Career counselling; questions and answers

Q1: Dear Abidi sb, I am confused and very much disappointed of my pace in CA. This is because I have been studying this for last six years. I know I cannot get success with such pace as I have done two years working in six years. Your expert advice as to what should I do shall be highly appreciated. (Kamal Khan, Peshawar)

Ans: After going through your inquiry details I have a better solution for this problem. I think you would be successful if you get a formal qualification which can be a B.Com or an MBA and that is also relevant to your work experience within the Accounting and Financial area. Whereas, CA I hope you know that unless fully completed is not a qualification that can bring you a professional career progression. I am quite confident that you understand what I am trying to say. If you wish, you can keep on pursuing your current study i.e. CA while getting local academic qualifications which should be HEC approved.

Q2: Respected Abidi sb, I thought it would be a good idea to request you for assistance in guiding me about law education. After O-Levels and Intermediate I am now planning to study LLB. Sir, some UK-based institutions are offering three years LLB programmes but I am confused as most of the institutions in Pakistan are offering LLB but the duration is five years and it is HEC approved. The three years LLB offered by the UK-based institutions also claim that they are offering HEC approved three years law degree. My question is should I go abroad for studying law and practice there? As it is an international degree, would it help me especially as a lawyer? My wish is to practice law here in Pakistan. I look forward for your help and guidance. (Muneer Fazal, Lahore)

Ans: Please note that a law degree has to be approved/ recognised by the local Bar Council. So if you want to study here; you should be able to be admitted to one of the Bars in the province of your residence such as Punjab Bar, Sindh Bar etc. I suggest instead of studying in a foreign country or a UK-based institution, you should prefer studying in a local university to the London external law degree or an affiliated law degree particularly if you are aiming to settle and practice in Pakistan. I think now it will be easier for you to make a correct decision.

Q3: Dear sir, I did my O-Level last year from Hyderabad. These days I am in the first year of Federal Board studying medical. I am confused what I should do; whether medical studies or law as I am interested to do law. Please let me know what are the prospects for a girl after receiving a law degree? Also please advise if I should study law in a foreign country as I wish to go abroad for this purpose? On the other hand, let me know the prospects of CSS after getting a law degree. I look forward for your advice. (Tamkinat, Hyderabad)

Ans: You have multiple queries which are quite different as compared to each other. For example, Medical Science has got nothing to do with you becoming a lawyer. Please do not forget that a lawyer is a person who should not be qualified biologist. It is up to you as both subject areas have great potential as profession. I tell you that lawyers especially females in Pakistan or abroad; who entered into legal profession, became renowned judges in Pakistan and foreign countries. After getting a law degree; you can surely consider doing CSS which you can choose the judiciary department or law ministry. Females in this field have been very successful.

Q4: Sir, I have passed my O-Levels with 3A*,4A & 1B. I have started my A-Levels from Lahore Grammar School (LGS), Gujrat. I have opted Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics as my A-Levels subjects. Still I have no idea what to do next. Do I need to conduct some courses right now if I want to apply in foreign universities? I am looking forward for your guidance. (Ashraf Inam, Gujrat)

Ans: Since you have already opted Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in your A-Levels; there is a huge range of degree areas which you can choose from but for this you need proper career counselling so that we can discuss and give you an idea/ proper road map. Following which you can decide the course that you wish to do in the UK and shortlist the universities to apply before the UCAS deadline that expires on 15th January, 2020. If you are interested in any other country such as Canada, Europe or Australia, you can discuss that too.

(Syed Azhar Husnain Abidi is a renowned educationist in Pakistan, with more than 20 years of experience as provider of education counselling services. He has represented Pakistan in over 100 national and international seminars, conferences and fora. He is a recipient of the most coveted civil award Tamgha-e-Imtiaz).