THE STAR, TUESDAY 27 AUGUST 2019

COURSE FOCUS

Grooming employable lawyers

RECOGNITION for the HELP
University Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
Hons degree by the Malaysian
Legal Profession Qualifying Board
enables the university’s Faculty of
Law and Government to redouble
its efforts to groom lawyers of
quality and distinction.
Graduates of the HELP LLB
programme are now eligible to
pursue the Certificate in Legal
Practice (CLP) to qualify as legal
practitioners.
The three-year programme is
taught by the same team of law
academics who have nurtured
students to consistently achieve
first-class honours results at
leading law schools in the United
Kingdom under the UK Degree
Law Transfer Programme. The
emphasis is on Malaysian law with
comparative analyses of other
jurisdictions and was crafted with
the faculty’s mission of grooming
employable lawyers in mind.
The faculty achieved this
objective through a combination of
excellent pedagogical skills, close
tutorial support and pastoral
care for students, as well as
collaboration and input from
leading legal minds both local and
from the UK in the design of the
curriculum and course content. It
also incorporated two compulsory
modules emphasising lawyering
skills. These modules, Legal Skills
and Legal Practice, introduce
students to fundamental skills in
their second and third years and
are aimed at fulfilling the legal
profession’s demand for competent
and immediately employable law
graduates by imparting skills such
as legal research, drafting,
advocacy, client counselling,
opinion writing, negotiation and
mooting.
These two modules are an
essential component of the
faculty’s pedagogical excellence
HELP’s law students
will be equipped with
soft skills that will
help them in their
careers, including
workshops in
resume writing and
accounting for lawyers
and seminars in
business, economics,
communication and
psychology.
because they are taught by
experienced legal practitioners.
They are also graded to ensure that
effective learning takes place.
“As a fresh graduate back in the
early 1990s when I embarked on
my pupillage, I was so lost. I had a
degree in hand, but it did not
prepare me for the real world,”
says faculty dean Vasantha
Punniamoorthy.
“I did not even know the legal
lingo that lawyers spoke. Our
students now will never face the
same problem. They are groomed
and armed with the knowledge
and skills for legal practice.”
A new strategy in the faculty’s
mission to groom employable
lawyers is the introduction of the
Legal Professional Training Course
(LPTC) in September. It is aimed at
preparing graduates who did not
have the opportunity to pursue the
Bar Professional Training Course
(BPTC) in the UK and who will be
sitting for the CLP exams in
Malaysia by providing them with
practical training.
Students entering the legal seminars in business, economics, Industrial Revolution and the
profession must not only know the communication and psychology. digital era. All our students are
theory, they must also understand “They cannot be expected to only also given the opportunity to
how it applies. This is only possible know the law,” says Vasantha. do the Certificate in Data and
by giving them sufficient practical “Law must be read as an integrated Business Analytics course at no
training for each module of the discipline, with economics and additional cost.”
CLP. LPTC students will also have business. Graduates must be able Its next intake is in September.
the opportunity to attend dinners to understand the law and ethics
with members of the Malaysian to cope with the n For more information on
Bar and Bench, an experience that rapid changes and the law programmes at HELP
has been the tradition of the BPTC
in the UK.
challenges ushered
in by the Fourth
University, call Amir Syah or
Frances at 016-984 9038.
“Students who were unable to
pursue the BPTC are welcome to
join the LPTC at HELP,” says
Vasantha. “You will have the
opportunity to prepare for the CLP
in a practical learning
environment for a fraction of the Vasantha
cost.” Punniamoorthy.
The faculty provides a variety of
other learning and practical
experiences designed to strengthen
students’ competencies. It
publishes two law journals: HELP
Law Review and HELP Student Law
Journal. These act as incubators of
knowledge and ideas to sharpen
legal thinking and encourage
research, writing and publishing
amongst faculty members, students
and members of the legal
fraternity.
Students learn the art of legal
writing, reporting and
presentation as essential tools
to facilitate the creation and
dissemination of legal
thought and ideas. This is
important to sustain law as
a vibrant and living system
of thought, philosophy,
body of knowledge and,
above all, as a practice and
profession.
HELP’s law students
will also be equipped with
soft skills that will help
them in their careers,
including workshops in
resume writing and
accounting for lawyers and

