Education Route to Be 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.
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.
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
- Top Private Universities in Malaysia for Law (LLB) UK Transfer Programme
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 A-Levels, South Australian Matriculation or Foundation. 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, HELP 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
Four Steps to Become a Lawyer in Malaysia after SPM or IGCSE/O-Levels
- Take a Recognised Pre-University Course. Students after SPM or O-Levels will need at least 5Cs or Credits including English and Maths. The internal Foundation is not recognised for students who want to take the CLP in order to practice. Generally, the A-Levels is the best option for students wanting to pursue a law degree in Malaysia or in the UK.
- Earn a law degree from an approved university. Before enrolling with a university, verify that the LL.B course is an honors program 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. ◦
- 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.
- 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.
Study at the Best Private University for Law in Malaysia
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.
Which are the Top Private Universities to Study a Recognised Law Degree in Malaysia?

Lucas, A-Levels at HELP Academy & Law Degree from Queens University Belfast
- University of Reading Malaysia (UORM)
- Taylor’s University
- Multimedia University (MMU)
- Brickfields Asia College (BAC)
- University of Wollongong (UOW) Malaysia
- HELP University
- Advance Tertiary College (ATC)
- SEGi University
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
Lawyers can also choose to work in other industries
- Education and academic administration
- You can work as a lecturer or marketing staff in the colleges that offer Law programmes. 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.
Job Demand for Lawyers in Malaysia
There are 14,300 registered lawyers in Malaysia.
Number of Legal Firms by State in Malaysia
|
State |
No. of Legal Firms |
|
Johor |
680 |
|
Kedah |
273 |
|
Kelantan |
216 |
|
Melaka |
211 |
|
Negeri Sembilan |
263 |
|
Pahang |
210 |
|
Penang |
606 |
|
Perak |
421 |
|
Perlis |
23 |
|
Selangor |
1896 |
|
Terengganu |
136 |
|
Wilayah Persekutuan |
2009 |
|
Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan |
11 |
|
Total |
6955 |
Number of Lawyers by State in Malaysia
|
State |
No. of Lawyers |
|
Johor |
1242 |
|
Kedah |
467 |
|
Kelantan |
374 |
|
Melaka |
412 |
|
Negeri Sembilan |
433 |
|
Others |
286 |
|
Pahang |
371 |
|
Penang |
1248 |
|
Perak |
729 |
|
Perlis |
38 |
|
Selangor |
3801 |
|
Terengganu |
244 |
|
Wilayah Persekutuan |
6741 |
|
Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan |
12 |
|
Total |
16398 |
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.
Practising in Sabah and Sarawak
To practise law ie to represent clients in courts in Sabah and Sarawak, a law graduate must be admitted as an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak. The qualification requirements are the same as those to be called to the Bar in Peninsular Malaysia; however, a pupillage of twelve months is required. In addition, the applicant must meet specific criteria stipulated by the Advocates Ordinance of Sabah and Advocates Ordinance of Sarawak:
- Must have a connection to Sabah or Sarawak– eg born in Sabah or Sarawak, married to a person born in Sabah or Sarawak, or lived continuously in Sabah or Sarawak for five or more years
- Must currently be domiciled in Sabah or Sarawak
- Must serve a pupillage of three to six months in Sabah or Sarawak (for those intending to practise in Sabah, a six-month pupillage in Sabah is mandatory).
- For more information, please refer to the websites of the respective State Attorneys-General of Sabah andSarawak:
Qualifying for the Bar in Malaysia
To be called to the Bar in the High Court of Malaya, as well as meeting the educational requirements, you must be a ‘Qualified Person’ as defined by the Legal Profession Act 1976. The requirements for this status are as follows:
- You are either a citizen or a permanent resident of Malaysia
- You must be at least 18 years old
- You are of good character and
- have no criminal convictions in any country, in particular regarding fraud or dishonesty
- have not been declared a bankrupt
- have not committed any acts which, if being a legal practitioner in any other country, would render you liable to be disbarred, disqualified or suspended from practice
- You have served a nine-month pupillage in Malaysia
- As of 1 January 1984, you have passed, or are exempted from, the Bahasa Malaysia Qualifying Examination (an oral examination in Bahasa Malaysia administered by the Malaysian Bar Council).
