The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion
The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion |
| Newsflash: Law firms want to make more money Posted: 05 Mar 2014 06:26 PM PST Ask Lord Bobo is a weekly column by LoyarBurok where all your profound, abstruse, erudite, hermetic, recondite, sagacious, and other thesaurus-described queries are answered. Free Your Mind! Dear Lord Bobo, does a law firm have the right to request a lawyer who is leaving the firm to refund the annual Practising Certificate fee which has been paid for the remainder of the year? (EE, via email.) It has been said that god created the devil so that men wouldn't blame Her (yes, god is female –– that's common knowledge, no?) for everything, and that the devil created lawyers so that men wouldn't blame Him for everything. That is true. Dear EE, if it's not already blatantly obvious, law firms are not charities. Most law firms are partnerships, and as made clear by the Partnership Act 1961, a partnership is a relationship which subsists between persons carrying on business in common with a view of profit. Newsflash –– lawyers are greedy. That's right, and the big-shot partners in law firms ultimately care only about the moolah. It's all about the money, money, money. There is a figure to everything, including your annual Practicing Certificate ("PC"). Your annual PC costs around RM1,000.00 to renew. This is a cost which law firms normally bear every year in exchange for your loyalty for the rest of the year. Whether you have to pay back this cost if you decide to leave (or are made to leave) during the year are dictated by the terms of your employment contract (oh, did you not read your employment contract? That's bad, being a lawyer and all). Assuming your employment contract is silent (shame on the firm!) and you leave during the year, the law firm which paid for the renewal of your annual PC would normally demand that you reimburse them for the cost incurred, prorated according to the number of months you worked for them. To be honest, this makes perfect sense, and seems fair. Why would a law firm bear the cost for the period you are not working for them? This is particularly logical if you move on to work for another law firm. Come on EE, don't be naïve. There is a cold, oppressive beast that lies at the heart of every law firm, and it stirs at scent of money. You're only useful to the law firm if you remained loyal. It's nothing personal, just good business. Lord Bobo hopes that you are not fooled by that benevolent image law firms paint for themselves, celebrating the false empowerment of their employees or the self-proclaimed good work they have done for the community. These are for the purposes of branding –– it is bait for unsuspecting victims. You would rather engage St Peter for business rather than Judas Iscariot, wouldn't you? If law firms are truly about empowerment, then as a lawyer ask yourself –– why are you getting a fixed salary instead of a share of the fees? Find out the total value of brief you are working on, and compare it with the remuneration you receive in return. How come you don't get paid more if the firm receives a multi-million dollar brief? Why is there such an enormous gap between the amount the law firm earns, and the amount you earn. The law firm structure is a scam. Even the partnership structure is a joke. "Salaried partners" or "non-equity partners" are still just employees and not true partners –– whatever complicated remuneration model the equity partners put in place to appease these junior partners will still result in them taking home only a small fraction of the fees they earn for the firm. Why is that? Pause for a moment and think about flexi-hours, bonuses, medical benefits, and professional development –– are these merely sweeteners to mask the oppression, the undeniable truth that you are not being remunerated equitably? Think about it. The next time you meet a senior or equity partner of a medium or big law firm (hey, you young lawyers working in medium or big law firms should try this), ask him about career paths, fixed-scale salaries, or the partnership remuneration formula. Then watch him squirm and wiggle and answer in code and half-truths. Once you have answered all these questions, you will find out the main reason why 90% of the law firms in Malaysia are small firms. Many lawyers inevitably leave and set up shop on their