Pupillage Standards

Commencement of Pupillage only upon conferment of Degree (Updated)

Dear Members,

We refer to our previous email dated 1st October 2022 whereby Central had stated that pupils can only commence chambering upon conferment of their degree.

Due to various different interpretation of our Advocates Ordinance after Central decision, Central had requested for a Directive from The Right Honourable Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak on the issue ie Commencement of Pupillage pursuant to Section 4(1)(ca) and Section 4(1A) Advocates Ordinance (Chapter 110).

On 6th April 2023, the President together with some Central Committee Members had a dialogue with the Right Honourable Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak at which the issue was further discussed.

Please be informed that the Right Honourable Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak has directed that one must have "been conferred any of the degrees specified in the Schedule" to the Advocates Ordinance (Chapter 110) before he or she can commence pupillage.

If there are any  pupils in chambers who had commenced their pupillage prior to the conferment of their degree after 1st October 2022, the Advocates Association of Sarawak will not take into account those period in which pupils in chambers had commenced pupillage before the conferment of the degrees specified in the Schedule to the Advocates Ordinance (Chapter 110) for purposes of admission as an Advocate of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak in the State of Sarawak.

In the premises, a fresh Notice of Pupillage is to be filed after the respective Pupil had been conferred any of the degrees specified in the Schedule to the Advocates Ordinance (Chapter 110).

Please find attached the Directive dated 14th April 2023 issued by The Honourable Registrar for your kind attention.

Thank you + Best regards,
Honorary Secretary
The Advocates Association of Sarawak