How to Be a Lawyer in Malaysia
Looking to be a legal eagle? Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can be a qualified lawyer in Malaysia after SPM.
Updated 01 Jul 2023
Are you enamoured by the power and prestige of the legal profession? If you’ve got your eye on this highly sought-after career, you’ve probably thought about pursuing a Degree in Law.
So how can you get to the finish line to don that robe and head to court? Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can qualify as an advocate and solicitor in Malaysia after completing SPM.
Step #1. Meet entry requirements at SPM level
In general, you should have a minimum of 5 credits at SPM or IGCSE or equivalent. It can be in any subject as there are no subject pre-requisites.
Step #2. Complete a recognised pre-university course
You are recommended to take pre-university courses that are recognised by the Legal Profession Qualifying Board of Malaysia for the purposes of taking the Certificate of Legal Practice (CLP) (see step #3).
Courses that are recognised are:
- A Level
- STPM
- Australian Matriculation (e.g. South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) International, Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE), New South Wales Higher School Certificate)
- International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP)
- Foundation
- Matrikulasi
- Diploma
Step #3. Complete a recognised Law Degree
Once you’ve successfully finished a pre-university course, you can proceed to a Law Degree.
Generally, there are 2 types of degrees that you can pursue — a 3-year Law Degree or a 4-year Law Degree that includes a professional year. Whichever you choose, it’s important to ensure that the degree is recognised by the LPQB. You'll also need to ensure that you graduate with at least a Second Class Lower degree.
(i) 3-year Law Degree
A 3-year Law Degree will provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills as you chase your dreams to be a qualified lawyer. You will cover a number of crucial law subjects, such as Law of Contract, Law of Torts, Constitutional Law and Criminal Law.
You can pursue these Law Degrees at private institutions in Malaysia or at universities abroad.
However, you must ensure that you complete a recognised Law Degree. Otherwise, you may risk not being able to practise law in Malaysia later on.
(ii) 4-year Law Degree (includes a professional year)
In addition to supplying you with the right skills and knowledge to be a qualified lawyer, a 4-year Law Degree also provides you with professional experience, covering topics such as Law of Evidence, Criminal Procedure, Civil Procedure and Professional Practice.
These Law Degrees are often only offered by Malaysian public universities. Again, it is essential that your Law Degree is recognised by LPQB.
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Explore Now >Step #4. Complete the CLP or Bar Practicing Course
Graduating with a Law Degree doesn’t mark the finish line just yet. You'll need to complete a professional law exam in order to qualify as an advocate and solicitor in Malaysia — i.e. practise as a lawyer in Malaysia.
There are 2 ways to do this — by completing the Certificate of Legal Practice (CLP) or completing the Bar Practicing Course.
Note: Certain universities (e.g. Universiti Malaya, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Multimedia University (MMU)) offer Law Degrees that include a professional year. This allows you to be exempted from the CLP and you can go straight to Step #4.
(i) Certificate of Legal Practice (CLP)
The Certificate of Legal Practice (CLP) refers to a professional law exam conducted by the Legal Profession Qualifying Board of Malaysia (LPQB). The 9-month course is offered by various private colleges in Malaysia.
To qualify for the CLP exam, you will need to meet the following requirements:
- Minimum of 5Cs in SPM (or equivalent) obtained in 1 seating, and
- Two principal passes in STPM or equivalent (i.e. minimum of 2Ds in A-Level; or 2Cs in STPM; or 5Bs in UEC; or pass in Foundation in Law / Arts / Science), and
- A recognised 3-year Law Degree with passes in 6 core subjects and graduated within 6 years of initial registration with the university
The CLP exam consists of 5 papers: General Paper, Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, Evidence and Professional Practice, which you need to pass during the Main Examination in July.
If you only fail 1 subject, you will be given a conditional pass and can retake the paper (up to 2 times) during the Supplementary Examination in October. If you fail 2 or more papers, you will need to retake all 5 subjects again.
You are only allowed a maximum of 4 attempts — i.e. first Main Examination plus 3 resits — in 5 years. If you fail your 4th attempt or if the 5-year validity expires, you will no longer be allowed to re-register and sit for the CLP exam.
(ii) Bar Practicing Course
Instead of the CLP, you can also consider taking the Bar Practicing Course (previously known as Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)) in the UK — a vocational training course that aspiring lawyers take to be admitted as barristers in England and Wales. Malaysians or permanent residents with this qualification can also be admitted as an advocate and solicitor in Malaysia. The course is offered by various institutions in the UK, such as the Cardiff Law School, BPP University and The University of Law.
To apply for the Bar Practicing Course, you will need to fulfil a set of requirements. This includes having a law degree with at least a lower second-class honours or a Graduate Diploma in Law if you have a non-law degree. You will also need to satisfy English language requirements and be admitted as a student member of one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for barristers in England and Wales).
Step #5. Complete your pupillage (chambering)
Pupillage (commonly known as chambering) refers to the duration for which law graduates undergo industrial experience (i.e. internship) in order to be called to the Malaysian bar.
You will be required to complete this after finishing the CLP or BPTC. Graduates who are exempted from the CLP may commence their pupillage immediately after their degree.
During your pupillage (9-month duration), you will shadow a senior counsel, or master (who has at least 7 years of experience), to familiarise yourself with the tasks of an advocate and solicitor. Your tasks may include:
- Conducting research to aid your senior counsel in preparing for a case
- Drafting pleadings
- Preparing affidavits (written statements)
- Interviewing clients
- Observing senior advocates conduct trials in court
Pupils are also required to complete the Ethics and Professional Standards course and 14 days of legal aid — where pupils give free legal advice to members of the public on women’s rights, criminal matters, Syariah law or migrant rights.
At the end of your pupillage, you will be called to the bar and admitted and enrolled as an advocate and solicitor. Congratulations!
DID YOU KNOW
Pupillage in East Malaysia differs from Peninsular Malaysia! To be admitted as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in Peninsular Malaysia, you will need to undergo your pupillage for 9 months. On the other hand, in East Malaysia, you’ll need to undergo pupillage for 12 months to be admitted to the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak.
We hope this has given you a little more insight into your pathway to being a lawyer after SPM. Although there will be challenges on the long and windy road towards the legal profession, you can rest assured that these hurdles will equip you with the dedication, resilience and integrity that is required of a lawyer.
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Kamini Senthilathiban
Self-proclaimed pun-meister 6000. Kant stop, won't stop.