Entry Requirements by the Legal Profession Qualifying Board as Found in the Malaysian Bar Website
It is very important to check with the Malaysian Bar as to the latest Entry Requirements. If you study Foundation, Diploma or other Pre-University programme not recognised by the Qualifying Board, you may not be allowed to sit for the CLP.
| 1. Entry requirements | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Candidates must have obtained the minimum grades as the entry requirements into the law programmes which are as follows:
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| 2. Duration of the law degree | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 3. Subjects | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 4. Twinning Programmes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
If the law degree is conducted through twinning or other collaborative arrangements between universities in Australia and New Zealand and local colleges in Malaysia, such programmes must satisfy the following criteria:
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| 5. Joint Degrees | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Where two or more different and distinct disciplines or branches of learning are combined and studied in one degree programme, that degree is a joint degree for the purposes of these Guidelines. Such joint degrees are recognised under these Guidelines only if the duration is extended to 5 years or more. |
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6. Transfers |
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| 7. Modes of Study | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A law degree is accepted only if it involves full-time study either wholly at a university in Australia and New Zealandor partly at a local college in Malaysia and partly at a university in Australia and New Zealand under a twinning arrangement as in (4) above. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8. Branch Campus | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A law degree which is acquired from any university through its branch campus located in Malaysia or elsewhere SHALL be given the same treatment as though it is granted by the parent university in Australia or New Zealand. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9. Mature Student Entry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
IN LIMITED CASES, mature students may be admitted to pursue a law degree. Such students :
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| 10. Transitional | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rules 1 to 9 above shall NOT apply to a candidate who has joined any of the universities listed in Part Twofor the law degree programme before 1 May 1999. |
Entry Requirements into the Bachelor of Laws Programme
| ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION | MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENT |
|---|---|
|
2 Principal Passes |
|
2 Principal Passes |
|
5 UECs (B+) and 3 SPM credits (inclusive of English) or 8 UECs (B+) and credit in English at SPM level |
|
ATAR 80 |
|
Subject to case by case evaluation upon acceptance by University of London |
*Requirements for CLP:
- Min. 3 Credits (inclusive of Bahasa Malaysia) in SPM or its equivalent obtained in one sitting
- Min. 2 Principal Passes at STPM level or its equivalent obtained in one sitting
- At least a Lower Second Class honours law degree
| ENGLISH REQUIREMENT | |
|---|---|
| Local Student : | Credit (SPM / 1119 / UEC / O Levels examination) / Min. score of Band 4 in MUET |
| International Student : | Band 6 in IELTS; or a score of 213 (computer-based) or 79 (internet-based) or 550 (paper-based) in TOEFL |
Is it necessary to take SPM Sejarah when I have already completed IGCSE (I haven’t received my results yet) to study law?
Not necessary
Hi, I am a Malaysian studying law in Ireland and this is my second year in this course. I did a European Foundation Course (level 6) instead of A-Levels and i went straight into an Irish Institute for my degree, which path i should take to be qualified as a lawyer in Malaysia?
You have to apply to sit for the CLP
hi, can i know how you apply European Foundation Course? I am one of the spm candidates of 2020 and interested to pursue law.
Sorry, I don’t know
Hi, I took SPM and Canadian International Matriculation Programme (CIMP) as my Pre-U. Currently, im pursuing my law degree in Taylor’s University. Will I be eligible for the CLP examinations?
You can check with Taylor’s lecturers
I just completed my master of corporate governance. Thinking to get license that is related to law. Any shortcut to become a qualified lawyer? Please advise.
There are no short cuts to becoming a qualified lawyer
Hi, I am a qualified lawyer in Australia. Can I be admitted as a lawyer in Malaysia if I complete the QLTS exam which qualifies me as a solicitor of England and whales, and then do the 9 month pupilage in Malaysia?
You have to check with the Malaysian Bar and the Legal Profession Qualifying Board, Malaysia
Hello,I am twelve this year and I am thinking about studying law in the future so should I take SPM or IGCSE?
Either one is fine
Hi, just wondering if it is must to master bahasa melayu in order to become a lawyer in Malaysia. If I have a monash law degree in Australia.
Please check with the Legal Profession Qualifying Board, Malaysia.
hi there , just wanted to know if I have to take spm in bm if I’m a Malaysian as I did olevels.
A credit in BM is required by the Malaysian Bar to take the CLP exam
Hi, if I currently hold an Australian law degree. Do I need to be fluent in malay in order to qualify as a lawyer in Malaysia as I took IGCSE in high school and my foundation year in Australia.
Please check with the Legal Profession Qualifying Board, Malaysia.
hi actually I’m a PT3 student this year 2019.i want to be a lawyer is it good for me to taking arts for form 4.if i choose arts what subject should i must get credits .Please list out the subjects. thank u very much for your reply.and which collage should i choose to continue my pathway.i probably want in KL.
To study Law you will need to have credits in 5 subjects including English and BM. Any subjects are accepted to study Law.
Hi i wanted to know which colleges/universities will be the best of taking Law
Multimedia University (MMU), Taylor’s University, KDU College and HELP University
I wanna study law but I’m already 25, what’s the quickest pathway for me since I only have an SPM certificate in my name? 😭
There is no short cut. You will still have to take a Foundation, Degree and then the CLP
Hi, I have just finished my AS exam and would like to apply overseas universities. University of Durham is not on the list of degree qualifying for CLP exam. If I take Bar Vocational Training in the UK before coming back to Malaysia, would there be any problem?
Nope but best is to check with the Malaysian Bar
Hi there,
I am private sector employee in IT solution industry, holder of diploma in public admin, 40 years old, interested in taking bachelor degree law via part time study mode at UiTM Shah Alam.
