KPUM

In general, the work and assignments I got were ad hoc - they came in as and when there was work to do (luckily there's always work to do).

Visits to court were a highlight - mostly Court of Appeal/Federal Court. Great chance to see how the veterans approach practice, and a nice look at some of the social side of the profession.

Also did research for cases - involved learning to effectively search databases, and going through textbooks and judgments to pick out useful stuff. Work wasn't 'assessed' per se. Was mostly left to work independently, although I was always welcome to ask if I needed anything. Also did various bits of work to prepare for court - going through notes of evidence, reading previous submissions, etc.

Also had weekly 'ASASI+' sessions with the other interns - very good weekly talks and sessions. They were discursive and thought-provoking, and a good chance to connect with similarly-interested students.

As someone with almost no exposure to practice before this, it was a massive learning experience. The learning curve was decent, if only because expectations as to the speed/quality of my work were fairly generous. (Personally thought I was slower than I should be) Above all it bridged some of the gap between my academic learning and a practical application of law; by putting what I studied in context of how I might use it in work every day, I feel like I have a sense of how my studies could be approached more efficiently as well.

Also learnt useful bits and pieces of several different areas of law - thanks to the variety of cases.

Most interesting part was learning just how many hours of work could go into an hour at court. Everything from filing to binding to reading notes, submissions and affidavits meant a huge volume of work that also demanded a certain level of meticulousness.

Supervisor(s) were great here. It helped that the office and staff in general were friendly, and the office itself is a relatively small and cosy one (it was also very very comfortable). People working there were always willing to have a chat about the case if I needed to know more, and they also looked out for opportunities for me to do things I might be particularly interested in, if there was the chance.

E.g. on slower days at the office I'd be allowed to go watch cases of interest at court, or follow the other ASASI interns to observe other cases. I was also very kindly put in touch with another lawyer to watch a few criminal proceedings - all in all very helpful and thoughtful.

Could have taken more advantages of opportunities to chat with the boss (who of course is a busy person). And in general, could have taken more opportunities to speak with people - the rest of the office, other lawyers at court, other interns, etc.

Also should have been a little quicker and more efficient with the work and assignments, even considering I had only done two years of my degree. Perhaps more checks on my work would have helped flagged up weak points in the research.

- Chat with others whenever possible - at court, during lunch, etc. You'll definitely learn a bit.

- Reading up on cases before watching one at court helps a lot. If possible either get the previous judgment on the matter or one of the submissions for the case.

- Driving to Putrajaya is long but not usually very problematic traffic-wise, and parking is not an issue there.

- The office is rather nicely not right in the middle of the city and is mostly quickly accessible. Still, leaving early to get to work is best.

- The office has a pretty extensive library with shelves of interesting/helpful books. Read and look through as many as possible.

- If there are slow work periods consider doing a side research project - perhaps using the resources and books available there to help.

-Conducted research in various aspects of law such as child interview in court, remedies for breach of constitutional rights, women's rights etc.
-Helped to draft submission and consent order of divorce
-Attended hearings of public interest cases: transgenders' case, Bersih trial, few sedition cases and Indira Ganthi's case
-Attended forums conducted by Bar Council such as Domestic Violence, Gender Ineqality, Police Accountability etc.
-Attended meeting with UN, Amnesty International and Suhakam to discuss the campaign of abolishing death penalty

I am always interested in family law-thank god I still do. Laymen often criticise how "cruel" family lawyers are or they are just money sucker. I am grateful that I got the right firm. Family law is NOT only about maintenance and matrimonial assets. Divorce is not necessary a bad thing. The suffocating atmosphere surrounds the staggered marriage might harm the children more. Nonetheless, children are always the victims of the adult's sin.Another major part of family law that should draw the public's attention is domestic violence. It happens around us but the social perception silence the victims most of the time.

All the staffs were very supportive. They were ready to share their experience and knowledge with me whenever i needed help. At one point of time, my boss even felt that I asked too few questions. She always encouraged discussion. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude towards Honey, Siew Teng, Bel and Arina who helped me to grow throughout the internship.