own. Sadly though, most of the partners in these small firms, having been oppressed by the equity partners from their previous firms, adopt the very same model of oppression they were subjected to once their small firm grows. The oppressed becomes the oppressors, perpetuating the cycle of oppression. Feeling disillusioned yet? Aren't law firms about helping those in need, defending the downtrodden and marginalised? Surely it cannot be all about profit? Sadly,no. Section 42 (1) (a) of the Legal Profession Act 1976 states that the purpose of the Malaysian Bar shall be to uphold the cause of justice without regard to its own interests or that of its members, uninfluenced by fear or favour. But what Section 42 does not state is that lawyers should do it for free. And they don't. More often than not, Section 42 is merely treated as a nice adornment to the false pomp and prestige of the legal profession. Lord Bobo is appalled at such sorry state of affairs, and you should be too. The legal profession is oppressive and ruthless. Whether you want to perpetuate the cycle of oppression or embark on a path of liberation depends entirely on you. If you decide on the latter, then begin by accepting that no one owes you a living, nor do you to others. Recognise that everyone should be equitably remunerated and there should not be too big an earnings gap between the firm and you –– or if the firm is yours, then between you and your lawyers. Understand that you have a duty to society as a lawyer, because you are in a better position than most others to help the downtrodden and marginalised. Law firms may think that they control you simply because they pay your wages or the cost of renewing your annual PC. Prove them wrong, go forth and start liberating yourself. Start by paying for your own annual PC and be your own person! Oh, you don't want to? You want the firm to pay? Then stop complaining about having to reimburse the firm. If you're not willing to pay the price for a little bit of freedom, then get comfortable in those chains and continue living as a slave to the wage. Free your mind! Although Lord Bobo already knows your question before you even knew you had a question, as a practical display of your true desire to have your query answered, His Supreme Eminenceness has graciously allowed you to communicate your questions by either emailing asklordbobo@loyarburok.com or tweeting your question, mentioning @LoyarBurok and using the hashtag #AskLordBobo. Now, what the hell are you waiting for? Hear This and Tremblingly Obey (although trembling is optional if you are somewhere very warm)! – March 6, 2014. | |
| Posted: 05 Mar 2014 03:44 PM PST
Waktu itu beliau sering bersajak di bawah tiang lampu di Pasar Seni bersama-sama kawan sealiran seperti Pyanhabib Rahman, Khalid Salleh, Ladin Nuawi, Nasir Jani, Siso dan Kamarol Yusoof. Saya berada dalam kelompok mereka juga tapi masih baru nak belajar apa itu seni dan hidup waktu itu. Sani bagi saya adalah salah satu spesies 'orang seni' yang 'rare' dalam kelompok artis yang kebanyakannya gilakan kemilau materi dan angan-angan. Bagi saya, mereka ini orang seni yang unik dan 'real'. Sehingga ke hari ini saya masih hormat mereka yang kebanyakannya berasal daripada kumpulan teater 'Anak Alam' ini. Beberapa tahun selepas itu saya pernah menyerahkan 'demo' karya saya kepada beliau untuk diusulkan kepada syarikat rakaman, jika mereka berminat. Sani berminat dengan konsep dan lagu saya. Tapi biasalah, bukan mudah untuk syarikat rakaman menerima konsep muzik 'folk' di negara kita ini pada waktu itu. Selepas itu, pada 1993 dengan demo yang sama saya cuba nasib dengan berjumpa M Nasir dan akhirnya diterima menjadi artis rakaman Luncai Emas yang berpusat di Sungai Buloh pada waktu itu. Falsafah orang seni ini banyak. Antaranya seni untuk hidup, seni untuk masyarakat, seni untuk seni dan berbagai lagilah. Kalau hendak yang 'real', lihatlah Sani dan wataknya. Saban hari melepak di Pasar Seni pada pertengahan 1980-an, ia merapatkan hubungan saya dengan warga seni Pasar Seni seperti Sani Sudin dan Aris Azis si pelukis hebat. Saya rasa selesa bergaul dengan mereka ini kerana bersesuaian dengan selera jiwa. Apa yang membezakan mereka dengan yang baharu hari ini? Sani daripada segi imejnya memang 'rabak', itu yang tidak dibuat-buat. Kita akan melihat beliau di mana-mana saja dalam keadaan apapun, nyata beliau sedang menghadam wataknya di dunia ini