Felix CH Saw
LLB, 2013
BPTC, 2014
Malaysia
It matters not how brilliant you are, but who you are as a person — what values you carry and what principles you believe in. “
My passion for law began in childhood, inspired by Hong Kong TVB courtroom dramas that portrayed lawyers advocating passionately in court. Although I later realised that such dramatic moments form only a small part of legal practice, those shows sparked an ambition that never faded. After high school, I pursued Cambridge A-Levels and chose law as one of my subjects. I then enrolled in the University of London LLB External Programme, studying remotely from Kuala Lumpur for two years. At the time, I wanted to remain close to my parents, as my siblings were already abroad. Nevertheless, my father always encouraged us to seek opportunities overseas, which ultimately led me to continue my studies in the United Kingdom.
Initially, I had only intended to complete the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) in the UK, not transfer during my undergraduate studies. However, after discussions with the UWE Asia Pacific team, I became convinced that the University of the West of England (UWE) would be the right place for me to complete my LLB. Although the move felt daunting, especially as I knew no one there, my fears quickly eased upon arriving in London, where a UWE representative welcomed me at Heathrow Airport and arranged transportation to Bristol.
At UWE, I appreciated the broad range of elective subjects available, including media and entertainment law, comparative constitutional law, intellectual property law, and family law. The flexibility allowed students to focus on areas they were genuinely passionate about. What stood out most to me, however, was the practical approach to legal education. Unlike my previous distance-learning experience, UWE’s assessments placed significant emphasis on presentations and verbal communication skills alongside written examinations. This challenged me initially, but I soon recognised how essential advocacy and communication are in the legal profession. The programme sharpened not only my legal knowledge but also my confidence and speaking abilities, which proved invaluable preparation for the BPTC.
Beginning the Bar course in 2013, I was immediately struck by UWE’s emphasis on advocacy training. From the first class, we focused on voice projection, communication, and courtroom presence. The course included mock court sessions where tutors acted as judges, requiring us to perform as barristers under pressure. Lessons were recorded for self-review, and peer feedback encouraged continuous improvement. I especially valued the guidance of lecturers and tutors such as Marcus Keppel-Palmer, Dr Zainab Khan, Delyth James, Liz Cunningham, Jo Stringer, and James Lloyd, whose mentorship greatly shaped my development.
Returning to Malaysia in 2014, I completed my chambering in civil litigation at Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill, one of the country’s largest law firms, before being called to the Malaysian Bar in 2015. In 2020, I established my own civil litigation practice. Running a firm and mentoring younger lawyers has reinforced one key lesson: academic qualifications alone are not enough. A strong CV, effective communication skills, and professionalism are essential in securing opportunities. Above all, success in law depends not only on intelligence, but also on character, values, and integrity.
