WHY STUDY LAW?

Hi, I hope this post will benefits those who are still in primary/secondary school in understanding their interest or passion to study law. On top of that, everyone else who have yet to study law, you can take a short course or even just apply to lawschool for your degree/masters. I hope this helps you too!

This would be from a perspective of a law student as I am not working yet. I will not talk about salaries/popularity of being a lawyer. You don't need to be a lawyer just because you study law. 

I am still a student. Hence, everything here is research and experience based only

Here are 4 reasons for why study law : 

• Law covers almost every field of studies.

When I chose to study law, it was quite a rough start. I did not have many seniors who were studying law at that time simply because we were from a science stream school and the perspective is easy that all of us would end up furthering our studies in that same field. Plus, not in a single person in my family graduated with a law degree. So, I basically couldn't understand how studying law works. I imagined that it will just be like history classes but with more Acts or Statutes.

To my surprise, law covers everything. Aviation, medicine, engineering, tourism etc. This is what making me feel alive studying law right now. 

Just last semester, I had a mooting subject and the case was on medical law. It was so interesting where I need to understand on brain surgery and whether it is a normal practice for neurosurgeon to remove perfectly healthy tissues while removing the tumor. I also learned a topic on medical negligence during my first year under Torts. I even went for an internship and placed under the Medical Negligence Unit for 2 days. Kindda feels like I'm doing a medical degree but just focus and scrutinize the work of the nurses/doctors/surgeons etc. 

Also,  I studied Cyber Law for my elective subject during my second year of degree and even joined a Cyber Moot Competition before that. It was really interesting because it's something you do almost every moment of your life. Don't tell me you don't reach your phone as you wake up from your sleep. I learned so much on the responsibility of sharing content on the social media. Please know that spreading messages of hate and slander can be an offence under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1988 or Defamation Act 1957. 

•  Helping you to understand how the system works globally

I was really clueless when I started my law foundation. I honestly believe that I was just going to focus on Malaysian law. I was so enthralled by the Contemporary Global and Legal Issues subject in my second semester during foundation. Understanding state sovereignty, United Nations, globalisation, global human right issues and many more. 

Additionally, I'm taking International Law subject for this. It's bewildering. Not my favourite subject but it really just increases your knowledge. 

All in all, when you study law in Malaysia, it doesn't mean you won't study about the law in other countries. For example, our Penal Code is in pari materia (on the same subject or matter) as the Indian Penal Code. So, we will definitely look into the Indian Penal Code and their cases as well. 

Law is so flexible that when there is a loophole (inadequacy) in our law, we will look into laws from other countries. For instance, Protection from Harassment Act 1997 of United Kingdom is a legislation that we wish to have as well in our country especially when there is an uprising cases relating to harassments. 

• You love to read and law needs more people like you

If reading does not make you sleepy, maybe you definitely should study law! Okay jokes aside, I know how it feels like. Some people actually got interested in law because of the history classes they attended back in secondary school. I am that part of some people. 

Let's start there. I would say, our history textbooks are really eye-catching. Pictures and colors in every pages which means less space for words, that is not something that you can find when you read law textbooks, cases and statutes. Don't worry, you can make yourself colorful notes and lecture notes are mostly colorful too. Start a habit of reading from now on. You can start light with fiction novels and each book a month. 

• New challenges everyday

Challenges in the law itself as law revolves all the time. It requires some critical thinking and lots of reading. Now, let's think :

What's the hottest issue going on right now? Ask yourself, is it an offence? Is it wrong to do so? Which law states that it's wrong?

That's what you can help yourself to find the answer by studying law! Imagine all the questions coming from your relatives and friends which you can help enlighten them on it. Plus point, you will help to increase awareness among the society on their understanding of the law.

Studying law will also help to produce problem solvers, innovative thinkers, systems-thinkers and more. I'm not saying that studying other fields would not produce this group of people. Just emphasizing that law covers almost every field of studies. 

I hope that this post does not scares you off but motivates you. Keep it up with all the great things you are doing currently. I know that this pandemic hinders some of you from extra curricular activities but try to explore your interest by reaching out to others. 

Feel free to contact me for further clarifications. Everything written based on my own experience. Please look forward for more legal posts by me on this blog.