Career Advice Detail Asean

Law

Law jobs in Malaysia

Essential Reading

GradMalaysia- Law

Includes detailed overviews of areas of law, A-Z of law firms, including how to apply for jobs, case studies, advice from senior partners, training and qualifying to become a lawyer in Malaysia, and much more.

Sector Overview

• Legal 500 Website
  – gives an overview of the legal landscape in Malaysia.
• Asia Legal Business Online
  – provides latest news on law in the region, plus a detailed profile for Malaysia
• E-Lawyer.com
  – latest news in the Malaysian legal sector
• Malaysian Legal Career Survey

Qualifying to become a lawyer in Malaysia

The Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP)

• The CLP is a compulsory examination for holders of law degrees from selected universities in the UK, Australia and New Zealand – as well as local private universities in Malaysia and Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)
• The CLP must be passed before a law graduate may be allowed to undergo pupillage with a Malaysian
• Law graduates of local public universities need not sit for professional examinations, as components of the examination are included in their degree studies.
• For further information on the CLP see The Malaysian Bar website

Pupilage/Chambering

Peninsular Malaysia

• Compulsory nine-month term of ‘pupilage’

Sabah and Sarawak

• A law graduate must be admitted as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak.
• compulsory twelve-month term of ‘pupillage’,
• In addition, the applicant must meet specific criteria stipulated by the Advocates Ordinance of Sabah and Advocates Ordinance of Sarawak. These include:
  • Must have a connection to Sabah or Sarawak – eg born in Sabah or Sarawak, married to a person born in Sabah or Sarawak, or lived continuously in Sabah or Sarawak for five or more years
  • Must currently be domiciled in Sabah or Sarawak
  • Must serve a pupillage of three to six months in Sabah or Sarawak (for those intending to practise in Sabah, a six-month pupillage in Sabah is mandatory).
• For more information, refer to the websites of the State Attorneys-General of Sabah and Sarawak

Advice

• GRADMalaysia overview

Vacancy Source

• Legal Firm websites - Many law graduates apply to firms directly. GRADMalaysia Law Directory has an A-Z of company profiles, including details of how to apply.
• The Malaysian Bar
  - includes junior lawyer roles, legal assistant and paralegal, as well as more experienced roles.
• E-Lawyer.com Malaysia
  - includes good search facility allowing you to search by level e.g. ‘chambering student’
• JobStreet.com Malaysia
  - allows you to search for entry level roles
• Recruit.Net
  – covers range of jobs, at admin, entry and experienced levels.
• Legal Labs
  – generally more experienced roles, though some at graduate and admin level.
• See also general vacancy sources on the General Information page.

Key Employers

• Zaid Ibrahim and Co
• Skrine and Co
• Shearn Delamore
• Wongs and Partners
• Shook Lin and Bok
• Lee Hishammuddin Allen and Gledhill
• Kadir, Andri and Partners
• Raja, Darryl and Loh
• Cheang and Ariff

Chartered/Company Secretary Work

• This is a popular option for law graduates as an alternative to a career as a lawyer.
• Company secretaries ensure organisations comply with company law and regulation. See the Malaysian Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators website