Chief Justice urges law students to blend theory with practical training
SHAH ALAM: Chief Justice Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh has advised law students to combine university theory with practical industrial training to prepare for the legal profession.
He said university law syllabi, whether in Malaysia or abroad, largely emphasise theory, while practical skills are mastered through real-world exposure.
Wan Ahmad Farid said students should use semester breaks for training at legal firms, government departments, and courts as an early platform to understand legal processes.
“The art of argument and advocacy is not fully taught at university level and can only be learnt through experience, observation and direct guidance in real legal settings,” he said.
He was speaking during a Q&A session after delivering the Chief Justice’s Premier Lecture at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).
The 2025 Judicial Premier Lecture was attended by 444 final-year law students and members of the judiciary’s top leadership.
Wan Ahmad Farid said no faculty has a perfect syllabus, but combining theory and practice produces more competent legal practitioners.
He also highlighted a trend of young lawyers attending court only for their cases without observing experienced lawyers to enhance their skills.
“Direct observation of experienced lawyers handling cases in court is an invaluable learning medium that further strengthens the theory learnt at university,” he said.
UiTM Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Shahrin Sahib @ Sahibuddin thanked the judiciary for supporting the academic development of law students.
“This lecture not only strengthens the strategic relationship between UiTM and the judiciary but also shapes students’ understanding of integrity, wisdom and judicial trust in nation-building,” he said.
