All about the CLP
For many law graduates wishing to practise law in Malaysia, one final examination hurdle still awaits - the Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP). The CLP is a compulsory examination for holders of law degrees from selected universities in the UK, Australia and New Zealand - as well as local private universities in Malaysia and Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) - to enable them to qualify to become an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya, ie to practise law in Malaysia. The examination is administered by the Legal Profession Qualifying Board (LQB) of Malaysia. The CLP must be passed before a law graduate may be allowed to undergo pupillage with a Malaysian law firm and be called to the Bar.History
The CLP was introduced in 1984 as a 'rescue programme' for Malaysians who did not qualify for the Bar in the UK, to enable them to practise in Malaysia. Later on, it became compulsory for all Malaysian holders of LLBs from overseas universities who were not called to the Bar in the UK. It is also a requirement for UUM law graduates.The examination
Candidates must sit five papers. Each paper is three hours long, with 15 minutes to read the questions. General PaperThis covers Malaysian tort and contract law. Candidates are required to demonstrate an understanding of the legal principles and case law. Candidates may also be required to draft Statements of Claim. Evidence
This covers the different rules governing admissibility of evidence in Malaysia. Students are required to apply legal principles to a variety of factual scenarios. Civil procedure
This covers rules of the High Court and related statutes. Candidates must demonstrate a familiarity with the application of specific rules governing different parts of civil procedure. Criminal procedure
This covers the Criminal Procedure Code and other statutes. Candidates must know the legal principles of criminal law, related legislation and different procedural rules in criminal matters. Professional practice
This paper is divided into several areas, with a common focus on the professional ethics and conduct, including the rules governing this conduct. The other parts of the paper include applications of the principles of land, bankruptcy and probate laws.
Passing, failing and resitting
- The candidate must pass all five papers in one sitting
- Candidates who fail more than one subject must resit all five papers in July or August the following year - unless the candidate scored less than 100 marks for all five papers, in which case the candidate will be barred from the next sitting
- If a candidate fails only one paper, then that paper can be retaken in November of that year, or on a date specified by the Board
- A candidate may resit the CLP (if eligible) a maximum of four times
Eligibility to sit for the CLP
To be eligible to sit for the CLP, candidates must hold a LLB from a university recognised by the LQB.Malaysia
Universiti Utara MalaysiaUnited Kingdom
University of BirminghamUniversity of Bristol
University of Cambridge
University of East Anglia
University of Essex
University of Exeter
University of Hertfordshire
University of Hull
University of Leeds
University of Leicester
University of Liverpool
University of London - King's College
University of London - London School of Economics and Political Science
University of London - Queen Mary and Westfield College
University of London - School of Oriental and African Studies
University of London - University College
University of Manchester
University of Northumbria at Newcastle
University of Nottingham
Nottingham Trent University
Oxford Brookes University
University of Oxford
Queen's University Belfast
University of Reading
University of Sheffield
University of Southampton
University College of Wales, Aberystwyth
University of Wales, Cardiff
University of Warwick
University of West of England in Bristol
Australia
Australian National University - LLBUniversity of Sydney - LLB
University of Adelaide - LLB
Monash University - LLB
University of Melbourne - LLB
University of Western Australia - LLB
Macquaire University - LLB
University of New South Wales - LLB
University of Queensland - LLB
University of Tasmania - LLB
University of Technology, Sydney - LLB
Bond University, Queensland - LLB
Murdoch University - LLB
Queensland University of Technology - LLB
New Zealand
University of Auckland - LLBUniversity of Canterbury - LLB
Victoria University of Wellington - LLB
University of Otago - LLB
University of Waikato - LLB
(Source: Malaysian Bar Council website)
CLP exemptions
Law graduates holding the designated degrees from the following universities, or who are members of the British institutions listed below, are exempt from taking the CLP as it is part of the course: Malaysia- Universiti Malaya Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
- Institut Teknologi MARA ADIL
- International Islamic University Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
- Universiti Kebangsaan Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
- University of Singapore Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
- National University of Singapore Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
- University of Malaya in Singapore Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
- The Inner Temple Barrister-at-Law
- The Middle Temple Barrister-at-Law
- Gray's Inn Barrister-at-Law
- Lincoln's Inn Barrister-at-Law
- The Law Society Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Judicature England and Wales.
Location and date of the CLP exam
The examination is conducted in July or August every year at the University of Malaya campus in Kuala Lumpur. The resit is held in October or November for those who failed only one paper. The dates are set every year by the LQB.The cost of taking the CLP
As of 2004, the total fee to register for the CLP is RM4,000, payable to the LQB.This comprises the following:
- The registration fee (RM3,000) which covers four attempts to sit the CLP, so in case of failure the candidate need not pay another RM3,000 to take the exam in the next sitting
- The examination fee (RM1,000) which fee must be paid each time the candidate attempts the CLP.
