The past year has been filled with both challenges and opportunities for the legal services sector. While we continue to manage the long tail of the pandemic as well as new challenges arising from the changing nature of legal practice, the gradual opening up of the world and rapid advances in technology have also broadened our horizons. The Academy has accordingly made significant investments to gear our profession up for the future of the practice of law.
The first area of investment is in the adoption of technology. We incorporated LawNet Technology Services Pte Ltd on 1 April 2022 to catalyse the Academy’s digital transformation. This transformation is well under way, with the launch of LawNet.com, which will serve as a single digital hub to access SAL’s content and services. To aid the profession as a whole in achieving a similar digital transformation, we launched the Lighten-Up programme, which offered smaller law firms a complimentary structured consulting programme to reimagine their work processes.
Secondly, we have also continued to invest in human and intellectual capital. We have extended the SAL Undergraduate Scholarship for another five years until 2027, and expanded eligibility to LLB and Juris Doctor candidates at SUSS. Meanwhile, Academy Publishing, which marks its 15th anniversary this year, has continued to drive scholarship and thought leadership on Singapore law, with 12 new titles published this year.
Finally, the Academy has flown the Singapore flag high in the region and the world. We have promoted the use of Singapore law internationally through an expanded suite of Venture Capital Investment Model Agreements and raised the profile of Singapore as a legal hub through the annual TechLaw.Fest, which can now be attended virtually.
With the legal profession’s continuing support for the Academy’s work and our combined commitment to gearing ourselves up for the future, I am confident that we can all emerge even stronger from the pandemic, ready to explore new horizons and fresh opportunities.
President, Singapore Academy of Law
Chair, Board of Governors, Asian Business Law Institute
The work of SAL is largely driven by the SAL Executive Board which focuses on five key areas:
Legal Education, Legal Publishing & Knowledge, Legal Development, Legal Technology and Corporate Development and Statutory Services.
President, Singapore Academy of Law
Chair, Board of Governors, Asian Business Law Institute
Vice-President, Singapore Academy of Law
Vice-President, Singapore Academy of Law
Chairperson, Legal Publishing and Knowledge Cluster
Vice-President, Singapore Academy of Law
Immediate Past President, Law Society of Singapore
Vice-President, Singapore Academy of Law
Dean, Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore
Chairperson, Board of Singapore Mediation Centre
Chairperson, Legal Technology Cluster Chair, Board of SAL Ventures Ltd
Chairperson, Legal Development Cluster
Chairperson, Corporate Development and Statutory Services Cluster
Chairperson, Criminal Legal Assistance Steering Committee
Chairperson, Legal Education Cluster and Co-Chairperson, Legal Technology Cluster
The SAL Executive Board was refreshed with effect from 2 June 2022.
View the current Executive Board here.
“It is no longer enough to just know the law. There needs to be a mindset shift. Lawyers need a growth mindset, a client-centric approach and new disciplinary skill sets for innovative solutions. SAL’s work is geared towards providing the tools and resources to help our members navigate and thrive in the increasingly dynamic and complex future.”
Rama Tiwari
Chief Executive
Bala Shunmugam
Senior Director, Academy Publishing
Academy Library, a new digital library was launched in October 2021 with a free six-month trial available to all members. This gave them ready access to Academy Publishing titles as well as select LexisNexis publications. All Academy Publishing titles are also available for purchase in print, digital or bundle (print+digital) on LawNet e-store.
LawNet was completely re-designed as a one-stop hub for legal content and services. In addition to Academy Library, the new LawNet.com portal includes LawNet Asian Insights, the Intelligent Case Retrieval System featuring personal injury cases and awards, the Commercial Precedents database, which is populated with contributions from many leading law firms, and has proven to be useful and extremely popular with our members, and the Pleadings database, which provides access to actual pleadings selected by sitting Judges.
“Our thought leadership activities help users build cross-border knowledge and advance their role as trusted advisors to their constituencies.”
Mark Fisher
Deputy Executive Director, Asian Business Law Institute
ABLI’s Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency in Asia, which quickly sold out its print run, was cited as one of the two “notable sources” in a paper published by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in May 2021.
“As a catalyst for SAL’s digital transformation, we will continue to develop and drive the technology behind its products and services, both familiar and new.”
Kenta Kusano
Chief Executive-Designate, LawNet Technology Services
LawNet Asian Insights was launched on 4 April 2022 to support legal professionals in navigating the complex and constantly evolving laws in Asia, by providing concise and commercially focused content. More than 500 pieces of content were available at launch and new content is uploaded weekly.
