TARAKAN — For law graduates in Kalimantan Utara, opportunities to move closer to a career as an advocate are becoming more accessible. Perhimpunan Advokat Indonesia Suara Advokat Indonesia (PERADI SAI) Kalimantan Utara is working together with the Sentra Layanan Universitas Terbuka (SALUT) Paguntaka Tarakan to offer the Special Education for the Advocate Profession (PKPA) in Kalimantan Utara.

The collaboration was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Universitas Terbuka Tarakan Building on Monday (August 24, 2026). The partnership is a joint effort to expand access to legal professional education while preparing human resources who are more competent, have integrity, and are ready to practice as advocates.

The MoU signing was witnessed by Universitas Terbuka Professor Prof. Dr. Maximus Gorky Sembiring, M.Sc., Head of SALUT Paguntaka Tarakan Rini Martha, S.H., M.H., and Director of UT Tarakan Jeji Muhammad Najib, S.Kom., M.M. Representing PERADI SAI Kalimantan Utara were Chairman SN. Montonglayuk, S.H., M.H., Hermanto Hamdi, S.H., M.H., and Head of the PKPA Division Ega Surya Perdana, S.H., M.H., CPM., CPCLE.

For SALUT Paguntaka Tarakan, the partnership also demonstrates how higher education institutions can become part of the professional development ecosystem in the region. Meanwhile, for PERADI SAI Kalimantan Utara, the collaboration is a strategy to bring advocate professional education closer to law graduates who need further learning opportunities before entering the field of advocacy.

The cooperation with SALUT Paguntaka Tarakan is a continuation of PERADI SAI Kalimantan Utara’s efforts to expand the implementation of PKPA in Kalimantan Utara. Previously, the organization had partnered with the University of Borneo Tarakan (UBT) through the signing of an MoU on Monday (July 27, 2026), which was directly witnessed by Tarakan Mayor, Dr. H. Khairul, M.Kes.

By partnering with UBT and now SALUT Paguntaka Tarakan, access for law graduates to obtain advocate professional education is expected to become wider. The opportunity is also open to participants from outside Kalimantan Utara.

Not merely signing the partnership agreement, PERADI SAI Kalimantan Utara immediately opened registration for PKPA following the signing of the MoU with SALUT Paguntaka Tarakan. Registration is open until September 30, 2026, with a limited number of participant slots.

Chairman of PERADI SAI Kalimantan Utara SN. Montonglayuk said that PKPA plays a greater role than simply fulfilling the administrative requirements to become an advocate. According to him, professional education serves as a space to develop prospective advocates who possess legal competence as well as professional character and ethics.

“PKPA is not merely about fulfilling the requirements to become an advocate, but is a process of developing character, professional ethics, and competence. We invite law graduates in Kalimantan Utara and other regions to take advantage of this opportunity and register immediately because the number of participant slots is limited,” SN. Montonglayuk said.

He explained that the quality of advocates ultimately contributes to determining the quality of legal services received by the public. Therefore, prospective advocates are not only required to understand legal regulations, but must also have courage, integrity, and responsibility in carrying out their profession.

SN. Montonglayuk also emphasized the position of advocates as part of the Catur Wangsa Penegak Hukum, together with the police, prosecutors, and judiciary. These four elements have complementary functions in creating a fair and balanced law enforcement process that is capable of protecting the rights of the public.

“Advocates are part of the Catur Wangsa Penegak Hukum together with police officers, prosecutors, and judges. The four have complementary roles. Without advocates, law enforcement would be incomplete because the public needs legal defense and assistance to ensure that their rights remain protected,” he stressed.

According to him, law enforcement does not stop at investigation, prosecution, or court decisions. Behind all these processes is the public’s right to receive legal assistance and representation.

“If one of the elements within this Catur Wangsa does not function properly, the law enforcement system will lose its balance. Without advocates, law enforcement will certainly be incomplete and, in the end, easily collapse,” he said.

Therefore, the collaboration between PERADI SAI Kalimantan Utara and higher education institutions, including SALUT Paguntaka Tarakan, is expected to serve as a foundation for building a professional education ecosystem that is increasingly accessible while maintaining quality.

“What we are building is not merely the number of advocates, but the quality of advocates. We want to produce advocates who master the law, understand professional ethics, have integrity, and are capable of carrying out their responsibilities in delivering justice for the public,” he concluded.

Efforts to expand access to legal professional education are in line with SDG 4 on Quality Education through strengthening learning opportunities and developing professional competencies. At the same time, strengthening the capacity of prospective advocates is related to SDG 16 on Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, particularly in supporting access to justice and strengthening law enforcement institutions.

Ultimately, the synergy between PERADI SAI Kalimantan Utara and SALUT Paguntaka Tarakan is not merely about the availability of a PKPA program in Tarakan. Behind it is an effort to connect education with professional needs and expand access so that more law graduates have the opportunity to prepare themselves before entering the world of advocacy. Becoming an advocate is not only about obtaining a profession, but also about being prepared to shoulder the responsibility of assisting the public in pursuing their rights and justice.