The Malaysian Bar is concerned that students who intend to pursue a law degree locally may not be aware that some educational institutions are offering law programmes that are not recognised by the Legal Profession Qualifying Board (“LPQB”).
LPQB is the body tasked to prescribe the qualifications that would entitle an individual to become a “qualified person” within the meaning of the Legal Profession Act 1976, for the purpose of admission as an advocate and solicitor in Malaysia. As such, only graduates with law degrees that are recognised by LPQB will be able to enter the legal profession in Malaysia. Details regarding the qualifications recognised for entry are available on the LPQB website, at http://www.lpqb.org.my.
However, a worrying trend has developed, whereby a number of educational institutions in Malaysia offer law programmes that are not recognised by LPQB. Moreover, these institutions may not have disclosed to its students, or to applicants, that upon graduation, they will not be permitted to practise law in the country. Such schools may be accredited with the Malaysian Qualifications Agency, but mere accreditation is not adequate to satisfy the applicable criteria, where entry into the legal profession is concerned. These institutions must still seek the approval of LPQB for their law programmes.
With respect to Multimedia University (“MMU”) (for students who enrolled prior to the 2009/2010 intake), and Universiti Utara Malaysia (“UUM”), LPQB has stipulated that their law graduates can qualify to be admitted to the Bar, provided they successfully undergo additional training courses in drafting of pleadings, opinion writing, and conveyancing practice. The graduates are required to attend lectures, complete assignments and secure passing grades in the assessment exercises. No such provision has been made for other non–recognised law programmes.
LPQB’s evaluation team recently reviewed Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (“UniSZA”)’s law programme, and LPQB will decide whether, and how, its law graduates will be eligible to join our legal profession.
Regrettably, Bar Council has received reports that some educational institutions are providing misleading information to the public, by contending that recognition of their law programme by LPQB is “just a matter of time” and will have retrospective effect, when there is, in reality, no such assurance.
It is now the opportune moment for all stakeholders — the Bar, Attorney General’s Chambers, Judiciary, Malaysian Corporate Counsel Association, and public as well as private law schools — to work together to review the state of legal education in Malaysia and determine what can be done to improve our standards, bearing in mind the standards of excellent centres of legal education in other jurisdictions.
The Malaysian Bar strongly urges all individuals who intend to pursue a law degree to verify with LPQB the status of the educational institution and law programme of their choice.
Lim Chee Wee
President
Malaysian Bar
3 January 2013