By Anne Das
Malaysia’s legal profession continues to grow, with the Malaysian Bar recording 24,832 practitioners nationwide as of June 2025.
Perak has approximately 1,400 lawyers, making the Perak Bar an important voice for the state’s legal community. Its role includes supporting advocates and solicitors while building stronger ties between lawyers, the courts and the wider justice system.
Recently, the Perak Bar marked two significant engagements in Ipoh that created stronger professional dialogue between practitioners and the judiciary.
For many members, these sessions were about far more than protocol. They opened doors to direct engagement, practical conversations and professional insight from some of the country’s most respected legal figures.
One of the most talked about moments came during “Teh Tarik with the Right Honourable Chief Justice” at the Royal Ipoh Club following the Chief Justice’s official visit to Ipoh.
The session marked a first of its kind engagement between a sitting Chief Justice and members of the Perak Bar. Held in a relaxed setting, it gave lawyers the rare opportunity to engage directly with Chief Justice of Malaysia, YAA Datuk Seri Utama Wan Ahmad Farid bin Wan Salleh, beyond the formal atmosphere of court proceedings and official ceremonies.
Members listened as the Chief Justice shared candid reflections from his years at both the Bar and the Bench, offering personal insights into the realities, pressures and responsibilities of legal practice and judicial service.
For Balakrishna Balaravi Pillai, Chairman of the Perak Bar for the 2024 to 2026 term, the session represented the kind of professional access that leaves a lasting impact on practitioners.
“Opportunities like this allow members of the Bar to engage directly with the leadership of the judiciary in a more open and personal setting. It strengthens understanding, encourages professional respect and reminds us that the legal profession continues to evolve through dialogue, mentorship and shared experience,” he said.
The session was met with strong enthusiasm from members and marked a memorable occasion for the Perak legal community.
Another milestone was the Perak Bar Law Conference 2025 held in Ipoh, themed “Law Unplugged: Real Talk on Real Practice.”
The conference was organised by the Perak Bar Committee, with the Professional Standards and Development Subcommittee headed by Elaine Foong playing a key role.
It brought together members of the judiciary, senior lawyers and practitioners for frank discussions on the changing realities of legal practice, professional ethics, advocacy and the evolving expectations placed on lawyers today.
Rather than focusing purely on theory, the conference centred on practical realities, professional standards and honest discussions about the pressures and responsibilities faced by advocates and solicitors in today’s legal landscape.
The conference featured speakers from the Federal Court, Court of Appeal, High Court and Industrial Court alongside experienced members of the legal profession.
Together, both engagements reinforced stronger ties between the Bench and the Bar in Perak, while creating a more connected and engaged legal fraternity within the state.
