I just graduated with my law degree in the UK and I am now a BPTC student. I am very upset now. I wonder if choosing the BPTC is a better choice over the CLP since even if we pass the BPTC we still have to come back to Malaysia to practice and other countries like Hong Kong and Singapore only recognise their own Bar Examination.

Can someone enlighten me please?

Nope. Permanent residence is a requirement now.

True. It is HARD to find pupillage.

I just don't know if taking BPTC is the right choice. I think I will practice in Malaysia though.

Yea, no hope. Hope Malaysia has job opportunity.

Hope so

what's my concern? my concern is that i am able to find a job and live a life. that's all.

i did not do any internships though.

I believe I got a good honour for my degree, but well, not the best. I am interested in legal field. I can't imagine myself doing anything else. So, hopefully what you said is true.

Hey Shanashi, I just graduated from Northumbria's BPTC as well. Waiting for my call in Lincolns' Inn on 30th July, how about you?

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

This post has been edited by cyh03176: Jul 21 2014, 08:09 PM

yeah, online games are a waste of time, don't play them until you are graduated oh when i was in the uk, my flatmate, a korean who was taking final year in graphic designs, had to stay for another year because of League of Legends.

try not to sleep in classes while you are in malaysia, because they spoonfeed you with lectures and tutorials. but in the uk, forget it, lectures are just mere guidance (lecture slides will be available online) for your own notes so sleep all you want. that's the difference. i fell asleep all the time in lectures so i know what you meant

it's basically the same. i just graduated from northumbria with bptc. it depends on what kind of experience you after. northumbria has a 24/7 library which helps A LOT! newcastle is a small town though, but with vibrant night life with clubs and pubs everywhere. on the other hand, hertfordshire is near to london, it's only 30mins by train i believe. well, you have everything in london. personally, i prefer newcastle over london because all the places you need are within walking distance.

pm me if you needs help with information regarding northumbria

interest is one thing but manage to study law or not is another thing. studying law is not as hard as people thought now because we have computers with law library software with search engine, studying law now is just using the computer instead of researching through hundreds of law reports and textbooks. you don't have to be very smart to study law, but you have to be hardworking to cover that and most importantly, the need for details and critical thinking. i dont know anything about the CLP but for BPTC, you have to have fantastic memory for the centralised assessments.

sorry for the late reply, good luck in your SPM

it doesn't matter. your degree and your qualifications are just mere requirements for you to work. you attitude is the most important aspect.