In March, Mohamad Ezri was elected president of Malaysia’s Bar Council. Armed with the mandate of improving professional standards while spearheading reforms and innovation in the Southeast Asia country’s legal industry, Ezri shares with ALB how he aims to help take Malaysia’s law firms to the next level.
ALB: What are the most pressing challenges facing Malaysia’s legal market and how do you plan to address those?
Mohamad Ezri, Malaysian Bar Council President: As the newly elected president of the Malaysian Bar, my primary focus is on four key areas. Firstly, I am committed to enhancing our member’s welfare through improved professional development and support. Secondly, protecting the legal profession is crucial; this involves strengthening our advocacy, maintaining ethical standards, and enhancing public trust. Thirdly, I have established new committees to address emerging legal areas, which include, inter alia, the areas of technology and law, environmental law and human rights. Lastly, in accordance with the Legal Profession Act 1976, we will ensure compliance with professional standards, promote continuous development, carry out disciplinary functions effectively, and facilitate access to justice. These initiatives aim to strengthen the Malaysian Bar, support our members, and uphold justice and the rule of law.
ALB: What role do you see the bar council playing in addressing emerging legal issues and technological advancements in the field?
Ezri: The Malaysian Bar had long been aware of the implications and opportunities that come with technological advancements in the legal field. However, with the adoption of technology, accessibility of artificial intelligence, and increase in cyber security risks during the COVID-19 pandemic, it became apparent that the Malaysian Bar must continue to update its services to keep up with the ever-evolving cyber landscape.
The Bar Council has established a few technology-related committees. This term, the committees that foster innovation and digital advancement in the legal industry include the Cyber and Privacy Laws Committee; the Legal Tech, AI and Sandbox Committee; the Ad Hoc Committee on Personal Data Protection; and the Intellectual Property Committee. Particularly, the Cyber and Privacy Laws Committee and the Legal Tech, AI and Sandbox Committee aim to promote the adoption of technology amongst legal practitioners, increase the awareness of legal practitioners and the public on technology-related issues, as well as strengthen technology, cyber and privacy laws in Malaysia.
The Malaysian Bar has also organised many events for the legal industry, including seminars, forums and talks through its Committees and the Continuing Professional Development scheme to raise awareness among the Members of the Bar regarding the opportunities and risks that come with adopting technology in their course of work. Recent examples include the International Malaysian Law Conference 2023, the 3rd Conference on Corporate and Commercial Law (HCCLC) and the Conveyancing Practice Conference.
The Bar Council also collaborated with the American Bar Association to conduct a 4-module Defending Digital Privacy in Southeast Asia Program in Malaysia. Some of these events are open to the public. In 2023, the Bar Council issued a Circular to all Members of the Bar on “The Risks and Precautions in Using Generative Artificial Intelligence in the Legal Profession, Specifically ChatGPT” to highlight the risks, precautions, and benefits of using Generative AI in the legal field.
Additionally, the Malaysian Bar works closely with industry stakeholders and regulators to provide input and feedback regarding changes to legislation and policy on technology, cyber and privacy laws, such as amendments to the Communications and Multimedia Act and the enactment of the Cyber Security Act 2024.
ALB: How can the Malaysian Bar Council best equip homegrown law firms to respond to market trends competitively against international players?
Ezri: The Malaysian Bar Council (BC) can best equip homegrown law firms to respond competitively to market trends against international players by implementing comprehensive support programs. These programs may include providing access to specialised training and professional development opportunities, fostering collaborations with international legal experts for knowledge exchange, facilitating access to cutting-edge legal technology, offering guidance on international legal standards and practices, and promoting networking opportunities to expand business connections and market reach. Additionally, the BC can advocate for policies that promote a conducive business environment for local law firms to thrive and compete effectively on a global scale, as well as encouraging firms to adopt scale-up growth strategies for business acceleration.
