Malaysia’s Top Law Schools – Private Universities

Study at a Top Private University in Malaysia for Law (LLB)

Finally, it is important for students to choose top private universities in Malaysia with law degrees that are recognised by the Malaysian Bar and the Legal Profession Qualifying Board, Malaysia for purposes of the CLP examinations. In addition, check the entry requirements with the Malaysian Bar to ensure that you qualify. Students after SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels in Malaysia should go for the Foundation in Arts, A-Levels or Australian Matriculation before pursuing the law degree. You might also be interested to read:

• Top Private Universities in Malaysia for Recognised Law Degree
• Admission Requirements and Qualifying as an Advocate and Solicitor in Malaysia According to Legal Profession Qualifying Board
• Pathway to Become a Lawyer in Malaysia through a Recognised Law degree
• UK Law Degree Transfer Programme at Top Private Universities in Malaysia
• Top Private Universities in Malaysia for Law (LLB) UK Transfer Programme
• Top 5 Private Colleges in Malaysia Offering the Best A-Levels Programme
• Top 10 Most Popular Pre-University (Pre-U) Programmes in Malaysia
• All You Need to Know About A-Levels in Malaysia
• Find out what is A-Levels & Study at the Best College in Malaysia
• Best A-Levels Subject Combinations at Malaysia’s Top Private Colleges
• Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) qualification at Senior Middle 3 level is Accepted to sit for the Certificate in Legal Practice Examination (CLPE) Malaysia

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What is the Education Pathway at Top Private Universities to Become a Lawyer in Malaysia?

A lawyer is also known as an attorney, solicitor, barrister or advocate and is an individual who has obtained the necessary qualifications to be called to the bar to practice law. Lawyer can act as both advocates and advisors on behalf of their clients. A lawyer, also known as an “attorney,” “counselor,” solicitor,” “barrister” or “advocate,” is an individual licensed by the state to engage in the practice of law and advise clients on legal matters.

 

Lawyers act as both advocates and advisors on behalf of their clients. As advocates, they represent either the plaintiff (the party filing the lawsuit) or the defendant (the party defending the lawsuit), advancing their client’s case through oral argument and through written documents such as motions and briefs. As advisors, lawyers counsel clients on how the facts of their particular case apply to the law.

 

A Top Law School will have the necessary years of experience in equipping students to handle the challenges of passing the CLP examination. The 2021 Certificate in Legal Practice examination results was released and less than 20% (or 219) of the estimated 1,400 law graduates who sat for the exam obtained full passes. A total of 227 managed a conditional pass. This means they failed only one of the five subjects which they are allowed to re-sit three times. If students fail the fourth time, they will not have the opportunity to become lawyers as the Legal Profession Qualifying Board (LPQB) allows them to sit for the examination a maximum of four times in five years. Below are some of Malaysia’s Top Law Schools at Private Universities:

1. Taylor’s Law School
2. HELP University
3. UOWM KDU
4. Multimedia University (MMU)
5. Brickfields Asia College (BAC)

Who Should Study Law?

Students who love to read, talk, and write should consider law. You like to stand up for others and help people. When you are good in subjects like Sejarah, Moral, English or Biology, you can consider a career in Law. A few of these skills are exceptional oral and written communication skills, strong analytical skills, the ability to simultaneously balance multiple tasks, leadership skills, able to perform in-depth research, remember facts as well as use the facts in a logical manner.

How do you become a Lawyer in Malaysia?

The 1st step after SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels is to find the right college to study your Foundation or Pre-University Programme. After you obtain at least 2 principals in the A-Levels, you can either go for the law degree i.e. LLB (Hons) from recognised universities such as Taylor’s University or UOWM KDU College or take up the UK Law Degree Transfer Programme at the same universities and study 2 years in Malaysia and go to the UK for your final year. Upon completing your degree, you may choose to take up the Bar Vocational Course (BVC) in the UK and be called up to the English Bar or choose to come back to Malaysia to sit for a qualifying exam in order to obtain the Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP). When you complete all the required exams, you will undergo a 9-month training commonly known as chambering or pupilage. This is the period where one is exposed to the working world of law. You can be paid between RM300-RM1000 for this period. While serving the 9-month pupilage you will still need to sit through some exams conducted by Malaysian Bar and partake in Malaysian Bar legal aid programme before you can be called to the Malaysian Bar to become a qualified lawyer

What are the Entry Requirements to Study Law (LLB) in Malaysia?

