The Malaysian Bar has advised the public to use its legal directory to verify whether an individual is a practising lawyer, warning that social media has made people more vulnerable to impostors falsely claiming to be lawyers.
Bar president Ezri Abdul Wahab said such individuals often misled people into believing they were qualified to offer legal advice.
“Such action, tantamount to misconduct, not only jeopardises the rights of unsuspecting clients, but also erode trust in the legal system.
“It is essential for the public to verify whether an individual is, in fact, a practising lawyer, which they can do by accessing the Malaysian Bar’s official legal directory,” he said in a statement.
Ezri said the directory was a safeguard against fraudulent individuals, and urged the public to report them to the Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board.
“We encourage all members of the public to use the resources available to them to make informed decisions about their legal representation or when engaging legal services,” he said.
He explained that the title of lawyer was reserved for those admitted as advocates and solicitors of the High Court, and not automatically granted to law graduates.
“This journey includes obtaining a recognised law degree, passing the relevant professional examinations such as the Certificate in Legal Practice, if required, and completing a mandatory nine-month period of practical training, known as pupillage or chambering,” he said.
He also clarified that a qualified lawyer might perform the functions of both advocate and solicitor, and is authorised to represent clients in court as well as handle out-of-court matters.
While he did not cite specific cases, he said the Bar regularly received complaints that some social media influencers were posing as lawyers, prompting the body to step up efforts to educate the public on the qualifications and role of legal practitioners.
