It doesnt really matter as there is no plus point be it science or art because your legal education is the important part. I came from science stream and I've got my LLB. Most importantly is your interest in reading law and your language proficiency.

Even if u r from science stream, u can still go for legal field...it doesnt matter...

solstice818, u mentioned that u're from atc penang right?

think i sent u a non-delivered pm days ago.

anyway if indeed u are from atc penang, just wondering if u applied for the ptptn loan.

hmm, din receive any pm...sent wrongly? No...din apply for it...

probably.. so, inter, part 1 or part 2 aye?

Career in the Legal Profession

So whether you r intending to join the legal profession and your at the cross roads as a student:
Law Grad
Master In LAw
PHD in LAw
Legal Executive/Officer
Advocate & Solicitor
In-house Legal
Judge
AG
bla bla bla the list goes on.

Let me debunk some myth for you guys/gals out there, who still think the lgal profession is a glamourous line to be in cause its not!

1. To get an insight in the legal profession
For students who are still in School or College or in the 1st yr of University, if u genuinely have interest to join the legal profession. Do an internship in a local law firm, this is one of the most important deciding factor whether u would enjoy the legal profession.

2. Job prospect
Look into the daily newspapers, look at how many positions r available in the Legal profession. You will notice if u only have a law degree, u r stuck at square one.
Take note: of limitation and requirements, i.e. been in practice, admitted as Adv & Sol, in-house, 5 yrs exp bla bla

Singapore than?
Ah yes, the small island across the sea. That is if u get a PR or u dont die from home sickness.

Silver lining?
F*** the legal profession, why not try other fields such as banking, investment banking, finance or property. This sectors ladies and gentleman employs the largest employers of ppl with legal background, however u need to note that u might also be competiting with other ppl whom are from other backgrounds i.e. Accountin, Bankin finance etc... So ur chance are close to slim

3. Financial Capability
Thinkin that a Law degree is cheap? by comparison degree vs degree its the cheapest u dont need special equipment and books mostly can be bought second hand probably might require some updatin but than again cheap. 3 yrs to complete a degree. Wow...

Profession Certification: CLP/BAR etc...
Not as cheap if u dont make it the first time around.

Note:
If u do not have spare cash/ money set aside and ur focused in doin those two certifications above. Its no different from screwin urself. CLP exam starts every yr in middle of July. Say unfortunately ABC had failed his exam which means he wuld have wasted another yr preparing for CLP, so what r u going to do? If u were to take up a job offer in Aug and quit in May wouldnt it be meaningless? So ur left hanging.

4. Academic
CLP is famous for being tough, 10% pass guarentees that it is a very tough academically tested paper.

5. Pay

Dont expect to be paid an astronomical sum, it is very true that salary is subject to experience, the longer u work the more u get paid.

But for beginers in a competitive profession in Law, chambering and 1st yr as an LA would normally be paid peanuts. Expect long hours and sleepless nights, verbal abuses, or being abused by ur bosse (if u manage so luckily to get a rough boss)

6. Ask for recomendation from Seniors

Those from the legal profession/private sector and dealing with legal matters.

7. Strategize

To avoid dissapointments, stragize at teh same time have contingencies. Make sure u have eenuf funds and also love what ur doin...

8. Remember

Legal profession is a life long career.

You have to work and work and work till you decided to retire.

---

Added on October 30, 2008, 9:31 pmwhat do you mean by this

2. Job prospect
Look into the daily newspapers, look at how many positions r available in the Legal profession. You will notice if u only have a law degree, u r stuck at square one.
Take note: of limitation and requirements, i.e. been in practice, admitted as Adv & Sol, in-house, 5 yrs exp bla bla

why stuck at square one? dont get it. would you mind explaining? thx =)


so if i don't want to be a lawyer in future, that means it wou;d be better if i do a double degree (ed law/finance) is that so?

and lastly, if letsay i have a double degree (law/finance or law/econs or law/business), can i one day be a company's legal advisor?

thanks. =)

This post has been edited by RBR: Oct 31 2008, 04:10 PM

I suggest you do some research before you dive in, good or bad is very subjective and varies from person to person.