• Foundation
• Pass with min. CGPA 2.67
• Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) B-B- or min. CGPA 2.67 including Pengajian Am
• Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) Pass with 5Bs, including English, with max. 20 points
• A Levels Min. CC or BD or AE
• South Australian Matriculation (SAM) / SACE International Min. ATAR 70
• Canadian Pre-University (CPU)* Min. average of 65% in 6 subjects
• International Baccalaureate (IB)* Min. 24 points in 6 subjects and min. 4 points in 3 Higher Level subjects
• Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY) Min. 260/400
• Other Qualifications* Students with other qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis

ENGLISH REQUIREMENTS

• IELTS
• Overall Band 6.0
• TOEFL 79 – Internet Based Test (20 in writing)
• A Levels (English / English Literature ) Min. Grade C
• South Australian Matriculation (SAM) / SACE International (English as a second Language) Min. Grade B
• Canadian Pre-University (CPU) (English 4U) Min. Grade C
• MUET Band 5
• UEC English B4
• O Level / 1119 (GCE-O) Grade C
• Other Equivalent English Qualifications Students with other qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis

Students who have completed a full year preparatory / foundation study in English may be exempted from meeting the English requirements. NOTE:

• Pass SPM / O Level or equivalent with 5 credits (Including English) for entry with pre-university / foundation qualification.
• Pass SPM / O Level or equivalent with 3 credits (including English) for entry with Diploma qualification.
• Students who intend to pursue the CLP course are also required to obtain a credit for Bahasa Melayu in SPM.
• Entry Qualification that are not recognised by Legal Profession Qualifying Board, Malaysia for purposes of the CLP examinations.

What are the Steps to Become a Lawyer in Malaysia after SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels?

1. Take a Recognised Pre-University Course. Students after SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels will need at least 5Cs or Credits including English and Maths. The internal Foundation at Malaysia’s private universities is now recognised for students who want to take the CLP in order to practice.
2. Earn a law degree from an approved university. Before enrolling with a university, verify that the LL.B course is an honours programme and is approved by the Legal Profession Qualifying Board Malaysia, or by the Malaysia Bar. Failure to graduate from an approved program will preclude you from applying to take the Malaysian Bar examinations.
3. Complete a Bar Vocational Course (BVC) or Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP). The BVC is offered in Great Britain and is a popular option for most Malaysians due to its excellent reputation and job prospects. The alternative in Malaysia is the examination known as the Certificate in Legal Practice. Passing either one is mandatory to be called to the Bar. Note that graduates of the University of Malaya or National University of Singapore have already satisfied these requirements and do not need to sit for these examinations.
4. Sign up for “chambering.” This is a practical training course that lasts nine months, during which the new graduate is attached to a lawyer, law firm, legal agency or other such program to acquire practical legal skills. It is a nonsalaried position; however, most law firms will provide a basic monthly allowance, and depending on the size of the firm this may range from 300 to 1,000 Malaysian Ringgit. During the training attachment, you will still be required to pass all Malaysian Bar examinations and legal aid programs. Only upon completion of these will the graduate be called to the Bar as a fully-qualified lawyer and allowed to practice independently.

What are Some of the Subjects that You Will Study in a Law (LLB) Degree in Malaysia?

Below are a sample of subjects that you will study in a 3-year law degree programme in Malaysia.

• Constitutional & Administrative Law
• Contract Law
• English Legal System
• Law of Tort
• Legal Skills
• Malaysian Legal System
• Mooting
• Constitutional & Administrative Law
• Criminal Law
• Land Law
• Research & Writing and Drafting
• Public International Law
• Company Law
• Equity & Trusts
• Family Law
• Information Technology Law
• Intellectual Property Law
• International Commercial Law
• Medical Law
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• International Human Rights Law
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• International Human Rights Law
• Law of Evidence
• Drafting

What do Lawyers do in Malaysia?

Although lawyers affect nearly every aspect of society in a range of positions and industries, their basic duties are the same–to represent the needs of their clients in civil and criminal trials. Lawyers can specialize in bankruptcy, international, elder, probate, or environmental law. The growing field of intellectual property is also seeing a growing level of attention from lawyers. Other than practicing law in the courtroom, lawyers can find jobs in other areas such as:

• Advocates & Solicitors
• LegalSecretary
• Corporate Counsel
• Judiciary
• Arbitrator
• Company Secretary
• Attorney-General’s Chambers
• Forensic Investigator
• Journalist
• Legal Writer & Editor
• Academician
• Politician

UK Transfer Law Degree Programme at Malaysia’s Private Universities

To qualify as a lawyer in the UK, you need to follow a prescribed path, and pass modules in seven areas known as the Foundations of Legal Knowledge. These usually lead to an LLB (Bachelor of Law) or BA (Hons) Law. You’ll then progress to the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or the Bar Vocational Course (BVC), leading to a qualification as a lawyer or a barrister. The advantage of going for the UK Bar is that you can practice worldwide while the CLP only allows you to practice within Malaysia. You can save money by going for the UK Law Twinning or Transfer program at the best universities in Malaysia. This will ensure that you will have a successful career. Students may graduate with a UK Law degree by taking a 1+2 or 2+1 degree programme at Malaysia’s private universities. Some private universities have established partnerships with reputable universities across the UK and you can choose to transfer after the 1st or 2nd year and complete the final part in the UK.

Where do Lawyers Work?

