The Shariah Laboratory of the Islamic Family Law Program (Ahwal Syakhshiyyah), Faculty of Islamic Studies at Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang, held a Legal Skills Training (PLKH) in the field of Family Law Paralegals on June 25. The event, which took place in the FAI Auditorium on the 5th floor of GKB II UMM, was attended by all participants of the PLKH program, consisting of students from the 2019, 2018, and 2017 cohorts of the HKI program.
During the event, the Shariah Laboratory invited one of the alumni who is currently a practicing lawyer, Mr. Candra Hadi Kusuma, S.H., S.Sy., M.Hum., M.Kn. He was very pleased to be able to reconnect with the students of the Islamic Family Law program (Ahwal Syakhshiyyah). "Alhamdulillah, I am very happy with this invitation, as it allows me to visit and connect with my professors and younger students. Even though I had to reschedule some of my commitments, this moment is very exciting for me," he said at the start of the session.
The owner of CLO Law Firm, based in Malang Regency, explained that being a paralegal is a promising professional opportunity for students in the HKI program at UMM. "Instead of just hanging out, it would be better for you to intern at law offices to become a paralegal. This will provide you with skills and experience for a career as a lawyer," he advised.
Mr. Candra continued, saying that the most important asset for a lawyer is trust from the community. This trust can begin with an internship at a law office that is trusted by the public. According to Mr. Candra, once a lawyer gains the trust of the community, cases will keep coming in, ensuring a steady income.
The profession of lawyer, which is often associated with a negative stigma and a high standard of living, was a point of caution for Mr. Candra. "However, if you become a lawyer, you should live simply. Never forget your religious values, as these will be the peace for a lawyer’s life. The principle is: if we are rich, our surroundings should also be rich, not just ourselves. Otherwise, there will be envy," he said.
The man who was awarded as the Best Advocate of the Supreme Court in 2021 in the field of Religious Courts also explained that being a paralegal can be an opportunity to plant the seeds for the future. "When you become a lawyer, you can harvest the rewards. In other words, once you are a lawyer, you don’t have to struggle too hard with court hearings and so on; you can just work from the office and sign documents. You could even retire by the age of 40 and still be a lawyer."
In addition to explaining the role of paralegals, Mr. Candra also shared the procedures for practicing law in Religious and Civil Courts within the scope of Family Law. At the end of the session, he emphasized that students in the HKI program have many opportunities if they choose to specialize in Family Law. [ika]
