Newly elected Bar Council president Karen Cheah said members voted against the motion as they had reservations that its tabling and passing might contravene the Legal Profession Act (LPA).

“In principle, we do not object to some form of minimum wage, but we believe it requires some amendments to the LPA,” she said.

Cheah said the Bar had submitted proposed amendments to the Attorney-General’s Chambers and is awaiting a response.

Young lawyers had wanted the Bar to compel masters to pay their pupils, or lawyers in training, in accordance with the current minimum wage.

Law graduates who wish to be admitted to the Bar must undergo nine months of mandatory training in chambers. Pupils are not classified as employees under the Employment Act.

A group of young lawyers had submitted a petition to the Bar’s national young lawyers and pupils committee last year in a bid to secure minimum pay for pupils.

Another motion by lawyer Charles Hector Fernandez to urge the courts to make orders for costs awarded in a civil appeal to be “minimum and reasonable” was also defeated.

The Bar Council’s motion requiring members to subscribe and pay for services of three law journal providers was passed with two-thirds support.

Last year, similar motions on the law journals were defeated during the Bar’s extraordinary general meeting.

Penang-based lawyer Ezri Abdul Wahab is the new vice-president while tax lawyer Anand Raj is the new secretary. Murshidah Mustafa will resume her position as the Bar treasurer.