Law Students: Went to law school but rather not practice law?

Is it true that more and more Malaysian students would rather not study law? and even if they did, they would not practice law? and even if they did practice law, it would only be for a season?

I am thinking about studying law - but I am not sure. If there is anyone out there who can advice me on whether or not I should do law, its benefits, set backs etc. Is it still a good option? Don't we have enough lawyers already? Please let me know. I would really appreciate any advice I can get. Thanks.

Yes, it's very true in KL and Klang Valley.

Legal profession is only profitable for a law student who has these background.

1. Rich family background
2. Influential family background
3. Well-connected friends

Personally, its not a good option if you plan to practice in conventional areas of practice i.e. Banking, Conveyancing, Litigation. If you want to make money, don't do law. Go be a doctor or a vet. Why?

Because when a lawyer request for a legal fee, public will ask for a discount.
If a doctor ask for a medical fee, everyone pays it & no question asks.

So, hope it helps.

In a way it is true. Many entered because of some ideals or for money and found both lacking when their chambering period started. I was told if you work 3 years or more and you're good at what you do, you'll definitely find  a good living. And with some established connections, you will get more if you have your own firm. Again it might be true you must be of the 3 qualities listed above to succeed but FRANKLY, most lawyers I know who are doing really well started out with no connections whatsoever, except for a determination of steel and the intelligence of a super genius. You must be willing to work hard I guess, as I am willing to do so now.

But frankly, just make sure you got your priorities right when choosing your career. It's good to base it upon money and how much you'll earn but at the end of the day, do you have some curiosity about the law? Do you want to stand before a judge, be fearless, be thick skinned, don't expect much thanks and do your job? Like a doctor, do you want to help and have a genuine desire to help? I hope you have such high ideals and I hope you won't be disappointed at the end of your chmabering period. You're who you make yourself to be. I am sure those rich connected new lawyers thanks to their fathers must have at least a father/mother who was once like us all; started out with nothing and made something for ourselves. Don't be discouraged.

And good luck.

I agreed, nobody are born to be a lawyer...so just do your best for your career. and of course if you can establish your connection well enough with "outside World". It will not be a problem for you..

Good luck anyway!

Most importantly your mindset must be correct.  Think twice and wise of the purpose of reading law, is it to make good money or ready to offer helping hands to those needy?  A lot you shall have pondered over before making your decision.  I know someone who is not from rich family, have neither well connected circle of friends nor influential family background, worst still she couldn't clear her final year after several attempts, of course, with her persistence and determination she did it finally.  Guess what, she is not only love those tough jobs dealing with nasty clients standing before judges fearlessly to uphold the dignity of the profession.  I admire her for doing legal aids as many as she could to help the needy in which she gets peanut.  Friend, this is not a myth but a truth, the reason she is doing all these because she knows well what she wants is not money satisfaction, she knows well what's her initial purpose of reading law. 

Don't be discouraged over the current general situation, everyone of us has the duty and right to rectify the mistake if one sees it.  Think twice and wise...Good Luck and God bless.

The Chinese Old Saying goes "Books by themselves have a Golden House".

If you possess the characteristic of "Take Pride of Performance" in whatever you do, you will succeed in any future endeavor. "Self Confrontation Reaps Progress and Results".

If want to acquire the Aided Advantage over Any Other Existing and Qualified Lawyers in Malaysia, I would advise you to Concentrate on your Multiple Language Learning Effort and Process like:

Fluency in Written and Spoken Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin and Various Chinese Dialects or even Indian if you have the opportunity to learn them all.

Happy Learning.

@Stan,

A law degree makes one a very versatile person.More than any other degree, a graduate in law has a lot of options besides getting into practice. It is not right to say you must be rich and have the right connections to do well in practice. It gives you perhaps a head start that is all. Many of course squander it. What is important is that you have a passion for whatever you do.

