As Court Practical nears the end…

This past month, namely from dates 20th May to coming 20th June, during the semester break at that, I was involved in practical training, as part of my law course that I do at my university.

Its not mandatory, as I know, but voluntary. I applied to do some practical training at the Shah Alam High Court (see pic above) and a few days before May 20th, I went to the faculty office half expecting that some event would derail things and I might not get to carry out the plan but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was all systems go. Not knowing what time and where exactly to report once I was there, feeling nervous at the side and armed with a logbook to record daily events, I set off to the court complex at 10 am that day. After being given the run around by the information counter there, an office boy escorted me to the office of my supposed supervisor, Tuan Wan Norsham, and I was to know that there was going to be another gathering involving those of my coursemates who opted for the same thing to do these long hols. Sure enough after the large gathering we were divided into groups – I was paired with Harith, Yati (both coursemates of the same batch as yours truly) as well as Bai (Baizura, a senior from one part higher then mine).

We were assigned Tuan Che Wan Zaidi to supervise our group. Introducing himself as a Deputy Registrar, he told us that he was formerly a Magistrate in Ampang, and offered right away lessons on Criminal Procedure. Later we were taught by his assistant Kak Ta how to draft Order letters, which are formal notices issued by the Court upon the ajudication of a case. From then on we got to read case files, including files of some famous cases such as Canny Ong, Chiam Swee Tong, Suzaily Mokhtar, and Maiwar Siaran. Soon I was given the lucky opportunity to visit their mini jail cell near the carpark below where they throw all the bad guys in, and as weeks passed we learned about Bankruptcy with another supervisor, Senior Assistant Registrar Puan Husna, where I got to look at a case file and arguments consider as well as evaluate for myself what I were to decide if I had been the judge presiding, as well as hear cases heard in chambers by her as well as another Senior Assistant Registrar, Puan Noor Akmal. I also attended some of the Altantulya case proceedings heard at Criminal High Court 1, and saw Abdul Razak, Sirul and Azilah in person, as well as their respective friends and families. All seemed well with them. I didn’t go up to speak to them personally though, I wouldn’t be brave enough, ha!

These practical sessions, as I had said in my earlier post, have reignited some of my passion into law again, long running dry from the daily class drudgeries, and having pun into a position to look at a case the way a judge would, I found I quite liked it and wouldn’t hesistate to say I might consider joining the Judicial and Legal Service now, as a Magistrate!

Anyway since this practical thing is coming to an end now, I thought I might write about it.