2 months is rather too short to intern at a law firm. It's a pity that I could not follow the cases from the start till the end. However, ASASI is really the right place for every law students. It gives you more than just a taste of what human right is. Meeting like minded people is always the best thing. I am glad to meet the other interns who are always passionate to bring changes to the nation. Deep down in our heart, we know we deserve a better Malaysia and you know they are always there to fight together with you-Jofan, Pauline, Cass, Kelvin, Adrian Happy Boy, Adrian Koh and Nick.

Never feel shy to raise any questions. The more you ask , the more you gain. Old but gold, this should always be the golden rule for all interns. Family law is not just about divorce, it involves many areas like domestic violence, child law etc. Human right is not only about feminism,; activism is not only about demonstration and protests. Legal practise is far beyond the legal theories that we learn in law school. Be passionate of what you are doing .

As an intern, I was given the opportunity to orchastrate matters relating to empowerment of indigenous peoplein Hulu Langat, where MCCHR is currently doing groundwork. I was also given total liberty to mobilize volunteering opportunities to the Orang Asli villages.

As MCCHR take on public interest ligitations, I observed court proceedings on such cases, ranging from election petitions to the rights of transgender community in Malaysia. Besides, I authored articles on freedom of religion in Malaysia as well as a book review on the LoyarBurok blog. In order to avoid defamation suits, my supervisors diligently proofread my work.

I facilitated the IdolaDemokrasi GameShop to create social justice-caused based campaigns and took part in a round table to debate the next Malaysian plan from the perspective of youths.

As this is the first time that the MCCHR is hosting interns under a structured internship program, the supervisors were eager to tailor our expectation in order to give us the best internship experience. I was also asked basic questions related to my CV and voice my opinion on current issues such as the freedom of speech in Malaysia and whether it should be limited.

This internship taught me that there is so much more to be done beyond law school, and life as a human rights lawyer is anything but glamorous (unless you’re Amal Jamaludin). Multitasking can only bring you that far; it is wiser to prioritse the list of tasks given. I also took home research skills that do not require search engines.

Two months of internship > 1 year of law school. I remembered spending my first week drafting the perfect invitation letter, as well as drafting emails in the correct manner.

I dealt with different projects so I was placed under the care of more than a supervisor at the same time, who had different working style. I was given a fair amount of autonomy in work that I did. They were approachable and willing to help whenever I need it.

A thousand steps begin with effective time management.

I wish I have more time to fully utilize the resources available around me. MCCHR has a well-stocked Resources Centre that offers books of a wide range of topics, ranging from public policies to the meaning of death.

Be open-minded, and embrace changes as they come.

The notion of human rights is still in its infancy in this country, therefore harder times await us. But working alongside like-minded people makes the journey worthwhile. So fret not and do not lose the faith; might as well enjoy the journey while we are on our way in creating a country that upholds civil liberty.

Basically most of the things i did was to tag along where ever he goes and whatever he does. From court proceedings, to protest, to human rights meeting, to forums, round-table discussion, bar council meetings and press conferences. I had a minimal hand in preparation of the cases although i had to read up on it and discuss with the lawyer in charge of the case in a more informal manner.

We talked about everything under the sun. Basically why i want to do what i want i want to do and my background

I guess i got to experience the day to day life of a lawyer. It is not always the limelight of things, but for every hour in court is 10 hours in preparation. I manage to experience that.

Besides that under the Asasi program we have friday night sessions where different lawyers from different fields come and talk and educate us on their specialty from family law, religious freedom, constitutional rights, and environmental law.

He gave personal guidance everytime we are in court or doing any of the proceedings or procedural work. He explains a lot base on his experience especially court skills and how to read people

I think i would like to be more involve in the cases in a more major capacity. Of course i might not be qualified to do so but it be nice to take ownership of a case.

Be specific with what you want to learn. Interning with a sole proprietor gives you the day to day life a common lawyer.

My internship was more towards working with an NGO with legal & activism background.
A summary of what I did:

1. Death in custody: Mostly running through CCTV footages, taking down notes of evidence in court & comparing foreign legislation that governs the Coroner's Court.

