Objection at Long Call and Socmed postings In a very recent long call, an objection was raised by the former employer of the petitioner that the petitioner was not a fit and proper person to be called as the petitioner had published untrue socmed postings about the firm, working conditions and how (badly) the petitioner was treated there. Instagram screenshots were produced. (The BC, State Bar and AGC maintained no objection to the call.) The Court heard the objection and dismissed it. It was held that the necessary procedure was not followed, viz. a caveat under sec 17 LPA was not filed by the objector. The Judge also criticised the manner the objection was raised, on the eve of the hearing, that amounted to hijacking the solemn long call ceremony to ventilate private employment grievances. On the merits, the Court held that a private employment dispute does not equate to a lack of “good character” under sec 11(1)(b) LPA, as the “good character” requirement assesses a candidate’s fitness, honesty, and integrity to practise law, rather than serving as an unrestricted moral inquiry or a tool to police employment relationships. The petition was allowed. Happy ending to the petitioner! Note/Lesson: Whilst the objection was dismissed, thankfully and rightfully, this however is a cautionary tale for pupils to be cautious when posting on socmed. Socmed does not forget and follows you around. Long call is an important legal and ceremonial gateway into the profession. It is one to be savoured and remembered fondly. You do not want your long call to be remembered for the wrong reasons. This article was first shared by R. Jayabalan on LinkedIn.
CJ Calls for More Young Lawyers to Submit in Open Court: How to Be Ready
The CJ has called for more young lawyers to be given the opportunity to submit in open court when appearing with senior counsel. See the Bar Circular on 9 Oct no 372/2026. The challenge for the young lawyers now is how to show to the senior counsel they are capable of handling the oral advocacy in open court. My suggestions: Prepare for the hearing as if YOU are the lead counsel. Master the facts, the law and the documents. Actively engage with the lead counsel on the matter. Show that you have the confidence to stand up. Prepare for the worst, enjoy the experience. This article was first shared by R. Jayabalan on LinkedIn.
Choosing the Right Place for Pupillage: Advice for Final Year Law Students
For final year students. Choosing the right place for pupillage. Do not select a firm solely because of its name, size, glamour, location or size of allowance. Consider first: the areas of practice of the firm, the potential masters there; whether pupils there receive meaningful exposure and assistance; whether the master and lawyers there are prepared to teach; the firm’s professional culture and values and staff/lawyer turnover; are the pupils there treated as future lawyers or merely admin support staff viz. cheap labour? This article was first shared by R. Jayabalan on LinkedIn.
Challenges in Pupillage and the Early Years of Legal Practice | MMU Session
Session with MMU final year students on Challenges in Pupillage and the Early Years of Legal Practice. Along with Ethics and Etiquette at the Bar by Jaspal Singh Gill. Key principles for pupils in entering the profession: Be punctual. Be dependable. Read the whole file, not bits/parts. Take down notes when receiving instruction. Ask questions when not clear. Check facts, be accurate. Manage deadlines efficiently. Learn from mistake. Treat everyone with respect. Protect integrity, professional reputation. Be humble, curious and willing to learn. This article was first shared by R. Jayabalan on LinkedIn.
NS Bar Law Conference: Pupillage Lessons for Future Lawyers
NS Bar Law Conference 11.9.2026 Met this jolly bunch of pupils over lunch and ended up answering their curiosities on legal practice/ lawyers. Points shared: 2. Prioritise learning the procedures at pupillage – RHC and CPC. 3. Educate on the LPA 1976 and rules there especially practice and etiquette rules. 4. Masters are busy, be a busybody and bother them with questions, that’s a sign of interest to learn. 5. No specialising now or in the early years of practice. Learn and be exposed to as much variety of work possible. It’s the learning and exposure. 6. Get to know seniors. Be the first to initiate. A nod, smile or ‘good morning’ usually enough to break the ice. Seniors might look garang, maybe snobbish also, but actually softies once you know them. 7. Seniors were young once. Everything we point/blame you now, chances are we would have done the same in our early years too. So we are not perfect either. 8. Best way to research is to start with a good text book first, then move on to case laws. Don’t start with online search and staring at hundreds of cases on that one keyword search. 9. Learn good drafting in early years. Drafting letters, pleadings and submissions. Short sentences. Short paras. Short cause papers – although easier said than done! 😂 10. Enjoy practice. You are in it for the long run. Practice is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Enjoy the race in order to last!
Expert Evidence in Medical Negligence & Personal Injury Claims | NS Bar Law Conference 2026
Negeri Sembilan Law Conference 2026 11.9.2026 Had the opportunity to share thoughts on expert evidence in medical negligence and personal injury claims along with Federal Court Judge, Justice Dato’ Seri Vazeer Alam, focusing on how the Courts decide when there are conflicting expert opinion.
Retrospectivity of Arbitration Clauses, Unilateral Reference and Stay
RETROSPECTIVITY OF ARBITRATION CLAUSE, UNILATERAL REFERENCE, AND STAY. A recent decision we obtained from the Court of Appeal outlined the following: The grounds of decision is below.
Starting a Law Firm: Malaysian Bar Circular No. 307/2026 Start-Up Checklist
Setting up your own firm? Here are the needs, dos and don’ts. See Malaysian Bar Circular No. 307/2026, including the ELEVATE Tools Spotlight and Start-Up Checklist. The Start-Up Checklist provides a practical guide to key operational planning considerations for lawyers establishing and managing a law practice, including the practice name and legal form, business planning and budgeting, regulatory requirements, premises, banking, insurance and risk management, permits, licences and tax, human resources, office systems, and practice development.
Malaysian Bar
On 13 Aug 2026, the Malaysian Bar paid a courtesy visit to the Chief Justice of Malaysia, YAA Tun Wan Ahmad Farid b Wan Salleh, at the Palace of Justice, Putrajaya. The Malaysian Bar delegation was led by the President of the Malaysian Bar, Anand Raj and comprised 30 Bar Council members as well as officers from the Malaysian Bar Secretariat. The meeting, held at the request of the Malaysian Bar, was a gesture of respect and goodwill as well as to reaffirm the Bar’s commitment to maintaining a close and constructive relationship with the Judiciary in upholding the rule of law and the proper administration of justice. The Malaysian Bar expresses its appreciation to the Chief Justice and his office for the warm welcome extended during the visit. #MalaysianBar#BadanPeguamMalaysia#BarCouncil#Malaysia
NS Bar Reference Proceedings
The practice of law is often exacting and demanding, requiring long hours, personal sacrifices, and an unwavering commitmentn to duty. Behind every member of the Bar stands a family whose support, patience, and understanding make that service possible. Their sacrifices are seldom seen and even more rarely acknowledged, yet they are an indispensable part of the lawyer’s journey. In doing so, they, the families, too contributed, in their own quiet way, to the administration of justice and to the strengthening of the profession.” Karthigesan Shanmugam #negerisembilanbar