Complete Guide to Study Law in Malaysia

You will be entering an exciting field that is affluent in opportunities if you are considering to study Law from Malaysia. You can focus on choosing from many areas if you are planning to study Law in Malaysia. No matter wherever you are in the world, there will always be a demand for Lawyers to provide legal services to an individual, a group of people, and or an organisation. Studying Law at Malaysian University will teach you the aspects of human life. It sharpens your mind and strengthens your understanding of the full range of humanities and social sciences.

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Why should you Study Law in Malaysia?

After you finish studying law from Malaysia you can choose to practice Law in Malaysia or anywhere in the world. The Law study in Malaysian University will prepare you to introduce you to many opportunities. There are many reasons to become a lawyer and hence we have listed a few below :

Prestige:
An attractive career and with loads of prestige, a lawyer has always been on the top-notch on a career path. The top University for Law in Malaysia also adds up to your status as well as the heavy paycheck makes a lot of difference in your lifestyle.  An authoritative attitude over others, as well as professional status, ticks the chart. 

Helping Others:
The lawyers work with defending the innocent and help low-income people. However, this is not the case with all the lawyers, especially the ones working with the Top notch Law firms who typically have big clients who are ready to pay anything to win. 

Intellectual Challenge:
It is the most intellectually rewarding job on the planet. Using your Intellectual skill to think and work with crucial matters such as forming a multinational organisation merges and solves its issues when arises. 

Versatile Skills:
After graduating if you decide not to practice Law, it still opens a lot of open doors to new opportunities and serves as a ladder to a new career. The skills you learn while studying Law in Malaysia can serve  you well in many careers in any field. 

Global Influence:
Lawyers have the right to make changes in society. For decades lawyers have stood in front of the center, they write the laws, rules & regulations which hold influential positions in government. 

What are the career options for a Law Degree?

There are many career paths you can consider once you complete your Graduate Degree in Law from Malaysia: Few are listed below:-

Private Practice:
Working with a law firm is probably the more traditional way to work in this field. You will work in the role of a legal assistant or an associate. You shall be promoted to Senior Legal Assistant or Senior Associate after you complete a few years of service in the firm. 

In-House Career:
A candidate could also alternatively attach oneself to corporations like financial institutions, public-listed companies, and multinational organizations are a few that require a corporate lawyer. You can work as a Legal Officer or a Legal Advisor in a corporation's legal department. 

Government Agencies:
There are many positions that one can work in the public sector under the government. You can work for the Attorney General’s Chambers, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commision to name a few. 

Academic:
If you think you love academically inclined and love researching more about the in and out of the laws then the perfect job for you after studying Law in Malaysia would be as a lecturer in the law faculty of institutes of higher education. As a lecturer you can nurture the next generation of law students and help them in moulding their future. 

Many different fields in law can be pursued with a Law Degree, however, we will cover the more popular ones below. 

• Criminal Law: Working for the individuals and companies defence who are charged with crimes. 
• Civil Litigation Law: A dispute which has sought money legally or specific performance rather than a criminal lawsuit. 
• Tort Law: Specializes in lawsuits for repaying a mourning party for any damages or injuries that occurred. 
• Tax Law: It involves matters with taxation on a personal, commercial and governmental level. 
• Corporate/Commercial Law: This law provides all types of legal advice and service to companies and organisations whether small or big which could include bankruptcy, and insolvency and or buying and selling of businesses. 

There are many other civil litigations which include:

• Accident & Personal Injury Law
• Construction Law
• Environmental Law
• Employment Law<
• Intellectual Property Law
• Land Law

How long is a Law Degree?

After completing your studies in STPM/ Matriculation/ A- Levels, you will need more than 3 years to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from Malaysia. After completing the Undergraduate degree you can proceed to study for the CLP ( Certification in Legal Practice) exam which will take approximately 9 months to complete. Once you have appeared for all required examinations, you will have to attend the Nine-Month Pupilage before you are certified to practice as a lawyer.

How long is a Bachelor’s degree in law?

The duration of studying LLB at Malaysia University depends on whether it includes a professional year or not. In the professional year, you will have to prepare for the CLP exam, which is included in your curriculum so that students don't have to take it after they have graduated with their Bachelor's Degree from a University in Malaysia for Law. 