Choosing an unconventional path

ERNI, 22, found her passion in
global affairs and debate in
secondary school. When it came to
choosing a university degree, she
knew she wanted to get into the
social sciences but her parents
were less sure.
Erni recalls that they continued
to worry about her future
prospects well into her third year,
yet she forged ahead, thanks, in
part, to her sister.
“My sister studied finance in
Singapore. Quite a traditional
path, but she hated working in a
bank and after a few years, she
quit. Fast forward to today, she
works as a full-time freelance
calligrapher.”
Her sister’s experience
propelled Erni’s own foray into
the social sciences, convincing her
to follow her interests.
“I decided on the social sciences
because it covered a range of
important skills,” says Erni.
“Although you do have a
specialisation, the breadth of
studies helps ensure you can go
into many fields in the future.”
Today, Erni is a data processing
specialist at Nielsen, a line of work
she never expected to find herself
in. Nevertheless, her combined
specialisations in global studies
and communication meant she
was well skilled for a job that
requires quick thinking and
constant communication with
international counterparts.
For Kimberly Wan Mei Wah, 24,
it was these intangible skills that
she found most useful in her
work, first at a health and
wellness company, and then as
chief executive and co-founder of
startup Otomate Me. Like Erni,
the versatility of her arts degree
soon became apparent.
Now running her own business,
Wan says the skills she finds most
valuable are the ability to learn
from various fields and to keep
learning.
Inspiration was also key to
forging an unexpected career
path for graduate Puah Sze Ning,
35. Now programmes manager at
private foundation MyKasih,
Puah’s passion for advocacy and
community development began at
Monash University.
On an annual study trip,
Puah and a small group of
communication students visited
an orang asli community.
“At the time, I expressed
interest in the topic. Dr Yeoh Seng
Guan, my lecturer, recommended
that I intern with the Centre for
Orang Asli Concerns. From there,
I started getting more involved in
advocacy work for orang asli
communities.”
Over the years, she’s continued
to work with community
development organisations
including the United Nations
Development Programme, bringing
with her the passion and
experience first cultivated at
university.
While career outcomes for arts
programmes may not be as
immediately identifiable as in
degrees in business or the sciences,
the varied experiences of these
Monash alumni demonstrate that
the arts and social sciences have
much to offer if one is willing to
follow an unconventional path.
n For more information on the
programmes at the School of Arts
and Social Sciences at Monash
University Malaysia, visit www.
monash.edu.my/arts
2 Hospitality, Law, Teaching & Mass Communications
Finding flexibility
in a rigid field
By NGEH CHEE YEN
IN Malaysia, you can practise as a lawyer
once you earn your Certificate in Legal
Practice (CLP) or the Bar Professional
Training Course (BPTC) and called to the bar.
However, if you find yourself with a law
degree but without an intention to practise
law, you can count yourself lucky. While
studying law usually leads to a career in law,
the truth is not as rigid as the nature of the
field.
A law degree is actually flexible in the job
market, as law is required in whatever field
or industry you choose to delve in.
Upholding the law, one step at a
time
Eugena Ng, who runs her own law firm,
has no regrets studying law. A lawyer of five
years, she chose law because it
enabled her to be aware of her rights and
responsibilities as a Malaysian while also
allowing her to understand the reasoning
behind laws and regulations.
Though life in law can present challenges,
Ng sees them as learning opportunities, such
as finding out how to mitigate unpreventable
circumstances while working under
pressure. Besides that, she believes that
THE STAR, TUESDAY 27 AUGUST 2019
people you surround yourself with dictates
your experiences as well.
“During my chambering period, I tended
to hit a snag either in court or when
dealing with clients. However, with the
assistance and guidance of senior lawyers,
friends and the mantra ‘no pain, no gain’, I
was able to learn from the obstacles I
encountered and complete my
chambering.”
Ng recognises that passion helps one to
stay strong, as it is not easy to become a
legal practitioner and practise for a long
time.
She says, “Like any university subject,
studying law has its ups and downs.
However, if you’re interested in the subject
and can motivate yourself to work sensible
hours, it would definitely be positive. It is a
fantastic subject to study.”
For now, Ng aims to grow and expand
her legal firm and offer legal services to the
needy. However, she thinks there is still a
lot for her to learn to be a good lawyer.
“The field of law is complex, and it is
almost impossible to know everything
pertaining to the ins and outs of law, even
though society will expect that of you. It is
crucial to keep enriching and adding value
to ourselves.”
> TURN TO PAGE 4
THE STAR, TUESDAY 27 AUGUST 2019 Hospitality, Law, Teaching & Mass Communications 3

