I support the calls from certain quarters for the CLP exam to be scrapped. As someone who has gone through it and passed, I can say that it doesn't really prepare a person for legal practice. It is merely another academic examination.

Recently, I attended a two-day course on the Practice of Land law and Conveyancing organised by a local university. I think I learned more about land law in practice during those two days compared to my entire land law course in CLP.

The CLP exam certainly will not make one a competent lawyer. A lot depends on the period during one's chambering. But how many actually will be fortunate enough to get a good mentor. A person may be good academically, but practising law is a different ball game altogether.

I propose that the chambering period for overseas graduates be extended to one and a half years during which it is compulsory to attend certain courses, perhaps the same one as in the CLP exam but the emphasis should be on the practical side.

Courses on developing drafting, advocacy and negotiation skills should also be included. This will allow students to learn about the local legal system, and at the same time experience what they are learning in practice.

Hopefully this will produce better lawyers while doing away with the stress of preparing for the CLP exam. The practice will also be stressful, but it's worth it.