Legal profession regulatory bodies: civil and Syariah

The legal profession and practice in West Malaysia is regulated with the establishment of several statutory bodies under the Legal Profession Act 1976 (LPA) and the Syarie Legal Profession (Federal Territories) Act 2019 (Act 2019). This chapter is dedicated in discussing the role and powers of the various regulatory bodies under the LPA namely, the Legal Profession Qualifying Board, the Malaysian Bar, the Bar Council, the State Bar Committee, and the Disciplinary Board and the Disciplinary Committee of the advocate and solicitor. The discussion will also include the statutory bodies under the Act 2019, namely, the Syarie Legal Profession Qualifying Board, Badan Peguam , Majlis Peguam Syarie and the Disciplinary Committee of Peguam Syarie. The function of the Disciplinary Board under the LPA and the Act 2019 is to take necessary disciplinary measures against members when there are complaints of conduct or omission to act in a professional capacity or otherwise, which amounts to grave impropriety. Hence, where there is a failure by the members to abide by professional ethics including the non-compliance with the provisions of the LPA or Act 2019 and any rules or regulations made thereunder, it may justify disciplinary proceedings against them. It is worthwhile mentioning that the Act 2019 comprises 11 parts with 93 sections and three schedules, and is largely based on the LPA that regulates the legal profession of the civil courts.