Volunteering as a bailiff for LawAsia Moot Competition
Sitting at my back, the panel of arbitrators. From left to right, sitting, Mr. Steven Thiruneelakandan (President of the Malaysian Bar Council), Yang Arif Dato' Mary Lim as
chairperson (Justice of the Court of Appeal) and Dato' Mah Weng Kwai (retired Court of Appeal judge). It was my greatest honour to be able to sit as a bailiff for the final round of Malaysia National Rounds of the 11th LawAsia International Moot Competition.
Volunteering is always my passion. Although I do not get paid by volunteering myself, but I could learn more than getting preoccupied by the wage rate by equating the amount of effort that I should put in to the wage rate. Life would be much easier and better to volunteer for the sake of learning and helping, rather than taking advantages on others. Of course, other than not getting paid, volunteering is relatively better than working. Taking the example of volunteering for LawAsia in KLRCA, firstly, there was no strict obligation that required me to perform something, that a failure to do so will not cost me anything nor losing anything as a result. Thus, volunteering is more carefree in the sense that there will be no burden, and this could lead to the person to be more productive, or at least I would.
Secondly, while volunteering for LawAsia, we worked as a team, with one common goal, which was to ensure everything will run smoothly as planned. It was an objective goal, rather than personal reason for participating in volunteering in the moot competition. As everyone had a common goal, and fair in a sense that everyone was equally not getting paid but were getting certificates, thus, unfairness regarding of who was doing lesser work or slacking would not be an issue, since you 'volunteered' yourself, therefore, be volunteering-minded.
Thirdly, during the period of volunteering, we were allowed to do whatever we liked, as long as it was not illegal, i.e. resting, selfie, reading, chatting with friends and etc. As oppose to working where, generally, even though if you are free from any projects or works, you are still required to act as if you have piles of documents to be read during the course of your work. It is unreasonable, but it is true.
Life is suppose to be fun and free. It should not be chained with unending obligations, in which obligation does not only deprive our time to enjoy life, but it also deter us from making life in others. The more obligations we have, the lesser we will to love, and thus losing love.
Besides, I have "arguably" attained much priceless experiences and have had a deeper knowledge on the workings of arbitration as well as a more profound understanding of the application of law as a whole. I would definitely recommend people with legal issues to attempt alternative dispute resolution (ADR) first, such as arbitration, mediation or conciliation, before resorting to the court.
Firstly, it would normally be less costly than having a case to be dealt in the court. Secondly, the ways of settlement or proceedings ADR are less formal as compared to court's, thus, it would be more relaxing and less stressful. Life is too short to have yourself be put in a stressful situation. Moreover, problems or issues could be dealt considerably faster by way of ADR, since having the problem solved is the prime reason for every problem, therefore, one can attempt alternative disputes resolution which might have a better and more effective way in solving a dispute than the remedies provided by the court.
In a nutshell, life is full of problems, and we unnecessarily created them, thus, do not making this unnecessary yet necessary-for-growing problems to be more problematic by taking the unnecessary detour. If there is a better way, utilise it. Life is more than wasting on unnecessary things than be a blessing to others.
