I've Completed My Law Degree-What Next?
Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP)
Worth Considering If:
You are a foreign law graduate keen on practising law in Malaysia.
The CLP is a 9-month long postgraduate course and professional examination taken by law graduates to qualify as a lawyer in Malaysia.
The examination is conducted by the Legal Professional Qualifying Board (LPQB) of Malaysia (pursuant to the Legal Profession Act 1976). The LPQB allows foreign law graduates from recognised universities in United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand (and those with an external law degree from local institutions) to sit for the CLP.
Candidates are required to sit for 5 subjects- These include Criminal Procedure, Civil Procedure, Evidence, the General Paper and the Professional Paper.
The Chartered Governance Qualification Programme (CGQP)
Worth Considering If:
If you are interested in corporate governance and administrative affairs.
The CGQP (previously known as the ICSA Preparatory Programme) is a professional course focused on training future governance and administrative professionals.
The programme standards and qualifications are determined by MAICSA, the Malaysian Institutes of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (MAICSA) which is an affiliate body of the Institute for Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA), UK.
The CGQP is delivered on a modular basis and is assessed via a combination of examinations and coursework. It takes over a 2-year period on a part-time basis.
The main advantage for law graduates is the fast track route to complete this course with 10 exemptions!
This means law graduates only have to complete 2 Subjects via assignment (ie Malaysian Taxation and Financial Accounting) and 4 subjects by examination (ie Corporate Governance, Corporate Administration, Corporate Financial Management, and Corporate Secretaryship).
Master Of Business Administration (MBA)
Worth Considering If: If you are interested to venture into the corporate world.
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a prestigious postgraduate professional degree that provides law graduates with a wide range of skills in operational management, strategic planning, and leadership skills. It covers a variety of business principles (like Accounting, Finances, Human Resource Management, etc.) to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the corporate and commercial world. One can enjoy multiple study options (either one or a two year programme) on a full-time or part-time basis.
Law graduates with an MBA have an edge over the rest in a corporate environment especially in Human Resource, Sales & Marketing and Management. The flexible nature of the programme in itself allows working adults to complete the course at their own pace. Assessments are made through a combination of assignments, presentations, and examinations.
Master in Business- Digital Tranformation (MBDT)
Worth Considering If: You intend to be business savvy and future-ready in the digital economy.
Similar to the MBA, the Master in Business Digital Transformation (MBDT) also provides law graduates with enhanced digital knowledge to meet the demands of i4.0 (Fourth Industrial Revolution).
With an emphasis on subjects such as Business Analytics, AI in Business, FinTech and Blockchain for Business, law graduates are equipped to be industry relevant in addition to traditional business skills. Study at your own pace for this 18-month programme with assessments done via assignments and examination.
Professional Diploma in Arbitration (PDIA)
Worth Considering If: You enjoy resolving disputes minus the hassle of going to court.
If you don’t fancy following the conventional route of practising as a lawyer, then you might want to consider taking the PDIA.
Given the current demand for settling disputes out of court, the PDIA provides law graduates with the relevant knowledge and practical skills to become an arbitrator.
The programme takes around 5 to 6 weekends to complete (on a part time basis) and assessments are wholly exam-based.
No matter which path you choose to pursue after your LLB, the one thing you never have to worry about is a lack of options. Just be sure research your options in terms of cost and what suits your needs and goals. Good luck!
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