• Education and academic administration
  • You can work as a lecturer or marketing staff in the colleges that offer Lawprogrammes. Legal knowledge is also useful in non-teaching positions at universities, work in the law library or admissions.
• Banking and finance
  • Lawyers with experience in securities, trusts and estates, tax or banking law, you can venture into the lucrative field of banking and finance. Positions include:  risk manager, estate planning advisor, trust officer, financial planner, commercial loans officer and mutual fund administrator.
• Conflict resolution
  • Arbitration, mediation and negotiation are growing fields employing individuals with legal backgrounds as arbitrators and mediators. Hospitals, school associations, universities and government agencies all hire professionals with strong communication and dispute resolution skills. Note that mediation positions may not be full-time – mediators tend to be retained on a contract basis to assist with a specific dispute.
• Government and politics
  • The federal and provincial governments often hire lawyers as policy analysts to gather and research information, analyze issues in written reports and coordinate the development of strategic policy. Matters involving policy related issues range from health and transportation to education and the environment. Politics is another popular field for lawyers. Positions include speech writer, political fundraiser, campaign manager, lobbyist or even political candidate.
• Human resources
  • Companies need talented professionals to recruit new people and oversee their staff. You can work as a hiring coordinator, human resources administrator or training manager. And don’t forget working within the legal profession as a non-lawyer – inside knowledge of the legal industry makes you well suited for a job as a law firm administrator, head of associate recruiting, marketing director or professional development manager.
• Legal consulting
  • Some lawyers consult to law firms in law office management, marketing and client development. If you’re tech-savvy, you can put your knowledge about legal software to work as an information technology consultant. With a nursing background, you can work as a legal nurse consultant, reviewing medical records in medical malpractice and personal injury cases, providing advice to the lawyers involved and acting as an expert witness.
• Legal writing, editing and publishing
  • A lawyer’s research and writing skills are particularly useful. Several lawyers work as freelance legal writers and editors – contributing articles for legal publications, writing do-it-yourself law books and researching/writing booklets on legal topics like divorce and landlord/tenancy matters for poverty law groups and government-funded organizations. Other one-time lawyers are now legal or business columnists for newspapers and magazines. Still others write content for law firm websites or are full-time editors for bar association newsletters and law, business or accounting publications.

What is the Job Demand for Lawyers in Malaysia?

According to the 2023 HAYS Asia Salary Guide the outlook for Malaysia’s legal market in 2023 is incredibly positive. A key focus across the industry will be on data privacy as concerns within this space grow. Consequently, 2023 will see strong demand for regional data privacy counsel and regional data privacy specialist roles. Corporate secretary opportunities will be plentiful within the corporate legal space as corporate governance becomes a strong focus across industries. Additionally, the large-scale merger and acquisitions activity in 2022 is also projected to continue in 2023 which calls for a steep demand for corporate lawyers within the Malaysian market. As pressure to retain staff grows, most legal firms, especially top-tiered ones have embarked on revising and streamlining salaries according to their years of PQE (Post Qualified Experience). This move is intended to increase the transparency of general remuneration packages for practicing lawvers and is a trend that is likely to continue into 2023. In general, legal professionals are indicating a strong preference for flexibility, with most candidates choosing not to proceed with the job application process if the organisation does not support a hybrid working arrangement. The coming years will also see a greater focus on diversity, with local and MC organisations actively looking to hire more women.

How Many Lawyers are there in Malaysia?

According to the lawyer statistical data from Malaysian Bar, the number of legal practitioners or lawyers in Malaysia had increased from 13,672 to 20,384 from year 2011 to year 2021. Amongst these 20,384 lawyers, 9,190 of them are male’s lawyers and 11,194 are female’s lawyers. Upon checking the Malaysian Bar website currently, it is stated that there are approximately 16,000 lawyers in Malaysia and the number is growing annually. There are 14,300 registered lawyers in Malaysia.

Number of Legal Firms by State in Malaysia

Number of Lawyers by State in Malaysia

What is the Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP)

This Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP) is one of those qualifications entitling the holder to become a qualified person. The examination is conducted by the Board by virtue of section 5(e) of the Act. Applications to sit for the CLP examinations are open to holders of Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degrees conferred by the universities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and certain universities in Australia and New Zealand whose qualifications are not gazetted under section 3 of the Act. Like all law graduates, CLP graduates must proceed to read in chambers or better known as chambering, which is a form of apprenticeship similar to a pupillage in England. After completing nine (9) months of chambering, the student may finally be called to the bar and become a qualified lawyer. Examinations are normally held around July each year. Every student is required to sit for five subject papers. The said examination is conducted once a year where candidates are examined on the following subjects: a. General Paper; b. Civil Procedure; c. Criminal Procedure; d. Evidence; e. Professional Practice For holders of Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degrees from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the board has set certain guidelines on qualifications and requirements to qualify to sit for the CLP examinations. The Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP) is a course and examination taken by foreign law graduates in order to become a qualified lawyer in Malaysia. The examination is conducted by the Legal Profession Qualifying Board of Malaysia and is governed by the Legal Profession Act 1976. The Board allows degree holders from certain universities in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand to sit for the examination. If a student fails one paper he or she may be given a conditional pass and be allowed to resit that subject two more times. However, if a student failed in two or more papers, he must sit for the whole examination again in order to obtain the certificate. A student is allowed to sit for the examination four times. The Legal Profession Qualifying Board only sets the examination and does not provide classes to prepare the candidate for the examination.