seadanya. Masalah Sani, si penyair, pelakon, pengarah, penyanyi, seniman, penulis lagu dan lirik juga penyajak itu bagi saya - siapa pendengar atau peminatnya? Orang lama lebih sukakan Kopratasa di era 'Masihkah Kau Ingat' atau 'Permata Buat Isteri', bukan lagu daripada album lain mereka atau lagu daripada album Sani. Apatah lagilah dengan konsep album solo Sani yang penuh dengan mesej tersirat dan lepas. Saya beli albumnya yang diterbitkan pada 1990-an dulu, judulnya 'Saya'. Album itu menarik kerana isi cerita dan konsepnya. Umum tahu Sani bermula daripada teater dan kemudiannya mencipta nama bersama kumpulan muzik trio Kopratasa. Saya pernah menyaksikan mereka membuat persembahan pada 1987 di Pasar Seni. Kopratasa yang menampilkan konsep lagu puisi, penyambung usaha kumpulan Kembara yang tidak panjang, hadir dengan sebuah album yang meletup di pasaran pada 1987, 'Keringat Dalam Pasrah'. Ditubuhkan pada 1985, kumpulan muzik ini hadir dengan trio vokal yang mantap dengan gandingan suara Sani, Usop dan Siso berjaya dikenali dan menjadi terkenal di kalangan masyarakat terutamanya orang Melayu dan kelompok sastera juga peminat lagu puisi. Cuma mereka ini hanya pandai berlagu dan bernyanyi, sedang di mana-mana pertunjukan masih sering menggunakan konsep minus one, seperti penyanyi karaoke. Itulah perkara yang saya agak kesalkan tentang kumpulan ini, tahap mereka ini hanya sekadar muzik 'minus one' kah? Pun sejak kebelakangan ini mereka mula bermuzik secara 'live' dengan kehadiran 'line-up' baharu Adinda Amiro. Itulah yang sepatutnya mereka lakukan dari dulu lagi. Standard 'karaoke' bagi saya sangat tidak sesuai dengan 'level' Kopratasa. Pun apabila mereka memainkan alat muzik dan bernyanyi secara 'live', penonton yang kebanyakannya daripada masyarakat Melayu dan orang sastera khususnya akan pening, akhirnya 'Masihkah Kau Ingat' dan 'Permata Buat Isteri' juga menjadi pengubat kebanyakan orang kita yang kuat berangan itu. Kopratasa sempat menghasilkan sejumlah album dari 1987 sehingga 2006. Saya sempat memiliki empat album terawal mereka iaitu Keringat Dalam Pasrah (1987), Kunci (1988), Episod 3 (1989) dan Sesetia Malam (1996). Apapun saya adalah segelintir peminat Sani. Sebabnya beliau faham, mengenali dan menggauli wataknya di dunia ini seada dan sebiasanya. Cabarannya ialah bagaimana untuk memperkenalkan karya beliau di lingkungan komuniti anak muda hari ini. Saya melihat Sani juga tersangkut dalam kelompok sastera yang mengenalinya. Sani dan Kopratasa itu berbeza. Dan saya percaya apabila beliau berlabun dan membuat persembahan di khalayak yang tahap kefahaman muzik mereka masih di tahap tepu, persembahannya itu mungkin dikategorikan sebagai satu 'lawak dan jenaka'. Bertemu dengan penerbitnya, Mohamad Farez Abdul Karem, beliau antara mereka yang daripada kalangan 'independent' yang sama-sama memeriahkan industri buku selain Merpati Jingga, Fixi dan Lejen. Apa yang membuatkan saya berminat tentang buku ini kerana Sani, selainnya usaha anak muda ini, Farez patut kita puji inisiatifnya walau dalam cabang independent, beliau melalui syarikat kecilnya 'Kaukab' sudah menerbitkan 4 buat buku setakat ini. Kita cuma perlu mengukuhkan komuniti independent agar pasarannya lebih meluas dan itu memerlukan sokongan mereka terutama anak muda untuk membeli karya yang berbentuk ilmiah untuk menambah ilmu dan pengetahuan. Kebanyakan sajak dalam Catatan SS adalah tentang diri, bergantung tahap faham kita dalam mengenal apa yang tersurat dan tersirat. Bagus bagi mereka yang punya inisiatif untuk berfikir dan mengkaji apa mesej dan cerita yang terdapat dalam koleksi sajaknya ini. Walau sajaknya pendek, bahasanya padat dan menarik. Walau sederhana, masih berkonsep dan kolobrasi dengan pelukis Fathullah Luqman Yusuff yang catan/lukisannya mengiringi setiap sajak yang yang menghiasi muka surat agak menarik dan 'style'. Cuma kalau catan/lukisan Fathul disertakan dalam bentuk warna, bukan hitam putih seperti yang diterbitkan, itu akan lebih menarik cuma kosnya mungkin akan lebih mahal. Sani pernah muncul dengan antologi puisinya 'Di Dalam Dalam' yang diterbitkan pada 1999 daripada Penerbitan Tinta Etika. Apa pun Sani Sudin adalah watak yang unik dan tersendiri, yang masih berjalan di lorong takdir yang yang namanya kehidupan. Salut! – 6 Mac, 2014. * Ini adalah pendapat peribadi penulis dan tidak semestinya mewakili pandangan The Malaysian Insider. |
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