If you have not included the CLP exam in your course then you have to take this course up after you get your Graduate degree in Law from Malaysia. The CLP course is for one whole year, which makes your study of 4 years if included in your curriculum. 

In General, a bachelor’s degree programme is of :

• 3 years if the programme does not include a professional year
• 4 years if the programme includes a professional year

Requirements to Study Law

a) What subjects are needed to study law?

There are no mandatory subjects to study law.

If your grades in SPM  are good (or equivalent) in the following subjects, the law may be right for you:

• English
• History

As for A-Level, STPM or equivalent, the suggested subjects are:

• Mathematics
• Economics
• Law
• English Literature
• Accounting

What are the Qualities one requires to study Law?

• Analytical ability
• Attention to detail
• Integrity 
• Persuasiveness 
• People skills

b) Diploma in Law requirements

The general entry requirements for a Diploma in Law:

• SPM (or equivalent): Minimum 3Cs

c) Law Degree requirements

You will need to meet the entry requirements and complete a pre-university programme in order to Pursue a Degree in Law from Malaysia

• A-Level: Minimum of 2Es
• STPM: Minimum of 2Cs
• Australian Matriculation: Minimum of ATAR 50
• Foundation in Law, Arts or Science: Minimum CGPA of 2.00
• Diploma: Minimum CGPA of 2.00
• UEC: Minimum of 5Bs

Topping that, you may also need to meet these additional entry requirements:

• Minimum of 5Cs in SPM or equivalent
• Minimum of C in Bahasa Melayu at SPM level (or credit in “Malay” or “Malay as a Second Language” at IGCSE) to be exempted from the Bahasa Malaysia Qualifying Examination
• MUET Band 4 or IELTS Band 6.0

The point to be noted here is that a Law Degree requires you to have a good command of the English Language and Malay. You have to be sure that your reading, writing, speaking and understanding skills in both these languages are in top priority before you opt to study Law in Malaysia

Take Note: Be sure to check if the programme you are registering for is accepted and  recognised by the Legal Profession Qualifying Board (LPQB) and accredited by the Malaysian Qualification Agency (MQA).

d) CLP Malaysia requirements

to qualify as an advocate and solicitor in Malaysia, i.e. to practise as a lawyer in Malaysia, you will need to complete a professional law exam called the Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP). This Law exam is conducted by the Legal Profession Qualifying Board of Malaysia.

To qualify for the CLP exam, you need to meet the following requirements:

• Minimum of 3Cs in SPM (or equivalent), and
• Minimum of 2Es in A-Level or 2Cs in STPM (or equivalent), and
• A recognised 3-year Law Degree with passes in 6 core subjects and graduated within 6 years of initial registration with the university

From 2021 onwards, the LPQB has increased its requirements for the CLP:

• Minimum of 5Cs in SPM (or equivalent), and
• Two principal passes in STPM or equivalent (i.e. a minimum of 2Es in A-Level; or 2Cs in STPM; or 2Bs in UEC; or pass in Foundation in Law / Arts / Science), and

A recognised 3-year Law Degree

How to choose the law school which is best for you?

Here are a few pointers which will help you decide which University you should choose to study Law in Malaysia:

Location: You will need to decide if you want to live on the campus or a rented apartment outside the campus. Remember the studies of law isn't easy, so your time to commute should not be much between your stay and the University. 

Tuition Fees: You will need to check the cost of the law programme in Malaysia is within your budget which is an important aspect of your higher education. You can also check for scholarships from the university you have selected. 

Reputation: You are recommended to choose a University which has good rankings among all other Universities which will assure you the quality of study and the knowledge of the legal aspects you gain. 

Other than practising law in the courtroom, lawyers can find jobs in other areas such as:

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

How much does it cost to study law?

Just like the entry requirements, Universities charge differently for their Bachelor degrees in Malaysia. Tuition Fees are much affordable in Public Universities than in Private Universities.

The price range according to the type of university is as below:

• Public universities – RM 4,000 – 7,200
• Private universities – RM 60,000 – 100,000

What subjects will be law study in Malaysia?

A University ensures that a student has a mix of Theoretical Knowledge and Practical experience too which makes the University of Malaysia for Law as the best one to study at. 

Here are a few topics you might cover in a general law degree programme:

• Legal Methods
• English and Malaysian Legal System
• International Human Rights and Humanitarian law
• Criminal Procedure
• Mooting (simulation of a court proceeding)