He is a qualified lawyer or an advocate with LLB (Hons) from the Law Faculty, UiTM in 1988.
While serving with the Malaysian legal and judicial services as a First Class Magistrate in Limbang in 1989, he was called to the Sarawak Bar on 28.3.1990 as the Advocate of High Court of Sabah and Sarawak.
On 25.1.2019, he was admitted as Advocate and Solicitor of High Court of Malaya.
Prior to legal practice , he had served in the major towns of Sarawak in Limbang, Miri, Sarikei , Bintulu, Sibu , Sri Aman, and Kuching . He also served in West Malaysia as Sessions Judge at Civil Court No.7, Jalan Duta Courts, Kuala Lumpur from November 2013 to May , 2015.
In various capacities as First Class Magistrate, Deputy Registrar, Research Officer to the High Court Judge, and later as Sessions Judge from 2008 till 2018, he dealt with some complex cases of various nature which gave him close to 30 years of invaluable experiences , and exposure to wide areas of laws. He wrote solid judgments, some of which were recorded for posterity in law journals, and some affirmed by the Court of Appeal, the highest Apex Court for the Lower Court. Notable ones are Liu Li v. Stampark Sdn. Bhd [2017]1 LNS 320 ; PP v. Wong Tak Leong & Other cases [2012] 2AMR 375. All these knowledge and experiences are invaluable and put to good use in the legal practice.
While at his previous career, he was one of the judicial representatives for world conference on Child Laws in Singapore (2002), World Colloquium on Intellectual Property in Kuala Lumpur ( 2009) , Anti -Money laundering laws (AMLA) organised by Bank Negara (2010), Judicial Dialogue on Anti-Trafficking in Persons with US Department of Justice, Kota Kinabalu (2018), Regional Cybercrime Workshop, Kinabalu (2017).
He was also Ad-hoc Lecturer to Young Deputy Public Prosecutors at the Malaysian Institute of Judicial & Legal Training in 2015.
He was one of the Presiding Judges in Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition at UiTM Law Faculty, Shah ALam, Selangor in February 2015.
Upon his retirement as Sessions Judge of the Sarawak Courts on in October 2018 ( Sessions Judge is equivalent to County Judge or District Court Judge in some jurisdictions ), he went to practice as founder and owner of the law firm, Messrs. Timothy F. Joel Advocates, Kuching.
His vast exposure is translated into general practice covering Litigation (Criminal Defence and Civil ), Conveyancing, Property, Family Law ( including Divorce and inheritance), Injunctive Relief, Immigration, Employment, Personal Injuries Claim / Accident Cases, Medical Negligence, Customs, Corruption Cases, Commercial Crime, shipping / maritime and admiralty in rem, Constructions Contract , Commercial Laws, Bankruptcy / Winding Up / Insolvency, copyright infringement, IT and internet cases (including FB defamation), corporate laws / secretarial services, and Native Land cases.
He is a Life Member of ASEAN Law Association since 2015.
He also attended a course and obtained a certificate in Adjudication of Construction Cases (CIPAA) in 2019, and is able to conduct cases before the Adjudicators to expedite constructions payment dispute.
Presently , he is the President of Consumer Tribunal of Sarawak for 3 year term 2019-2022, appointed on 5th October,2019.
He was assigned by the High Court in November 2019 to defend one of the accused persons in a murder case under sec.302 of the Penal Code.
He had also served the State of Sarawak as Inquiry Committee Chairman for Sarawak Public Services Commission in 1992, and was given a commendation letter. In 1993, he was conferred the State Award of PBK for the services rendered to the State.
His firm is currently involved in the study to revamp the Native Court of Sarawak , launched in January 2020.
He is the Diocesan Chancellor for Anglican Diocese of Kuching , appointed on 6th February 2020. On 11th February 2020 he was appointed as the Provincial Chancellor for Anglican Province of South East Asia for legal and ecclesiastical matters. He is also the Legal Advisor to the Association of Churches in Sarawak ( ACS ) since 17th August 2020.
” … let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-ending stream. Amos 5:24 “