OpenLaw was launched in April 2022. The portal provides free access for the public to Unreported Supreme Court Judgments from 1965, enhancing access to justice. Paying LawNet Legal Research subscribers have access to more content and more powerful search features to suit legal practitioners.
Launched on 12 April 2022 as part of Infocomm Media Development Authority’s (“IMDA”) Consumer Telco dispute resolution scheme.
LawNet Technology Services Pte Ltd was incorporated on 1 April 2022 and will act as the technology catalyst to drive SAL’s digital transformation while mitigating risks and equipping SAL’s members with the technology they need to stay on top of the many challenges they face in today’s fast-changing, globalised environment. LTS will also seek to accelerate SAL’s entrepreneurial and commercial activities.
In collaboration with State Courts, the Intelligent Case Retrieval System allows LawNet subscribers to search for personal damages awards by nature of injury through interactive visualisations.
Both the Liability Simulator and Quantum Simulator on Motor Accidents Claims Online have been made available to the public since April 2021. The project team is collaborating with the Supreme Court’s Office of Public Affairs and CrimsonLogic to drive adoption of the service.
SAL also assisted the Courts with the changes to eLitigation resulting from changes to the Rules of Court arising from the Civil Justice Reform proposals.
Delphine Loo
Chief Legal Officer and Senior Director, Learning and Professional Development
The Family Therapeutic Justice Certification Programme was launched in October 2021 to a first cohort of 40 learners.
One of the largest events in our annual legal calendar is TechLaw.Fest. In 2021, it was held as a fully virtual event from 22 to 24 September with over 4,500 registrations from 118 countries. 2,600 attendees participated in live sessions featuring 105 speakers and 43 exhibitors and partners. The themes for TLF were Cybersecurity, Data and Digital Economy. Second Minister for Law Mr Edwin Tong SC opened the discussions in a fireside chat session and Justice Aedit Abdullah delivered the closing remarks.
The 13th Junior College Law Programme was held virtually from 30 November to 2 December 2021 with 334 participants.
The updated SAL-INSEAD Legal Leadership Programme had its largest-ever cohort with 33 attendees comprising law firm leaders and in-house counsel in corporate and government agencies. The programme was conducted from 24 to 26 March 2022.
SAL and Sorbonne-Assas International Law School (now known as Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas, Singapore Campus) organised a series of three online executive seminars on data protection, e-commerce and sustainability in the second half of 2021. The webinars received a total of 80 paid registrations.
Throughout the pandemic, the SAL has been helping its members build skills and supporting them with tools so that they can emerge stronger as we move into the next phase of post-Covid 19 recovery. These support packages worth a total value of around $7 million, helped the profession in its efforts to continue both practising and learning the law. These included:
The SAL Undergraduate Scholarship was approved for another five years from 2022 to 2027. In addition to tuition fees, it includes an annual sum for living expenses. The programme has also been expanded to include students from SUSS’ LLB and Juris Doctor programmes.
Three new Senior Counsel were appointed in 2022:
Mr Mahesh Rai of Drew & Napier LLC won the Joseph Grimberg Outstanding Young Advocate award 2021.
Other SAL awardees in 2021/22 were Ms Yuan Yang (NUS) and Mr Sasiy s/o Khrishnan (SMU) for the SAL Undergraduate Scholarship and Mr David Isadore Tan (Rajah & Tann) (above) for the Christopher Bathurst Prize.
Eleven oral history interviews with representatives from the Government, Judiciary, law schools, practitioners and in-house counsel were recorded under an ongoing special project to document the impact of Covid-19 on the legal profession and the administration of justice. Five oral interviews on the history of Singapore’s legal development were also recorded.
Paul Neo
Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer
On 20 January 2021, SAL took over the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (“MFA”) role to legalise public documents for use overseas. The consolidation of legalisation services (authentication and legalisation of public documents) resulted in time and cost savings for the public, as this saves them an extra trip to MFA. Additionally, the $10 legalisation fee is waived for all notarised documents.
SAL worked with the Supreme Court’s Office of Transformation and Innovation to enable the remote commissioning and electronic signing of court affidavits using their Document Signing Service. This allows parties involved to sign documents with “Sign with SingPass”. SAL’s Commissioners for Oaths’ Manual and guidelines were updated to provide guidance on remote commissioning and electronic signing.
“In the year reported, we made great strides towards making alternative dispute resolution tools like mediation more accessible through technology.”
Pradeep Paul
Chief Executive, Singapore Mediation Centre
Government agencies were a source of increasing demand for in-house mediation courses. In the period under review, training was primarily hybrid, with only critical portions of the course being conducted in person.
