmund Bon pointed out that despite all the fears and obstacles faced by the young lawyers in the light of impending globalisation, he sees a lot of hope among the delegates and young lawyers. He is confident that young lawyers will be “towering young lawyers” and respectable members of the profession. Many young lawyers will also be future leaders of the Bar. Further, it was emphasised that despite divergent views within the Bar, “it will become evident that we cannot move forward as a divided Bar”. He then closed the Convention.

Essentially, this Convention was a rallying call to all young lawyers to take ownership and responsibility for their roles as members of the Malaysian Bar. Will the young lawyers now answer this call to make a difference? This Convention may have ended, but the journey and struggle continues, refreshed.