The Malaysian government is taking steps to revamp the legal profession by introducing a comprehensive common bar course (CBC) or exam (CBE). This move aims to enhance the current Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP) and ensure legal professionals possess the necessary skills and knowledge.
Malaysia is set to embark on a significant reform in its legal profession by introducing a comprehensive common bar course (CBC) or exam ( CBE ). This development comes as the country aims to enhance the existing Certificate in Legal Practice ( CLP ), the current benchmark for legal professional qualification. The announcement was made by M. Kulasegaran, the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department ( Law and Institutional Reform), in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Feb 12).
Kulasegaran revealed that the Legal Profession Qualifying Board had agreed to form a committee on October 8th to delve into the curriculum and syllabus for the CBC. Notably, the committee will be chaired by the President of the Malaysian Bar, who also serves as a member of the qualifying board. The minister emphasized that multiple facets require careful consideration before implementing the CBC, including syllabus design, trainer selection, assessment methods, evaluation processes, administrative structures, and financial implications. To glean insights from international best practices, the board is currently scrutinizing bar training models from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. The aim is to identify the most suitable model for Malaysia's legal sector. Kulasegaran stated, 'The board will consider models from these countries to implement the best CBC or CBE model suitable for the Malaysian legal sector.' The Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department (BHEUU) is concurrently undertaking reforms to ensure the board remains relevant and effective. BHEUU organized a roundtable discussion on February 5th involving academics and lawyers from both local and foreign universities. This gathering aimed to solicit valuable input and foster a comprehensive discussion on the necessary reforms. A subsequent forum is scheduled for February 12th to further engage stakeholders. The government recognizes the pressing need for restructuring within the legal sector, particularly in the realm of legal education. Kulasegaran's response addressed a query posed by Chiew Choon Man (PH-Miri) regarding the Legal Profession Qualifying Board's progress on implementing the CBC or CBE and the steps taken since the previous year. In a supplementary question, Chiew expressed concern over the perceived slow pace of progress, highlighting the formation of the CBC committee as the only significant advancement to date. He also questioned whether the government would consider incorporating more lawyers, particularly from Sabah and Sarawak, on the board. Kulasegaran acknowledged the lack of substantial reforms over the past 15 years, emphasizing the urgency for swift action and the need to reform the board's membership to include diverse stakeholders with relevant expertise. 'I agree that more lawyers should be on this board, including representatives from Sabah and Sarawak,' he stated, noting that over 60% of advocates and solicitors in these states are graduates of the CLP. Furthermore, Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh (PN-Besut) inquired about the expansion of Bahasa Malaysia's usage within the legal profession. Kulasegaran affirmed that the national language remains prevalent in court proceedings and is a prerequisite for law courses at the SPM level
COMMON BAR COURSE CBE LEGAL PROFESSION MALAYSIA LEGAL REFORM CLP LAW EDUCATION BHEUU MALAYSIAN BAR
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