How To Set Up A Law Firm In Malaysia
If you want to start a law firm in Malaysia, you need to comply with the rules and regulations of the Bar Council. You must obtain a mandatory Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) cover. PII covers your professional liability and is dependent on the number of lawyers in your firm. The minimum limit is RM250,000 per lawyer and the maximum is RM2 million. You need to submit a notice of intention to set up a law practice to the Bar Council before you can actually begin work.
The first step is to register with the Commission. If you are a sole proprietor, you do not need to register with the Commissioner. Partnerships are not required to register, but if you are a sole practitioner, you need to get a separate entrance. If you wish to operate from home, check if your landlord allows you to run your business from there. If yes, you must arrange for security measures for clients’ privacy. If you are a resident of a residential building, do not place a law firm nameplate at the main entrance.
As a sole proprietor, you don’t need to register with the Commissioner. However, if you have a legal practice under the Partnership Act 1961, you need to register with the Commission. As a member of the Malaysian Bar, you must comply with the Act. As an Advocate or Solicitor, you need a PC. You can obtain this from the Registrar of the High Court or the State Bar Committee.
Regardless of your type of practice, it’s a good idea to identify your practice areas before you register. A clear practice area will help you establish credibility faster and make networking easier. If you’ve decided to register as a sole proprietor, the next step is to register as a law firm. You can register as a solicitor or an Advocate. You must pay a fee of RM100 to get your PC, and it’s advisable to pay this as soon as you can.
If you plan to set up a law firm in Malaysia, you will need to register as a sole proprietor or a partnership. The LPA is a mandatory requirement for all members of the Malaysian Bar. This PC must be renewed annually. You can obtain it from the state bar committee or the secretariat of the Bar Council. In addition to registration, you must register with the bar association.
Once you have registered as a sole proprietor, you should decide on a name for your firm. You need to determine which areas you will practice and how to market yourself to potential clients. The legal profession in Malaysia is very competitive, so you need to be specific about your practice area. A law firm will have an advantage if it has a distinct identity and is regulated. So, it is best to choose a name that matches the needs of your clients.