The workforce of tomorrow

WHEN it comes to employment,
modern graduates face a challenge
unlike anything faced by the
generations before them.
According to the McKinsey Global
Institute, up to 800 million workers
worldwide will lose their jobs by
2030 and replaced by robotic
automation. The study of 46
countries and 800 occupations
found that up to one-fifth of the
global workforce will be affected.
However, the same report notes
that hundreds of millions of new
jobs will be born in response to
new technological innovations.
At Quest International University
Perak (QIU), the focus is on
creating employees who will not
only survive but thrive in this
employment climate. The goal is to
develop graduates who become
prime job market targets once they
step off the convocation stage.
“Employers want to hire
candidates who have the education
and skills to make an immediate
impact in an organisation,” says
QIU chief operating officer
Nicholas Goh.
“The job market will be filled
with candidates who all have
similar qualifications. It is hands-
on skills and adaptability that will
set our students apart. QIU’s
programmes are designed to reflect
industry demands and the goal is
to create graduates who are
immediately job-ready.”
A prime example of this is the
university’s new fluid curriculum
concept for two engineering
programmes – the Bachelor of
Electronics Engineering
(Communication) with Honours
and the Bachelor of Mechatronics
Engineering with Honours. Under
this curriculum, students undergo
a yearly industrial attachment at
prominent multinational
companies.
The same principle extends to
QIU’s culinary arts programme,
where students have access to a
state-of-the-art kitchen, in-house
bakery and fine dining restaurant
to polish their professional skills.
QIU’s industry-relevant
programme exposes students to
the real-world culinary
experience.
The modern curriculum used
by QIU’s Faculty of Medicine is
augmented by state-of-the-art
laboratories and infrastructure,
where students can hone the skills
they need to perform in the high-
pressure world of modern
medicine.
QIU’s Bachelor of Medicine &
Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
programme is listed in the World
Directory of Medical Schools. The
university is also an approved
official centre for the United
States Medical Licensing
Examination training. QIU
medical graduates can enter
residency or fellowship looking for a rich student life and
programmes in Canada and the the opportunity to learn under the
US that are accredited by the best academics, QIU is what you
Accreditation Council for Graduate seek. Join them on your quest for
Medical Education. greatness.
QIU’s MBBS programme is
accredited by the Malaysian n For more information, call
Medical Council and Malaysian 05-249 0500 or visit www.qiup.edu.
Qualifications Agency and my
recognised by the Health Ministry.
The same programme has also
been accredited by several medical
councils across South Asia.
The university’s Faculty of
Business and Management is
a member of the Association
to Advance Collegiate
Schools of Business, and
QIU is also a member of
the International
Association of
Universities, and
Association of
Commonwealth
Universities.
Should you be

TAR UC’s tourism programmes are delivered via lectures as well as

local and international field trips.

