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Aussie students learn about Asian Law through exchange programme

In order to get an in-depth understanding of Asian Law, 35 law students from Monash University’s Clayton campus recently spent over two weeks in the new Sunway campus for the Study Law in Asia program. This will be the second instalment of the programme following last year’s very successful program.

The two-and-a-half week program aimed to expose the students to legal issues in the Asian region, particularly Malaysia, in order to give them a further understanding of the judicial system in the country and around the region.

During the program, speakers from Malaysia’s legal fraternity were on hand as guest lecturers to explain aspects of the laws of Malaysia and other Asian judicial systems.

The students went on excursions to the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya and the new Courts on Jalan Duta. They met the legal fraternity at the Bar Council in Kuala Lumpur and visited the Legal Aid office. Apart from the scheduled visits, the students also took the chance to discover Kuala Lumpur city and surrounds, visiting everywhere from the Batu Caves to as far afield as Thailand and Singapore.

At the end of the programme the students had to sit for an examination to see how much they had learnt from the program and to measure their understanding of the Law in Asia

One of the participants of the programme, 22-year old Michael Batho said, “The programme gives students a chance to compare the legal system and see how the common law operates in different judiciaries. The law systems in Asia are similar to one another, especially in the Commonwealth nations.”

“More exchange programmes like this should be organized to create intercultural awareness. Visiting the Palace of Justice and the Sessions Court is a once in a lifetime experience for me and my friends while at the same time we were able to get a taste of Malaysia.”

Michael Batho.