2. Statelessness & homelessness: Publicity stunt, talks & forums with NGOs & soup kitchens. Some research on the legislation's position on this issue (the Destitute Persons act 1977).

3. Politics: Readings on the Selangor State Constitution and Nizar v Zambry with regards to the Selangor MB crisis before engaging in cyberwarfare. Media statements, opinions and commentaries to the press.

4. Court cases: Mainly cases involving human rights violation & petty charges against opposition politicians.

5. "Abolish the Sedition Act" campaign: Events held with civil society movements & NGOs to campaign for #MansuhAktaHasutan. Vigorous cyberwarfare at times & worked on a defence submission.

1. Death in custody: An exposure to why Malaysia is in need of the IPCMC, the loopholes in the newly minted Coroner's Court, the absence of proper mechanisms to ensure facts are unraveled, the lack of cooperation especially from the police (the secretive IGSO for instance).

2. Statelessness & homelessness: How they relate & how the Destitute Persons Act 1977 sinisterly echoes the Internal Security Act’s (ISA) policy of detention without trial.

3. Politics: Research & reflection on how the law is related to political realities, and how it is disregarded at times when not in favour of people in power (in this case the Selangor MB crisis).

4. Court cases: The reality of how courts are misused. The irony of how effective the police & AG are when it involves opposition politicians, even in petty offences like scolding police "bastard" & "fuck you".

5. "Abolish the Sedition Act" campaign: Campaigns for its abolishment, press statements and researches.

I am entirely blessed and indebted to have dedicated and brilliant mentors guiding me all the way from July up to September. Thank you Michelle, Shahid, Eric, Latheefa, Surendran and Sivarasa!

It would be unfair to ask for more. I experienced things beyond my expectation. For a start, this is the perfect introduction to human rights advocacy and activism, added with a touch of politics and flair of reality in an oppressive political system. The experience through the media and tests of character was a unique unforgettable.

If you are interested in human rights and politics, this is the place. It is a strike of balance between human rights advocacy and reality in an oppressive political climate. You will get a taste and an insight of the politics behind the scene. Bear in mind that human rights lawyers do not strike gold here, or end up rich, because the oppressed are normally the ones much worse off and less fortunate. Apart from opposition politicians, most of LFL's clients are vulnerable victims of human rights violation, and most of the time, these legal advices and briefs are taken up without charges. There is a demarcation between human rights advocates here and lawyers elsewhere who who do pro bono work occasionally.

1) Was put in charge of the MyMP project, a project which involves collecting MPs' information with the goal of setting up a site for the public with all this information

2) Had the opportunity to assist in Orang Asli project which involved going into a village in Hulu Langat to socialise with the locals in an attempt to teach them about their land rights

3) Had the opportunity to attend court to sit in on public interest cases; one being an election petition and the other involving transsexuals

4) Attended ASASI+ talks which involved several lawyers coming on Friday nights to speak to us about the various aspects of law

I told them that as an executive council member of United Kingdom and Eire Council for Malaysian Students (UKEC) I was not allowed to be affiliated with political parties. They proceeded to question me if I thought that infringed on my freedom of association.

Just make sure you're prepared to answer questions on civil liberties and what you hope to learn.

1) Investing your time into public interest cases, human rights work or NGO work can be incredibly hectic and tiring

2) In pursuing such causes, make sure you surround yourself with like minded people or you will burn out very, very easily

3) Learn to manage your time well

They gave me a lot of autonomy in regards to my tasks; what was important was that I finished my job. For example, when they first gave me the MyMP project, my boss told me to do whatever it takes to get their responses as long as what I did was not illegal.

When I had to write articles, my bosses would explain my mistakes to me so I could work on improving the articles. Before I went to court, they would also make it a point to sit down with me to discuss what the case is about and why was it so important

I went in without expecting anything because I was open to learning anything at all so I cannot answer what should have been done better

However, on my part, I do wish I had taken up less commitments outside my job so I could focus more. At the end of my internship, I had to go through a debriefing and one of the biggest problems I faced (as pointed out by my boss) was that I had a bit of trouble with deadlines. After much reflection, I figured this was probably because I could not manage my time.

Like I said, learn to manage your time