Law
Setting rules to ensure that
everyone’s rights are protected
What is Law?
Law is a structure of rules and regulations that allow citizens to understand what they can and cannot do. These rules are set in place to ensure that everyone’s rights are protected so that they can live freely and peacefully within society.
The law structure is important as it guarantees that the individuals in the community are safe from any harm and it make sure they do the right thing. Breaking the law in any manner can lead to various consequences depending on the degree of the crime. It can be from paying a small fine for speeding to serious jail time for bigger crimes.
Law and lawyers are crucial in the justice and legal system. There are two specializations for lawyers; advocates or solicitors. For advocates, their job scope is to represent the client in court for criminal trials or civil trials (disputes between private parties). As for the solicitors, their job scope is focused on providing legal advice and documentation (eg. contracts and legal letters) to the court.
Why Consider Law?
The law is a set of rules that helps to maintains justice and social order. It helps to ensure that our rights are protected and keep us safe from any harm. A qualified lawyer is needed in almost every industry.
This means that law graduates have the advantage to explore different industries and pathways. Law graduates may opt to work for the government or private sector. After gaining enough experience, lawyers may start their own law firms.
A career in law can bring you places, especially if you possess these traits:
- Able to adapt and think outside the box
- Compassionate and empathetic towards struggles your clients may have
- Passionate to make changes and see it through
- Able to stand firm on your own beliefs
Fields of Law
Law that organises the government and deals with the division of its powers
Deals with disputes between government agencies and civilians or private organisations.
Deals with punishing people who commit crimes (e.g. murder, drug trafficking, burglary).
Regulates agreements entered by two or more parties (e.g. loan agreements, T&Cs).
Deals with the rights of anything that can be owned, such as land, goods and patents of a business. Property law can be broken down into further categories, such as land law that deals with properties and intellectual property law
Deals with the assets and debts left behind after someone dies.
Deals with matters related to marriage, divorce and child custody.
Deals with cases whereby an individual has suffered damage (slander, injury, trespass) and wants to seek compensation.
Minimum Requirements for a Degree in Law
To practise in Malaysia, you will be required to score at least a credit in the SPM’s Bahasa Malaysia, or a credit in Malay as a Second Language in IGCSE. Otherwise, you will need to sit for the Bahasa Malaysia Qualifying Examination to qualify as a lawyer in Malaysia.
Remember that law requires you to have a good command of language in both English and Malay, so make sure you’re comfortable speaking and writing in both languages.
Do note different universities have varying requirements.
How does your Education Pathway look like?
The duration of a law degree is 3 years.
To practise in Malaysia, you will need to pass the Certificate of Legal Practice (CLP) exam after your law degree, which takes about 9 months.
Thereafter, you will enter your chambering period where you are attached to a law firm for at least 9 months.
