Contributed by Shamine Parisamy, Legal Risk Junior Counsel, Professional Indemnity Insurance and Risk Management Department, Bar Council
On 6 Sept 2018, at the Abdullah A Rahman Auditorium, Johore Bar Committee Building, the Professional Indemnity Insurance (“PII”) and Risk Management Department under the direction of the Professional Indemnity Insurance (“PII”) Committee, organised the Getting Started! Workshop. The workshop is designed to provide guidance to proprietors of newly set up law practice on the fundamentals of legal practice, accounting, taxation, conveyancing and litigation.
Lawyers who have just established their law practice or are thinking of setting up their own law practice, as well as young lawyers, were among those who attended the workshop. Of the 27 participants who attended the one–day workshop, 25 were Members of the Bar.
I kick–started the first session with “Bar Council & You”, highlighting the key obligations and privileges of Members in setting up their law practice. I also gave an overview of the newly introduced Legal Profession (Group Law Practice) Rules 2018. A young lawyer from Tangkak, Johore, who had newly set up a firm, expressed that she was presently searching for other practices interested to form a Group Law Practice. This is encouraging news.
Next, Mohan Sankaran from Jardine Lloyd Thompson Sdn Bhd introduced participants to the important terms and clauses, as well as coverage, for the PII Scheme. He also shared insights on risk management.
This was followed by the next session entitled “The Fundamentals of Legal Practice” which was presented by R Jayabalan, Chairperson of the Johore Bar. He spoke in detail, of the many practical difficulties that arise in managing a law practice, and provided examples of effective ways on how these difficulties can be avoided or overcome.
The next session, the popular “Accounting and Taxation”, was presented by Heron Khalid Goh. Heron, an auditor from Kuala Lumpur, passionately took participants through basic accounting principles and the importance of proper documentation. He went on to explain how Members can make genuine mistakes when handling office accounts and client accounts, and provided tips to avoid making such mistakes. He also spoke about the ongoing scams aimed at exploiting Members of the Bar. A question–and–answer session ensued, with participants raising many questions to clear their doubts.
The workshop continued after the lunch break with the session entitled “Conveyancing in a Competitive Climate”, presented byYang Pei Fen, Member of the Bar. He explained in detail the common mistakes and loopholes in conveyancing practice, as well as highlighted the trips and traps in the conveyancing practice environment, and ways to avoid it.
Member of the Bar, Karen Cheah Yee Lynn, proceeded to conduct the last two sessions — “Anti Money Laundering Act” and “Winning Ways through Civil Litigation”. She briefed participants on the Anti–Money Laundering, Anti–Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (“AMLA”), the regulatory issues and the need for law firms to abide with the Act. She also spoke briefly about the civil litigation process and procedures.
The Getting Started! Workshop is a good platform for lawyers who aspire to set up their own practice and be their own boss. They stand to gain plenty in an engaging atmosphere with good speakers. The findings from the feedback forms indicate that participants would recommend the workshop to others.
If you would like to attend the next Getting Started! Workshop, please contact the PII and Risk Management Department by telephone at 03–2032 4511 or by email at pirm@malaysianbar.org.my.