Eazy,
Why did you say that it is notoriously difficult to do the English Bar ? I mean if you meet the pre-requisite requirement. Thanks.

Thanks for sharing here, Eazy. Which university did you graduate from ? If I may ask here, what's the cost like in total in UK ? What's the procedure of applying for the Bar course ? Thanks.

I have done the BPTC

Fees is depending on which institution u choose to do the BPTC. It ranges from 17k to 11k. This is just the fees not including living expenses and accommodation and the application fees/Inn registration stamp duty etc

If I'm doing the UK Bar, by the off-chance that I'm able to get into it in the first place, and actually pass it, am I able to return to Malaysia to practice law, with additional training or otherwise?
You need to do chambering for 9 months to get called to the Malaysian Bar

If I do well in the Bar exams, do I, as a foreign student, stand a chance to be accepted into pupilage in the UK?
Dont mean to discourage you but even if you achieve Very Competent which is an A equivalent they will not take you in because spaces are limited and the locals are still fighting for places. However it is not impossible but do not get your hopes high.

Am I able to use my UK Bar qualifications to get a better chance at applying for a permit to practice law in other countries like Australia, New Zealand, or the UK itself? I’m considering getting a PR at one of these countries, while still retaining my Malaysian citizenship.
You cannot practice without having done the pupilage in UK. Having said to practice in Aus you would need to have completed the pupilage in UK to practice in Aus. Yes its possible as the UK bar is recognized in Aus.

If I’m not qualified to enter the Bar Professional Training Course and went to CLP instead, what are my chances of practicing law in other countries in the near future? I must point out that I am not keen on migrating to another country in my forties, bringing my whole family, parents, wife and kids.
You cannot practice unless you sit for their BAR exams AFTER you have been called to the Malaysian Bar as it is recognized in Australia. This is however withstanding the fact that they accept your application and there is a job there for you and most importantly you pass the CLP.
I would strongly recommend you to do well in your 1st 2nd and final year in the UK. Having said if you get a First your fees will be exempted by 2k the most depending on institutions. This is a big relief to your sponsor after converting. If you are the type who cant cook to save your life ( I have seen many pathetic cases here ) I suggest you better start learning how to cook. That is of course your sponsors are rich then you have nothing to worry. English food is bland and tasteless. You can forget about the "chinese" cooking here as it is catered for the locals taste. Indian food is northern indian not the southern types which you are used to. Malay food you might as well forget it as the ingredients are scarce to come by so you might as well bring your own ingredients.

These are my own personal experience which may vary from others depending on the year they did it and where they did it. The BPTC is a very difficult course which people have dropped out due to the intense stressed placed upon them during the course. If you think your final year of degree is difficult I have bad news for you. This is another level. I am not trying to discourage you but it is alot of money and if you cannot handle stress I suggest you to stay away because the lecturers will treat you like working adults as it is a professional course. There is no room for mistake and its a 90% attendence or you fail the course. The white people are very direct unlike the malaysians who are shy to voice out their opinions. You mess up they will tell you to your face infront of all the other local classmates so you have to be on top of your game as the people there are usually very sharp be it locals or foreigners like yourself. You will have no weekends to yourself as you will be preparing for the following week. For example I used to cook a variety of dishes for my degree but when I was doing the BPTC I even had to freeze my rice and pre cut all my onions garlic and ginger just to save time cooking. You get the drift. All the best.

lol don't be frightened by shanashi's words or the figures. i just passed the bptc and it is not as hard as he said. i see you provided the figures for 2008/2009 BVC, but since the commencement of BPTC, the passing rates also drops because of the 3 centralised assessments.

i can see your determination from your words. a first class honours degree is definitely achievable. i will tell you why. i was a game addict and failed 4 subjects in my first year (passed them in resit) and 4 subjects in my second year (passed only 2 in first resit, passed another 2 in second resit) then i learned my lesson, quit gaming, and got my upper second class honours degree (i admit i didnt even put all my effort in it, only study since the last 2 weeks before the exam and i also got a warning for skipping classes ) so if you work hard enough and revise everyday, make note after lectures, prepare and attend every tutorial/seminar and do some additional reading, i can't see why you would not get a first class. (unless you can't think critically and analyse the case scenarios) so please, don't be like me, give it all in and first class honours will be yours.

for bptc, i nearly get the VC T_T but whatever, passing is good enough for me bptc is not a hard course. once again, i will tell you why.

the three centralised assessments:
1. civil
2. criminal
3. ethics
i literally revised these 3 subjects two nights before the exams. how did i do it? thanks to my friends for providing me notes from other universities. so i just revised from the 200+ pages notes (each for civil and criminal, 50+ for ethics). and as shanashi said, 90% attendance is a must, so i was forced to attend classes now haha. i prepared and attended almost every classes. so basically i understood everything, and just memorised from the notes my friends provided.

alternative dispute resolution: subject based on basic knowledge. i just prepared and attended classes. of course, did some reading for the chapters discussed in those classes the night before exam.

the writing skills subjects (these are open-book exams):
1. drafting: just get familiar with the format. and pay attention to details to the question (critical thinking)
2. opinion writing: same like drafting, but require some legal research before the exam (area of law given 1 week before exam).
3. chancery (my elective): opinion writing
4. commercial practice (my elective): opinion writing

the practical skills subjects:
1. conference: prepare a plan (legal research, brief given 1 week before exam) and skill to think on your feet  is required (client asks some unexpected questions or raised some unexpected issue)
2. civil advocacy: prepare a skeleton argument (legal research, brief given 1 week before exam) and skill to think on your feet is required (judge may raise questions)
3. examination in chief: learn the techniques in class and use them in exam, thorough factual analysis, again, skill to think on your feet as the client may not be co-operative
4. cross examination: haha the subject i enjoyed the most! same like examination in chief, but this time you are dealing with an opponent's client/witness (expect hostile behavior!) thorought factual analysis is a must! you also have to think out of the box sometimes to trap the witness into admitting your accusation without a chance of denying

ok, im not here to show off what i did to pass my bptc, but to provide some insights because me too, was exposed to myths and was so nervous about them. as you can see, bptc is not hard, but it requires consistent effort throughout the course (prepare and attend the classes) and the ability to look into fine details and think on your feet. if i almost get a VC, for your determination, you will at least get a VC and outstanding is possible

sorry for the words galore though