4th Day @ Cheang & Ariff

Monday morning, my fourth day but the first day for my law attachment KDU-UTAS mates, Yoke Hang and Pui San. I got a feeling this is just one of the many 'group photos' we'll take.. =b

As how Kellie showed me the places and faces during my first day, we were shown around the Loke Mansion and introduced to the staff in Cheang&Ariff, We then had a talk with Mr. Chong (our Master - what they call the person-in-charge over you during your stint in a law firm) about the firm and what the next whole month of practical training would be like.

Above is the filing room in the 2 big containments where all files over the last few years are stored. Next to the Loke Mansion is the ‘Loke Yew Pavilion’ , a big storeroom where all the miscellaneous ‘dan lain-lain’ stuff are kept.

Our first assignment of the day was by Ms. Carol and it was to key in details and sort out letters for claimants of late delivery of apartment units. Quite a daunting task, seeing a huge stack with over 150 letters!

This is one of the books written by Dato’ Loh. He is a prominent figure in the corporate legal world and almost all the law firms in Malaysia has his book in their libraries. He also pushed for the idea of ISO-ing law firms and thus Cheang&Ariff is the first firm in ASEAN to be ISO-Certified.

Click here to find out more.

A mini-testimonial about from him from 'legal500.com'

Cheang & Ariff is described as a dispute resolution ‘powerhouse’, and the firm’s lead litigator, Dato’Loh Siew Cheang, is at the forefront of the market. The strength of the team lies predominantly in corporate disputes, and leverages off the firm’s strong corporate and commercial department. It is also very capable advising on construction, employment and industrial disputes. Mohd Ariff Yusof is also highly recommended.

Our first day of work at the library. ‘Researching’? If you enlarge the picture you can see what the two of ‘em are doing.. The person with the books is Ms. Rose, she is the firm’s librarian besides other duties she helps the firm in. A really caring lady, she thought me the tricks and trade of Cheang&Ariff, the work culture, how to get to the LRT station with fastest route, great places to eat, searching for case laws, reports, acts and journals. You name itshe tells it!

Rose if you’re reading this, thank you loads for the all your guidance when I was working in the library for my first few days!

After lunch, we followed Mr. Ratha to the Petaling Land Office (Pejabat Tanah Dan Daerah Petaling) which is a government agency that records land claims, loans patents, and possibly deeds. Lawyers normally make use of the land office when they would want to conduct a search on their client’s property, whether the property has the right owner or the land title is safe to buy - to ensure that there is no strings attached to it!

For example in the search for property, they’re a few types of ‘carian’ which are carian rasmi, carian persendirian or salinan sah hak milik.

Basically this building in Subang Jaya is the Petaling District office compromising of various departments but the land office is only department of interest to Lawyers. Mr. Ratha has been in the dispatch departments for 20 years now and has been a pro when it comes to all these. Sometimes he even drives all the way to Alor Setar Land Office in Kedah (Bout 5hours drive) to do confirm a property search there.

We learned about the ‘Caveat’ which is Latin for "beware". Usually it is in the form of a contract clause that stipulates a particular requirement. It is a formal notice or warning against certain actions being taken by a court; most often seen in regard to the granting of probate of a will by the court; most common usage as a document that is filed in the Land Titles Office to warn of possible title defects.

All in all, today was a day of learning. One thing we learned for sure is we’re not taking the LRT anymore and Yoke Hang will be fetching us from tomorrow onwards! Thank God! No more waiting in line and squeezing like sardines every day!