If you wish to practice you need to be ahead of the pack. Do your research and go to court if you are in litigation. All you need is a break and once you get it work on maintaining it with high standards not only in acquiring knowledge  but also personal discipline. Attend court and see for yourself the disgraceful way some of our lawyers conduct themselves.They take on too many cases, seem to be always looking forward to obtain postponements as they are not ready, treat their clients as idiots and have little time for their clients. Some of the junior lawyers who practice this are actually doing so at their bosses request.I mean you are given a file in the morning when the case is fixed for hearing and there is little you can do.If you have such a boss get out in haste but not without giving your boss a dressing down for the ridiculous way in which he runs his office.

Be computer savvy and have a human approach in dealing with your staff and clients and you are on the road to success. Do networking by being a member of an organisation like Toastmaster's for example where you can network, improve on your speaking skills and personal development or the Malaysian Institute of Management or the Malaysian Institute of Human Resources. You can help these organisations in providing tea talks lectures on areas that are of interest to the public and in the process earn a name for yourself.

If you are into conveyancing or runner matters you need good marketing strategies... and if you do not like what it involves get out of it. Explore new areas like industrial law, patent and copy rights, IT. shipping and any branch of law where there is a dearth of expertise. Be an expert in procedures and the law.

There are a whole host of options available to the law graduate who does not wish to practice.You can be an HR manager, industrial relations manager, IT person with a bit of learning- an MBA will help, insurance working with NGO's or even teach law if you have a flair for it.

So do not be discouraged, take up law and enjoy the freedom it gives you.

iradvice

Puan Ira's advice is timely and perhaps worthy of your attention. I hasten to add a word of caution about heeding the advice of some of the others. It is not the spelling errors which is quite common when bashing out on a worn out keyboard. It is the lack of a coherent well thought out sentence that betrays a weak untrained mind.

A Law degree remains one of the broadest disciplines in any educational pursuit. It prepares you for a career in any industry, government and education itself. Lawyers or law degree holders are sought after in industry, where many engage an in house lawyer to sort out their day to day problems which previously was never given serious thought till a problem arose.

Politicians need lawyers like a good garden needs the rain. Many fail to understand that one of the great assets any worthwhile politician has is his legal advisor. Lawyers in the current rush for fame and fortune are mainly holders of law degrees and their vocational training. Many more sadly replicate the poor habits of an old drunken master whose main concern is his/ her prestige within the community and their disproportionate remuneration to their efforts.

You don't have to be Perry mason. he is fiction. You need to have good listening and research skills and of course the ability to draft and speak coherently and logically. I am surprised often to find lawyers from Malaysia and Australia struggling to grapple with issues. The result is a win by default for the other side. And often mistaken for a genius of a victory by the other side who should have lost.

The approach taken by lawyers is critical. Their rapport with clients and understanding client expectations and mitigating these are equally critical. Many take a hand over fist approach to their work and demand money, do a slip shod job and then walk away from it. Many more should not be in practice. They blame the Bumi Putra system for their failures. I then have to read their communication in say English to discover that even if there was no Bumi Putra system these complainants would have failed.

There is no substitute for hard work. A good law degree requires hard work and diligence. Lawyers are required to be articulate, careful and observant. Most lawyers of the past 10 years in Malaysia are firstly admitted to the Bar at various Hotels and are not as keen about their duty to the Bar in court where they are officers which is where the problem arises.

When an industry is so sharply divided as far as quality of service is concerned, it could well offer you opportunities if you are quality conscious. There is a dearth of good lawyers everywhere. There is not shortage of lawyers though. Good luck in your studies whatever field you chose.

Human are born with two eyes and two ears, so there is no harm to look and listen to more supplementary comments.

"Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover".

"With the Advent of Electricity, Man has Phase Out the Use of Oil Lamp; No Matter How Functional They Are".

Forum is no place for Self-restraint nor Self-esteem; but Rather Actual Improvisation at the Right Place and At the Right Time.

Happy Learning.

Just remember, those who always self-imposed themselves as professionals are the real unprofessionals all the time, because they lack Common Sense and mere Jargons all the way.

Trade Jargons have no place in this Realistic World you are dealing with, and should be retained for the "Herd of its own Breed" and "Breed of its own Herd".

Man's ability to reason makes him different from the animals.

KISS -- Keep It Simple St.... (professionals)?

Happy learning.

See not only with your eyes, for they see limitation; but rather seek with understanding, and you'll find much more.