When it comes to legal technology, few Malaysians may be as well-versed in it as Linda Misbah.
Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Linda is a legal tech specialist, where she supports litigation teams in managing massive volumes of digital data for civil litigation cases. Her work in eDiscovery involves everything from strategising how to identify, collect, process, and prepare digital evidence for analysis and review, to implementing artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools that accelerate case preparation.
As a key translator between legal professionals and tech personnel, Linda ensures that the digital backbone of modern litigation is sound, efficient and defensible.
Read on to learn how Linda worked her way up to the forefront of legal tech.
Chancing Upon Her Calling & Building a Foundation
Originally from Tawau, Sabah, Linda did not always envision herself in the legal field. “I didn’t grow up wanting to be a lawyer or anything like that. It kind of crept up on me over time,” she recalled.
Her first exposure to the subject came during her diploma studies at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), where a compulsory business law module sparked an unexpected interest. “To my surprise, I actually enjoyed it and was really good at it. The subject made sense to me.”
That budding interest turned into a serious career consideration when she began working at Shearn Delamore & Co. as a legal secretary in the Intellectual Property department. Immersed in a professional legal environment, Linda found herself increasingly drawn to the workings of law. “Being in that environment day in and out, surrounded by legal professionals… I found myself getting more and more interested in how the law works,” she says.
At Shearn Delamore, Linda was responsible for managing Trademark files and ensuring they met strict deadlines and quality standards. “One small mistake could cause delays or impact a Trademark file. That taught me early on that there’s no such thing as just a secretary. You’re basically a critical part of the legal machine.”
Later roles at Ingress Corporation Berhad and Qi Services continued to shape her skill set. At Ingress, she honed her professionalism and people skills, supporting senior executives and handling confidential communications with stakeholders. “That role taught me how to be polished and diplomatic, how to handle pressure without showing it and how to keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.”
In the last role she held before moving abroad, Linda was a legal department secretary at Qi Services. Her time here further sharpened her ability to manage competing demands and strengthened her grasp of corporate operations—skills that would prove essential in her next chapter abroad.
Starting Over, Building Anew
In 2011, Linda made a major life change: she left behind her job, family and familiar surroundings in Malaysia to join her husband in Ottawa, Canada. At the time, she was in the final year of her law degree, juggling studies with visits during semester breaks. After two years of long-distance marriage, she took the leap to move abroad permanently, stepping into a new chapter personally and professionally.
The early years were far from easy. “It was not easy without Canadian experience and references. I lost count of the rejection emails I received,” she admitted. While living in Sudbury and Mississauga, Linda spent three and a half years doing community volunteer work—including photography for local events—as part of her integration as a newcomer.
Her first Canadian job came about almost unexpectedly. At a friend’s suggestion, she enrolled in a tax certificate programme that promised part-time work upon completion. “I was initially sceptical,” she recalled with a laugh. “Accounting and I had a mutual-hate relationship during my diploma years.” Nonetheless, she completed the course and briefly worked as a part-time tax consultant—an experience that, along with her volunteer work, helped build the local references she needed.
This highlights why accessibility to community networks matters, and is something that MyHeart’s Network and Connect feature can facilitate Malaysians abroad with. In Canada, prominent figures like Henry Lee also foster Malaysian connections by organising networking events and gatherings for the community. For Malaysians like Linda starting over in a foreign land, being part of such a network can make all the difference.
That breakthrough came in 2016, when Linda and her husband moved to Vancouver, British Columbia. She landed a floater position at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, rotating across departments for three months before being offered a full-time role as a legal assistant in the Commercial Litigation department.
Almost two years later, she pivoted into eDiscovery, joining the firm’s national eDiscovery services team. “Since then, I’ve progressed with upskilling and certifications that are mainly software and industry-specific,” she shared. Now part of a global firm, she works across jurisdictions and with legal teams around the world—a leap she described as “an opportunity I couldn’t resist.”
Powering the Legal Sector with Technology
Today, Linda plays a pivotal role in ensuring digital evidence is properly managed throughout the litigation process. She oversees this process end-to-end: identifying relevant data, collecting it without disrupting business operations, processing it using tools like predictive coding and preparing it for review.
As a bridge between legal and tech teams, she also helps lawyers become more confident with digital tools. Her work reduces costs, increases efficiency and helps lawyers focus on the aspects of a case that matter most. In one particularly memorable case, she and her team processed over two million documents from a 1TB hard drive within just four days—a task that would have taken months using traditional methods.
“We now have smarter tools that use AI to predict what’s important and surface relevant data faster,” she shares. “It’s exciting to be part of something that’s not only improving efficiency but also shaping the future of law.”
Staying Rooted & Giving Back
One of Linda’s most meaningful contributions to Malaysia’s legal sector came in 2023, when she was invited to speak at the International Malaysia Law Conference (IMLC). There, she shared her insights from Canada and encouraged Malaysian legal professionals to embrace eDiscovery practices. This demonstrates how Malaysians abroad can contribute to their homeland, be it through sharing expertise, sparking innovation or helping industries evolve.
“eDiscovery is still a developing field in Malaysia, and I hope I can be a part of growing it,” she said.
MyHeart’s Collaboration feature can make it easier for professionals like Linda to discover or pitch relevant projects and collaborate with like-minded Malaysians who are eager to drive initiatives forward. Whether it’s mentoring, sharing sessions or working on cross-border projects, Malaysians from all over the world can find opportunities to give back to the nation in impactful ways.
Future Plans & the Power of Adapting
In the coming years, Linda hopes to further establish herself as a subject matter expert in legal tech and create opportunities to mentor others curious about it. She is also a registered member of MyHeart and plans to apply for MyHeart’s Returning Expert Programme (REP), with hopes of eventually transitioning back to Malaysia.
She offers this advice to young Malaysians: “Start with where you are. Stay curious, stay open-minded, and don’t be afraid to pivot. What you study or where you start doesn’t define your whole career. What matters more is how you grow and adapt.”
Are you a Malaysian abroad looking to connect with like-minded individuals and contribute to your industry back home? Sign up on MyHeart to explore collaboration opportunities, share your expertise and help shape the future of Malaysian talent.
Close
