The highlight of pupillage is inevitably, the long call. It marks the end of simply being referred to as a pupil and the entry of a new chapter as an Advocate and Solicitor. Therefore, in as much as one would like to exalt the occasion and make it his or her day, it cannot be overly emphasised that long call procedures are ultimately court proceedings.
The following are the concerns in respect of long calls proceedings:
(i) Arrangement for Movers
More often than not, pupils are left to source for their movers. As a gentle reminder, it is the master’s duty and obligation to arrange for an Advocate and Solicitor of more than 7 years’ standing to move his or her pupil’s call. This is an express ruling of the Bar Council.
(ii) Speeches
A pupil being called is entitled to his or her few minutes of fame (so to speak) and hence, the need for a speech to introduce the pupil and ultimately, to move the Court to admit and enrol him or her as a fit and proper person. Some speeches can be excruciatingly long and the contents not entirely appropriate to determine whether one is “a fit and proper person to be admitted and enrolled as an Advocate and Solicitor”. Bearing in mind the main reason for a speech, the KL Bar Committee feels that it is necessary to give clearer guidelines on the contents of long call speeches as follows:
1st paragraph
- to introduce the mover and the representatives of the Attorney General’s Chambers, Bar Council and the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee
2nd paragraph
- to state:
(i) the petitioner’s name
(ii) the institution where the petitioner graduated from
(iii) post degree qualifications e.g. Bar Vocational Course, CLP
(iv) the chambers where the petitioner underwent pupillage
3rd paragraph
- the mover to thank certain people on behalf of the petitioner (eg parents, spouse/master)
- to state:
(i) the petitioner is a fit and proper person to be admitted and enrolled as an Advocate and Solicitor
(ii) all papers in order
(iii) no objections from the three bodies
- to pray that the petitioner be admitted and enrolled as an Advocate and Solicitor
* Pupils are to adhere strictly to this format.
(iii) Robing of Pupils
It is the accepted practice that only an Advocate and Solicitor is to robe the pupil upon his or her admission. It is therefore emphasised that this practice must be strictly adhered to. The Advocate and Solicitor who robes the pupil, must be in open court attire.
We trust that with this short write up, teething problems in relation to long call procedures can be overcome and such proceedings, standardised.
Reggie Wong
Chair
Pupils’ Welfare Committee
The following are the concerns in respect of long calls proceedings:
(i) Arrangement for Movers
More often than not, pupils are left to source for their movers. As a gentle reminder, it is the master’s duty and obligation to arrange for an Advocate and Solicitor of more than 7 years’ standing to move his or her pupil’s call. This is an express ruling of the Bar Council.
(ii) Speeches
A pupil being called is entitled to his or her few minutes of fame (so to speak) and hence, the need for a speech to introduce the pupil and ultimately, to move the Court to admit and enrol him or her as a fit and proper person. Some speeches can be excruciatingly long and the contents not entirely appropriate to determine whether one is “a fit and proper person to be admitted and enrolled as an Advocate and Solicitor”. Bearing in mind the main reason for a speech, the KL Bar Committee feels that it is necessary to give clearer guidelines on the contents of long call speeches as follows:
Format of Long Call Speech
1st paragraph
- to introduce the mover and the representatives of the Attorney General’s Chambers, Bar Council and the Kuala Lumpur Bar Committee
2nd paragraph
- to state:
(i) the petitioner’s name
(ii) the institution where the petitioner graduated from
(iii) post degree qualifications e.g. Bar Vocational Course, CLP
(iv) the chambers where the petitioner underwent pupillage
3rd paragraph
- the mover to thank certain people on behalf of the petitioner (eg parents, spouse/master)
- to state:
(i) the petitioner is a fit and proper person to be admitted and enrolled as an Advocate and Solicitor
(ii) all papers in order
(iii) no objections from the three bodies
- to pray that the petitioner be admitted and enrolled as an Advocate and Solicitor
* Pupils are to adhere strictly to this format.
(iii) Robing of Pupils
It is the accepted practice that only an Advocate and Solicitor is to robe the pupil upon his or her admission. It is therefore emphasised that this practice must be strictly adhered to. The Advocate and Solicitor who robes the pupil, must be in open court attire.
We trust that with this short write up, teething problems in relation to long call procedures can be overcome and such proceedings, standardised.
Reggie Wong
Chair
Pupils’ Welfare Committee