Tourism programme
with industry emphasis
TOURISM has long been
recognised as an important
engine of growth for Malaysia.
In 2017, tourism made up 14.9%
of Malaysia’s economy and going
forward, the industry is set to
welcome 30 million foreign
tourists.
The industry also opens up
employment opportunities as
the number of employees
involved in tourism industry has
risen to 3.4 million in 2017 from
1.5 million in 2005.
Tunku Abdul Rahman
University College (TAR UC)
offers tourism programmes with
the aim of developing the
required human capital to
achieve the country’s goal for its
tourism industry. It offers both
bachelor’s and diploma
programmes – the three-year
Bachelor of Tourism
Management (Hons) and two-
year Diploma in Tourism
Management.
The programmes are taught
by industry practitioners who
have extensive industry
experience and emphasis is
placed on developing students’
interpersonal, communication
and critical thinking skills,
which are highly sought after in
the tourism industry. The
programmes are delivered via
lectures, class discussions, case
studies, local and international
field trips and industrial
attachments, to ensure students
develop a deeper understanding
of the industry.
“What drew me to tourism
management at TAR UC is its
affordable fees and good
reputation in the industry,” says
Teoh Sui Yoke, a Bachelor of
Tourism Management (Hons)
graduate.
“In terms of the programme
itself, it is very helpful for me to
learn relevant subjects such as
Inbound Tour Business and
Tourism Product and
Destination Development. A
highlight of the Tourism Product
and Destination Development
subject is a study tour to
Langkawi, which provided a
different way of learning the
subject matter as we took part
in various tour activities.”
Chai Jia Qi, a Bachelor of
Tourism Management (Hons)
programme student, says
studying tourism management
has helped her better appreciate
the tourism industry.
“My learning is further
enhanced by the facilities
provided for tourism
management students. For
instance, I appreciate the
opportunity to use the Amadeus
Ticketing System, which helps
me better understand the details
of the Airline Reservation and
Ticketing subject.
“As this system is widely
used by tour operators around
the world, having prior
experience in the system is
certainly a competitive
advantage for me when I start
my career in the tourism
industry.”
Attractive scholarships are
available on the basis of
academic merit and sibling
discount for qualified students.
n For more information, visit
www.tarc.edu.my
4 Hospitality, Law, Teaching & Mass Communications
Taking a different path
> FROM PAGE 2
The law of melodic resonance
Wong Seow Hui, a music teacher and
Bachelor of Classical Music final-year
student, had her own reasons for choosing
to read law. She says, “I wanted to
challenge myself to achieve more in life.
Besides that, I wanted to uphold justice
and help the needy. And finally, my
parents were supporting me through law
school.”
However, life in the litigation field
proved disappointing for Wong, prompting
her to switch to her other passion: music.
Wong
Seow Hui.
During her nine months of chambering in
the litigation department, she realised that
defending dishonest clients did not rest
well with her aspirations of upholding
justice for the needy.
“These situations made me
uncomfortable, so I decided to cease
practising after being called to the bar.
Music is my passion and I enjoy teaching
as it is a fulfilling role that enables me to
influence and mould the future of my
students.”
As to how law training has helped her
now, she feels that she has strengthened
her intellectual skills, which include
critical thinking, reasoning, analysis and
problem-solving.
In the end, she advocates for passion,
saying, “You always have a choice to do
what you love and are talented in.
Having training in law doesn’t limit
us to only practising law. Instead, it
provides us with a variety of
career choices beyond the legal
field.”
Colouring in bleak
and white
For Lavanyah Ann
Fernandez, the choice of
law was one out of the
two choices given by her
parents besides
teaching. She, of course,
was inspired to be the
next Mike Ross from legal
drama Suits. However,
after earning her law
degree, she decided to
switch paths. She explains,
“Law lacked the creativity
I craved. It was like living Eugena Ng.
in a very black, white and
THE STAR, TUESDAY 27 AUGUST 2019
grey world. Joy in all paths
“However, to me, writing was like coming
alive through colours, which was why I
knew that if I was going to do something for
Whether you choose the path to the bar or
something else, your happiness and passion
the rest of my life, I might as well do lead the way in the end.
something that I can wake up to everyday In the end, it is a great thing to note that a
and love doing.” law degree is relevant in any situation.
Taking on the job of a product manager Therefore, you will never be on the losing
for an online education portal meant end, even if you choose to take it to grow
starting from scratch, but Ann found that your general knowledge or as a career path.
her law degree helped a lot.
“The training we received in law school
definitely helped when it comes to writing,
Lavanyah
especially with dry subjects like education,
Ann
which is what I write about. This is because
you’re taking something boring and making Fernandez.
it relevant and engaging to the examiner, or,
in my case now, the target audience I am
writing for. Also, law exams were essay-
based, so writing long, detailed articles
helped me become a better writer.”
While she does not plan to be a
litigator in the near future, Ann
intends to make full use of her
degree. Her ideal scenario would
be to find a niche that blends her
passion with law. She shares some
advice for law students who are
second-guessing their career in
legal practice.
“Don’t hold yourself back
and don’t conform to the
idea that you have to
become a court litigator.
One of the most
important things that law
school taught me is that a
law degree is versatile;
you can go from being a
humanitarian and
fighting for human
rights to running a
country, so don’t limit
yourself and find your
own path.”