If I tell u its VERY good or its VERY bad I would be lying.

retire and die with it. cause u cant do anything else.


Say u got a Law Degree and you would like to work after ur degree rather than pursuing to be an advocate n solicitor, because of reasons... u need money, u want to have financial freedom from ur parents etc... (use ur imagination from here)

Now Sarah, what I want you to do is imagine that u have a law degree (if u have yet to grad) flip through the newspaper.

Imagine this is all you have:
Law degree (fresh grad)
0 experience

Than while flipping through the newspaper u see In house legal counsel wanted (dont qualify), than u will see alot of Legal Assistant wanted (again u dont qualify), u will find that in a single piece of paper there is more demand for accountants and engineers than a person who has legal background.

so ur stuck that is what I mean.

~ sry need to ask someone else abt doing double law degree

Legal advisor normally min 5 yrs exp in practice or 3 yrs in house... fresh grads can forget about bein a legal counsel/advisor.

thanks =)

yeah, i do realise that there's more demand for accountants and engineers also =) that's why im thinking of doing double degree (law/biz or law/finance or law/econs) cuz my main core is actually doing business or banking related industry. but my dad told me business degree is wayyy to common. that's why he reckons that it would be better if i have some legal backgrd. cuz that would be a plus point.

If u can get more details on what Biz/Finance/Econs, what teh subjects focused on. I can advise u on some aspects of banking.

I work in an in house legal dept with an investment bank (is different from Banking), as a Legal Exec...

I am betting ur doing an Australian degree. would take u prolly 5 yrs to complete or 4.

Anyway I am no expert on Aus Degrees, shud ask from advise from some other person on this matter.

Inter, part 1 and part 2... yes...
Only not for A level/foundation/AUSMAT/SAM, etc

just wondering..... is there any difference of going for twinning and doing a UOL???
and being a legal advisor is clp needed?

Hmm, twinning it is compulsory for u to go overseas at least for a year..UOL no difference, u can do it externally or choose to go UK also can.
Legal Advisor no need CLP but it also dpends very much on the job requirements of that specific firm lor..

UOL, or a UK law degree or Australian law degree watever... it all makes no difference.. if u want to join an in-house legal dept u need only a legal dept and some experience from a law firm.

Legal advisor/legal counsel how ever u want to put or name it...
Speakin generally in Malaysia, normally companies would prefer someone who is from practice and has at least 5/9 yrs exp. Unless of course u started as a legal executive/officer and work ur way up the ladder. Than again that would take yrs.

Legal advisor/Legal Counsel r not "LAWYERS" and do not enjoy the privileges given to a practitioner (check LPA). (u will notice they do not have sijil annual or practicing cert etc...). they merely dispense advise to clients, in effect LA/LC r same like a lay person dispensing advise to another lay person, just that this particular former lay person knows his/her stuff.

Oh and one more thing law firms dont hire legal advisers, only companies do.

This post has been edited by aurora97: Nov 1 2008, 01:49 PM

haha i meant, which year u're in right now..

Yes, but there are still lots of spammers here if you noticed .

Anyway, thanks .

great..thanks... so actually going for twinning and UOL has difference right.
but is tehre any advantages for twinning besides just visiting UK..lol

yes..

I did twinning program 1+2 actually... so i will advise u on this area.

The exposure r greater, in terms of ppl, knowledge, learning and so forth. You will be covering more dept in most subjects compared to what u study (say ur 1st or 2nd yr is in Malaysia). Of course u'd be spendin a whole lot more compared to just doing UOL.

Recognition, if twinning offers u a prestigious University go for it... it makes job hunting easier.

UOL (aka london ext) is also quite a well known paper, so i suggest u might want to take into consideration that if u were to go abroad make sure the degree cert on offer is at least at par with ur UOL degree.

I dont think i need to say much abt twinning, u've been bombarded left right and center what u can do while abroad.

I just highlight the small things that u might wanna take note.

May i know which university/where did u read law in uk ? Hows this twinning program benefit you in term on job hunting ?