Study Guide: Law (LL.B) in Malaysia

Do you intend to pursue a law study in Malaysia? If so, you are about to enter a fascinating field that is rich in opportunity. When studying law, there are several things you can concentrate on. You will quickly discover that, no matter where you are in the world, there will always be a need for lawyers to offer legal services. After completing your legal education in Malaysia, you will have the choice of working as a legal professional here or moving abroad to practise law.

Law

A law is a regulation enacted by a government to govern how a community behaves. These regulations are intended to ensure that everyone's rights are protected in order for us to live freely and happily. Lawyers are the backbone of the legal system and a fundamental component of the law. In Malaysia, lawyers might choose to specialise as either advocates or solicitors. With a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B), you will eventually be able to become an advocate and solicitor. Lawyers are expert counsellors to their clients, providing assistance in a variety of legal circumstances, both civil and criminal.

This course will teach you the skills required to practise law in Malaysia. Law school students must have a broad perspective, be proficient in discussion, and explore all options. Business, criminal, civil rights, intellectual property, and other legal specialisations are accessible to students.

The field of law is vast and interdisciplinary as a whole. Law can be classified into two major divisions — public law and private/civil law.

PUBLIC LAW

The legislation that governs the interaction between the government and its citizens is known as public law. Its goal is to keep the community in order by punishing crimes against the state. To put it simply, if you see a man fleeing a convenience shop with a few stolen items under his arm, he is breaking the law. He committed a theft crime, which affects everyone.

Some areas of public law are:

Constitutional Law
Administrative Law
Criminal Law

PRIVATE/CIVIL LAW

Private or civil law is concerned with the rights and interactions of persons to one another. It frequently involves disagreements between private individuals and is intended to right an injustice. To put it another way, if your neighbour sues you because your barbeque smoke landed in his yard, you may be in violation of private law. You violated your neighbor's right to privacy of his land.

Some areas of private/civil law are:

Contract Law
Property Law
Trusts Law
Family Law
Tort Law

Entry Requirements to Study Law

These are the general entry requirements to pursue a degree in law. Entry requirements for some universities may be higher, so do make sure you check the details carefully.

A-Level: Minimum CC/BD/AE
Australian Matriculation SAM/SACE International: Minimum ATAR 70
Canadian Pre-University programmes: Minimum average of 65%
Foundation in Law or Matriculation programme: Pass with minimum CGPA of 2.00
International Baccalaureate (IB): Minimum 24 points in 6 subjects and at least 4 points for 3 Higher Level (HL) subjects
UEC: Pass with minimum 5Bs including English with maximum of 20 points
STPM: Minimum 2Cs with at least a pass in Pengajian Am
Diploma in Law: Minimum CGPA of 2.00

Pathway to Study Law

This is the general pathway to study law after completing your SPM or IGCSE.

Step 1: Complete STPM/UEC/Pre-university programme for 1-2 years. You can also opt to be enrolled in Diploma in Law for 2 years.

Step 2: Pursue your Bachelor of Laws (LL.B), which normally takes three years. For law degrees that include a professional year (e.g., law degrees given by recognised Malaysian universities), the degree will be 4 years. If you have a Diploma in Law, you can begin your degree in Year 2.

Step 3: If you wish to be a qualified lawyer (which is required to practise law in Malaysia), you must pass the Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP) test, which takes about 9 months.

Step 4: You will next be required to read in chambers for 9 months. Chambering (also known as pupillage) is a type of internship in which you join a law office to gain knowledge and experience with the work of a lawyer. After completing your pupillage, you will be summoned before the Malaysian bar, where you will be officially admitted.

Note: If your Bachelor of Laws does not include a professional year, you will need to pass a professional legal exam known as the Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP) in order to qualify as an advocate and solicitor in Malaysia, to practise as a lawyer. The Malaysian Legal Profession Qualifying Board administers this professional law exam.

Subjects in A Law Degeree

A law degree in Malaysia takes at least 3 years to accomplish. If you choose a law degree with a professional year, it will take 4 years. You will learn about the legal system, as well as the principles and theories that underpin it, as part of your Bachelor of Laws degree. You will get the knowledge and abilities required for a successful legal career, from learning to draught contractual papers to negotiating and arguing for your client.

Here are some of the subjects you will learn:

Law of Contract
Law of Torts
Constitutional Law
Criminal Law
Land Law
Equity and Trusts

You will also be introduced to mooting and mock trials, where you will argue a matter in simulated court processes against other law students. This will give you an idea of how it feels to be in a courtroom. In contrast to other courses that include an internship component, you will almost certainly be graded only on final exams at the conclusion of each year. As a result, you must be comfortable with an all-exam evaluation.

Note: Be sure to check if the programme you are enrolling in is recognised by the Legal Profession Qualifying Board (LPQB) and accredited by the Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA).

Job Prospects with A Law Degree

The most obvious employment choice for a Law Degree holder is that of a lawyer. Following graduation, you may pursue the following legal careers:

Litigation Lawyer: Represents and protects a client's rights in court. Banking litigation, corporate litigation, and criminal litigation are all areas of specialisation.
Conveyancing Lawyer: Represents and protects a client's rights in real estate transactions.
In-House Legal Counsel: Provides legal counsel to businesses such as banks, publicly traded firms, and multinational corporations.
Public Prosecutor: Represents the government in legal processes.

If you do not wish to practise law, you have other options:

Law Lecturer: After several years of practising law, many lawyers return to teach.
Journalist / Editor: Because you have good written and communication skills, you can pursue a career in the media.

Universities to Study Law

Taylor's University Lakeside Campus

Bachelor of Laws (Hons)

Intakes: January, March & August
Total Fees: RM116,906
Duration: 3 years

HELP University

Bachelor of Laws (Hons) (HELP)

Intakes: January, May & August
Annual Fees: RM62,400
Duration: 3 years

HELP University

Bachelor of Laws (UK Transfer Programme)

Intakes: September, July & December
Annual Fees: RM55,400
Duration: 2 years

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