Good lawyers must know when to tell clients they are wrong, says CJ

Chief Justice Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh delivered a keynote address at the Negeri Sembilan Bar Conference 2026 in Seremban, emphasizing the importance of good lawyers telling clients when their preferred legal strategy is flawed. According to the Chief Justice, true courage in advocacy does not involve shouting, but rather delivering a calm and steady message.

He stressed that lawyers should possess a deep understanding of human behavior, exercise sound judgment, and uphold their ethical responsibilities. The Chief Justice warned that lawyers risk wasting legal fees by not delving beyond the surface of a dispute. Using a hypothetical scenario involving two banana fritter business partners, he illustrated how a seemingly large contractual dispute might be rooted in emotional factors like feelings of public unrecognition.

The Chief Justice highlighted intellectual honesty, patience with complexity, and courage as key traits that set exceptional lawyers apart from the average ones. He reminded lawyers of their dual responsibility to their clients and the court, ensuring that human engineering takes precedence over legal engineering. Negeri Sembilan Bar Committee Chairman Karthigesan Shanmugan echoed the Chief Justice's sentiments, advocating for a more people-centric justice system, particularly in lower courts.

He called for practical judicial wisdom, focusing on fairness, proportionality, and understanding human circumstances, while urging a shift from case management to justice management.