Evaluating the Options

As I've last mentioned, the prerequisite of the CLP is dependent on the qualification of a candidate. If you've yet to have started your undergraduate in law, it's a good time to contemplate not just on a law degree, but what type of law degree to undertake.

Let's first explore the some universities whose law graduates are barred from the CLP exams. One fine example is University Sultan Zainal Abidin; nice by name, but not recognized by the LPQB. You will see some law graduates who graduate there and out of gross ignorance, suddenly realize they will never ever become lawyers with that degree. Others includes the home-brew law courses offered by HELP and Taylors. This should however be distinguished from their external UK law degree programs which are recognized by the LPQB.

Next, there are law qualifications from universities  which are exempted from the CLP exams. This applies mainly to local universities. Prime examples includes University Malaya & University Kebangsaan Malaysia. There are a few others in the prescribed list of exemptions, nonetheless statistically vice amongst the list, University Malaya outranks the others, whereas Multimedia University(MMU), the only private university to date which has acquired exemption from the LPQB, appears to bottom the list somewhat. Ask not where I've got this data, it's just something which I've read somewhere before, and if I'm wrong in that, I retract what I've said. Nonetheless, I'm sure it's good to know, as it might well affect chances of employment to a certain extent. In addition to that, it appears those who have attained the Bar in UK are also exempted from the CLP Exams. Apparently the UK Bar is easier to pass than CLP, unfortunately it comes with a hefty pecuniary price.

Following that, there are universities whose law degrees are approved by the LPQB to sit for the CLP exams, and is mandatory prior to initiating pupillage. Most of you folks reading this will probably fall into this category, having attained a UK law degree without the UK Bar, or odd ones like me who graduated from New Zealand or Australia.

So there you go, the different categories of universities from those barred from taking CLP exams, those exempted, to those who qualify to sit for the CLP exam.

Now just a bit of an opinion here, especially if you're at a stage of not knowing which university to attend, the aforesaid would have given you a rough idea. But before you jump into conclusions of, oh so there are ways of avoiding CLP, I think its worth considering, that from what I've heard, those having attained the CLP qualification are  more desirable in the eyes of employers, given that CLP tests a candidate on procedural and somewhat practical legal skills, something  those who've attained a degree exempted from the CLP lacks. Of course if you're all for skipping the hassle of the CLP, but your STPM or equivalent are mediocre in grades, then MMU might be the safe choice, given its apparently easy entry of admission; notwithstanding there is this stigma or stereotype against the quality of MMU law graduates, not that I discriminate or condemn them in any way, although that is what I've heard and again, I have reservations on that.

Looking at the downside, many have whined and complained of their hellish experiences doing CLP. It's definitely at least an additional year of studies for CLP candidates as opposed to those exempted who would be doing their pupillage while the CLP fools kill themselves in a bundle of workload. I Remember on my 1st day of class, the typical questions cropping up in conversations with other CLP students would be: is this your first attempt? And as you mingle with the others, you will find some 'super veterans' who may have the chick to proudly proclaim it's their 5th or 6th time. Even today, as I type this where the results for the July 2013 CLP examinations were just only released, many of my friends whom are 2nd timers failed again, thus making it their 3rd time, if they decide to re-attempt CLP.

Nonetheless, personally for me, I've always told people around me that I will pass, and I did. It's not because I found the exam too easy, but I believe this is a matter of strategy, tactics, endurance, commitment , determination and faith; to survive this tribulation and ordeal. The CLP is a troublesome phase in life which can be hard, but is not impossible. My next post will discuss the general statistics on CLP and its difficulty, stay tune :)




References:
1.) http://www.fz.com/content/students-should-verify-law-programmes-status
2.) http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=86164
3.) http://malaysiansmustknowthetruth.blogspot.com/2013/07/dream-shatters-public-uni-offers.html