AAS YOUNG LAWYERS & PUPILS WORKSHOP

1-3 December 2023 - Pullman Hotel, Kuching

The Advocates Association of Sarawak (AAS) with Mr Gurvir Singh Sandhu as its current President, is a body that represents advocates on the roll of the Sarawak Bar. Periodically throughout each year, AAS organises various professional courses in various cities across Sarawak for pupils and legal professionals to hone their legal skills and knowledge, and remain apprised of the latest developments in law. These courses also offer pupils support in navigating the legal profession and serve as an opportunity for them to network. 

In December 2023, AAS conducted a Young Lawyers & Pupils Workshop at the UPC Auditorium in Kuching, which included an Etiquette Course, an Advocacy Training Course (both of which are compulsory for all pupils to undergo before admission to the Bar) and Yayasan Bantuan Guaman Kebangsaan (‘YBGK’) training.

The Etiquette Course ensures pupils thoroughly understand the professional conduct rules so that they maintain high ethical standards when practising as lawyers. The Advocacy Training Course focuses on practical legal skills like courtroom advocacy. 

Under YBGK, which is supported by the government, lawyers work pro bono to provide legal representation and advice in criminal matters to all Malaysian citizens who may not be able to otherwise afford the legal representation, so that they can have access to justice and a fair trial.

Managing Partner of our firm, Mr Tan Kee Heng, was a speaker on the second day of the workshop. Being well-versed on the subject of appeals as the author of all four editions of the book ‘Civil and Criminal Appeals in Malaysia’, Mr Tan gave an engaging and informative overview of civil appeals in Malaysia, highlighting the appealable and non-appealable decisions of the Courts, and the importance for lawyers to adhere by the time period in which to pursue an appeal and file the relevant documents, among other things.