COMMENT | Bar concerned over pupils being used as touts

COMMENT | It was recently reported that unscrupulous law firms have now resorted to using pupils in chambers to act as touts. Touts are individuals who receive payment from law firms in return for securing clients for them. The Malaysian Bar is deeply concerned about this matter, as it is entirely unacceptable to the legal profession and is detrimental to the public interest.

Law firms that use pupils as touts usually target vulnerable individuals who face pending legal troubles and apply pressure on them to engage the firms that the touts represent. The act of touting is deplorable as it seeks to financially exploit those who are in desperate need of help.

The Malaysian Bar has consistently denounced touting, and we have sought to discourage and stamp out touting by, among others, lodging complaints with the Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board (ASDB) against members of the Bar who engage in touting.

Touting amounts to professional misconduct pursuant to section 94(3)(h) of the Legal Profession Act 1976 and Rule 51 of the Legal Profession (Practice and Etiquette) Rules 1978. A member can face various sanctions if found to be in breach of these rules, including being suspended from practice or struck of the Roll. Pupils who are found to be engaged in touting could potentially be prohibited from being called to the Bar due to any complaints of a disciplinary nature...