Curtin Malaysia’s ‘Classroom to Field’ Programme offers students real-world legal experience

Miri, Sarawak – 11 September 2024 – Students from the Faculty of Business at Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently took their learning beyond the classroom as part of the university’s innovative ‘Classroom to Field’ programme. Participants of the Applied Contract Law course had the unique opportunity to visit S H Lim & Co Law Firm, a legal practice here, where they were immersed in the realities of legal practice.

The visit, aimed at bridging the gap between academic study and professional experience, kicked off at the PARC Shared Office, where Andrew Lau K.Q. warmly welcomed the students and their accompanying faculty members led by Lecturer in Business Law, Dr. Mohammad Belayet Hossain.

The highlight of the visit was an engaging session led by advocate Abigail Lim Jiunn, a barrister-at-law who graduated from the prestigious Gray’s Inn and has a wealth of experience in contract law.

Lim captivated the students with a detailed breakdown of the core principles of contract law, including offer and acceptance, consideration, legal capacity, and the intention to create legal relations. Through real-world examples and case studies, she demonstrated how these foundational principles are applied in legal practice, giving students a tangible perspective on the legal profession.

What made the experience particularly enriching was the interactive nature of the session. The students actively participated in discussions, posed insightful questions, and exchanged ideas, gaining a deeper appreciation of the complexities of contract law that go beyond textbook learning.

“The visit was eye-opening. We gained so much from hearing a practising lawyer explain how contract law works in the real world. It has inspired me to pursue my studies with a renewed passion,” shared one of the students.

Dr. Mohammad expressing the Faculty of Business heartfelt gratitude to Lau and the team at S H Lim & Co for their warm hospitality and for providing such an invaluable learning experience, saying the initiative is part of the faculty’s commitment to creating more opportunities for students to connect academic learning with professional practice.

Dr. Mohammad also reaffirmed the faculty’s plans to organise similar visits in the future. “Experiences like this enrich our students’ education and prepare them for the realities of their chosen careers,” he said.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit curtin.edu.my or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn or TikTok.

Dr. Mohammad Belayet Hossain (left) presents a souvenir and certificate of appreciation to Lim Jiunn (second right) and Andrew Lau (right)

Andrew Lau delivering welcoming speech to the students and faculty members

Lim providing students with an overview of contract law at the session