What can u advise sir?
Best is to contact UiTM and ask them
Is there any other pathways instead of foundation,a-levels and STPM to pursue a law degree?
South Australian Matriculation
I just got my SPM results,personally I am deciding whether to enter STPM or Foundation in Law,but my question is,after my Pre-U,what is my following step until I can sit for my CLP? Is it to pursue a 3-year degree in Law in any public/private university?
After Pre-U, you will take the Law degree for 3 years and then only sit for the CLP.
Hey, should I take an A level first to get into a law degree? Please reply asap. Thank you.
Yes, you can
Hi. I already taking my degree study. So if I want to continue study in law degree, which certificate should I better showed, whether SPM, foundation or degree?
To study Law, you need STPM or A-Levels
I heard brickfield Asia college got foundation in law .what is foundation it is same like a level. Law can take how many years .if I don’t a level ,foundation can or not
As at 2019 the Malaysian Bar has allowed Foundation to be recognised for entry into the Law degree. Foundation is a Pre-U like the A-Levels and is 1 year in duration
Is that really important to take sejarah at form 6 if wants to take law
Any subject is recognised to pursue a law degree.
I am a PT3 graduated student which is studying in Rafflesia International and Private School.I want to be a lawyer in t career. So may I know if I choose for Art Stream , is it any affect or something ? because I am bad in science. Please reply me as soon as possible. Thank You very much.
If you plan on going for Law then taking Arts stream is the right choice.
Not a mention about public universities. Does this mean students who study in public universities aren’t qualified to practice law? Are they somehow on a lower level than the posh students studying in private colleges?
If you were smart enough to check that my blog is about Private Universities. No, they are not a lower level, just that the government doesn’t give enough spots to non-bumis so they have to go for private university education.
I want to become a lawyer and having a hard time choosing either going to STPM or A-level. Which is best path for me to choose to become a lawyer
If you have the finances to pay for a good college for A-Levels then go for that
I wanna study law. Is UEC or A Levels better? Its really hard to choose. I’m a SPM candidate 2016. Thanks!
To become a lawyer, you will need to take the CLP and the Malaysian Bar recognises A-Levels for entry. Furthermore, English is one of the most important aspects in becoming a lawyer and being in a predominantly Mandarin-speaking environment may not be the best place to prepare you. For more information on the A-Level colleges, you can email me at info@eduspiral.com with your full name and mobile number.
which course is suitable for me to become a lawyer ? study a-level or pre-u will be better? what is the exact qualification in academic need to become a lawyer?
A-Levels is needed to become a lawyer in Malaysia. Other external Pre-U may be accepted on a case-to-case basis.
hey i was thinking about taking the MUFY (Monash University Foundation Year) in Monash University where I will also pursue my degree course. And since I will be doing a foundation course instead of the A-levels, will i still be eligible to sit for the CLP? And is the CLP a Malaysian based programme or is it something international? Thank you!
The information is stated in the article. You can also check with the Malaysian Bar about the requirements for CLP.
Hey I was planning to take the MUFY( Monash University Foundation Year) at Monash which will be followed by the completion of my degree and since it’s a foundation programme will I still be able to sit for the CLP or is it irrelevant in this case?
The pathway is stated in the article
Do you have a list for UK uni recognize by msia ministry ?
No, we don’t.
Hi….I’m Eswary this year I’m sitting for SPM. But I already get my trial result..I got 5 credits ( 2A 2B 1C ) can I apply for collage to study law by using this result????
You need at least 5 credits in SPM including BM to study Law
I took IGCSE (O-Levels), referring to the picture above, it says a credit is needed for SPM BM. Does it mean I have to take SPM BM to be qualified in Malaysia as a lawyer?
No, it doesn’t apply to O-Levels
I’m a SPM candidate for this year and I’m thinking about taking law after SPM. I’m thinking about applying a scholarship. Can you suggest me any?
You have to wait after SPM and look at the newspapers for the scholarships. We only advise students on how to choose a course or university, not on scholarship applications.
what is the basic knowledge i should know about law as i m going to attend the interview??
I have no idea what interview you are going for, what your qualification is, etc. How to assist if the information given is so little? Furthermore, we assist students on choosing a course or university, not for interviews.
I was offered to Study in the US under Social Science; I really want to take up Law. Would this pose a problem?
Hmm….you want to study law and yet the degree you are going to pursue is Social Science, what do you think?? Go figure out what the Malaysian Bar would accept to qualify as lawyers in Malaysia.
Can foundation in arts take law degree?
Yes, you can take the Law degree but you cannot sit for the CLP to become a lawyer.
i have a contract with a layer week ago and i have given 25 % prepayment , if i cancel it , can i take prepayment ?
Read carefully, this is a blog on education not on your personal lawyer problems
what the career prospert be a lawyer?
Lawyers are still in demand in Malaysia