1. The Honourable Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam, Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong met with Bruneian law students in the United Kingdom on Monday 30 September 2024 at the Brunei High Commission in London.
2. The Chief Justice was welcomed by High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to the United Kingdom, His Excellency First Admiral (Rtd) Pengiran Dato Seri Pahlawan Norazmi bin Pengiran Haji Muhammad and Director of Studies of Brunei Students’ Unit, Cikgu Mohammad Danny bin Aimi.
3. The event marked the first time the Chief Justice and members of the Judiciary engaged with Bruneian law students based in the United Kingdom. The Chief Justice spoke on the study and practice of law and shared reflections on careers in legal practice in Brunei Darussalam.
4. In his opening remarks, the Chief Justice narrated his own journey in the law and said that the practice of law is an “intellectually demanding and challenging profession but also, in my opinion, the most rewarding”. He spoke on how “the legal profession is a noble one and it demands a high standard of ethics, professionalism and commitment to justice for all.” The Chief Justice was also “encouraged by the continuing interest of Bruneian students to study law and practice law.”
5. The Chief Justice said that the legal profession is transforming rapidly and the practice of law is being reshaped by technology and artificial intelligence. He explained the importance of having a competitive edge by specialising in areas of law that are most in demand in Brunei. He also encouraged students to take on pro bono initiatives to hone their skills as future advocates and to undergo internship programmes to develop skills that will enhance work readiness.
6. It was emphasized by the Chief Justice that mentorship is an important part of the journey in law and that all students and junior lawyers should actively cultivate and seek opportunities for mentoring. He said mentorship is a vital element of training, serving as a bridge between legal education and practice and facilitates the transmission of skills and helps pass down the legal profession’s ethics, values and traditions.
7. The Chief Justice also spoke to students on the value of obtaining additional qualifications in alternative dispute resolution and on initiatives being made by the Judiciary and the Brunei Darussalam Arbitration Centre (BDAC) where both the courts and the BDAC offer mediation services to parties. He explained that many judges and judicial officers and lawyers in private practice in Brunei are qualified mediators and underwent accreditation with BDAC and the Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC).
8. The Chief Justice ended his address by expressing the Judiciary’s commitment to support law students and graduates on their journey and that the students have “an important to role in leading the legal profession of Brunei into the future”.
9. A presentation on the justice system and legal practice in Brunei Darussalam was then given by the Acting Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court Hjh Hazarena binti POKSJ DP Hj Hurairah, which was followed by a question and answer session with students.
10. The event was attended in person and online by Brunei law students in the United Kingdom together with senior judicial officers from the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam, and officers from the High Commission of Brunei Darussalam and Brunei Students’ Unit in London.
SUPREME COURT OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
MONDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
