This item has been updated since initial publication
The widespread accessibility of social media has made the public more vulnerable to individuals falsely presenting themselves as lawyers. These unethical individuals often mislead people into believing they are qualified to offer legal advice. Such actions, tantamount to misconduct, not only jeopardises the rights of unsuspecting clients, but also erodes trust in the legal system. It is therefore essential to educate the public on the qualifications and roles of legal practitioners to ensure that they are aware of who is lawfully entitled to provide legal services. This is part of the Malaysian Bar’s ongoing commitment to strengthen public confidence in the legal profession and to protect public interest.
Domestically, the title of a lawyer is only conferred upon a person who has been admitted and enrolled as an “advocate and solicitor of the High Court”. This designation is not automatically granted to an individual upon graduating with a law degree. According to section 10 of the Legal Profession Act 1976, a person must first be a “qualified person” before embarking on the journey to becoming a practising lawyer. This journey includes obtaining a recognised law degree, passing the relevant professional examinations such as the Certificate in Legal Practice (“CLP”) if required, and completing a mandatory nine-month period of practical training, known as pupillage or chambering.
The legal profession is a fused one, meaning a single qualified individual can perform the functions of both an advocate and a solicitor. This can be a point of confusion for those familiar with legal systems in other jurisdictions where these roles are distinct. The following terms are clarified to provide a better understanding of the profession:
- Advocate and solicitor: A qualified lawyer holds the title “advocate and solicitor” and is authorised to perform both roles of representing clients in court and handling out-of-court matters, such as drafting agreements and providing legal advice.
- Law graduate: A law graduate is an individual who has only completed a law degree and has not yet met the professional requirements to practise law, such as passing the Bar exam and CLP, if required, and completing pupillage.
- In-house legal counsel: In-house legal counsel are often hired by companies with an internal legal department. While many in-house legal counsel are former practising lawyers, they are not required to hold a valid Practising Certificate to perform their duties. As a result, they can only provide legal advice in a limited capacity within the activities of the company.
Given these distinctions, it is essential for the public to verify whether an individual is in fact a practising lawyer, which they can do by accessing the Malaysian Bar’s official Legal Directory. The Legal Directory is an online registry of Malaysian Bar members and law firms.
The Legal Directory acts as a protective feature against fraudulent individuals presenting themselves as lawyers, and doing a simple check against the Directory would help the public verify whether such individuals are truly lawyers, thus protecting themselves before engaging a lawyer for legal services.
If an individual is not listed in the Legal Directory, he/she is not authorised to provide any legal advice or services to the public. If you encounter someone claiming to offer these services but whose name is absent from the Legal Directory, please disregard his/her advice and seek legal advice only from a lawyer whose identity is verifiable in the Legal Directory.
The Malaysian Bar remains committed to upholding the rule of law and safeguarding public interest. We encourage all members of the public to use the resources available to them to make informed decisions about their legal representation or when engaging legal services.
Mohamad Ezri b Abdul Wahab
President
Malaysian Bar
1 October 2025