Date | Event Name |
---|---|
01 Apr 2021 | Resolving Disputes and Contentious Proceedings involving Crypto Assets |
06 Apr 2021 - 08 Apr 2021 | Managing Conflicts & Resolving Disputes Effectively Through Mediation (Frontline): MOE (3 runs) |
21 Apr 2021 | Constitutional and Administrative Law: Cases, Materials and Commentary |
29 Apr 2021 - 30 Apr 2021 | Family Justice Courts Family Mediation |
03 May 2021 - 06 May 2021 | Strategic Conflict Management for Professionals (Module 1) – Online |
04 May 2021 - 05 May 2021 | Family Mediation Workshop & Co-Mediation Training: AiBA |
04 May 2021 | What the Construction Industry can Expect Once the Temporary Reliefs End |
05 May 2021 | The Importance of Ethics in the Practice of Mediation |
17 May 2021 - 21 May 2021 | Strategic Conflict Management for Professionals (Module 2) - Hybrid |
18 May 2021 | Sports Arbitration and Resolution of Sports Disputes |
19 May 2021 | Valuation of Technology Companies |
20 May 2021 - 21 May 2021 | Family Justice Courts Family Mediation |
01 Jun 2021 | HCCH 1970 Evidence Convention and Remote Taking of Evidence by Video-link |
17 Jun 2021 | Business Valuation of Companies with Incomplete Information |
23 Jun 2021 | SAL Annual Review of 2020 Cases on Land Law |
30 Jun 2021 | SAL Annual Review of 2020 Cases on Confidential Information and Data Protection |
05 Jul 2021 - 21 Jul 2021 | Strategic Conflict Management for Professionals (Module 1) - Online |
08 Jul 2021 | Venture Business Considerations (I) : Tax Considerations for Startups |
12 Jul 2021 - 16 Jul 2021 | Strategic Conflict Management for Professionals (Module 2) - Hybrid |
19 Jul 2021 | SAL Annual Review of 2020 Cases on Criminal Law |
22 Jul 2021 | SAL Annual Review of 2020 Cases on Competition Law |
27 Jul 2021 | SAL Annual Review of 2020 Cases on Tort Law |
28 Jul 2021 | SAL Annual Review of 2020 Cases on Intellectual Property Law |
02 Aug 2021 - 05 Aug 2021 | Strategic Conflict Management for Professionals (Module 1) - Online |
11 Aug 2021 | SAL Annual Review of 2020 Cases on Muslim Law |
16 Aug 2021 - 20 Aug 2021 | Strategic Conflict Management for Professionals (Module 2) - Hybrid |
18 Aug 2021 | Introduction to Mediation: Northland Primary School |
18 Aug 2021 - 28 Aug 2021 | Maritime and Shipping Law Course for Legal and Industry Practitioners |
24 Aug 2021 | Venture Business Considerations (II): IP Protection for Startups – Best Practices and Top Tips |
26 Aug 2021 - 20 Aug 2021 | (Mis)Conceptions About Singapore Shipping - Indonesia |
31 Aug 2021 | Conducting E-Commerce in Europe and Asia: Navigating the Legal and Regulatory Landscape |
06 Sep 2021 | Singapore Mediation Lecture 2021 |
06 Sep 2021 - 09 Sep 2021 | Strategic Conflict Management for Professionals (Module 1) - Online |
09 Sep 2021 | Venture Business Considerations (III) : Employee Option Schemes |
09 Sep 2021 | Rise of Pre-Packs as a Restructuring Tool — Global and Regional Perspectives |
13 Sep 2021 - 17 Sep 2021 | Strategic Conflict Management for Professionals (Module 2) - Hybrid |
14 Sep 2021 | Perspectives from the Bench – Civil Appeals against Decisions in the State Courts |
22 Sep 2021 - 24 Sep 2021 | TechLaw.Fest 2021 |
25 Sep 2021 | Managing Conflicts & Resolving Disputes Effectively Through Mediation: OnePeople.Sg |
27 Sep 2021 | Mediation Skills Assessment |
27 Sep 2021 - 30 Sep 2021 | Negotiating Your Way to Success: An Executive Programme on Effective Negotiation: MAS |
28 Sep 2021 | Mediation Skills Assessment |
02 Oct 2021 - 30 Oct 2021 | Part B Mediation Advocacy |
04 Oct 2021 - 07 Oct 2021 | Strategic Conflict Management for Professionals (Module 1) - Online |
07 Oct 2021 | Criminal Law Advocacy Workshop - Voir Dire: Hurdling Threats, Inducements and Promises |
12 Oct 2021 | Tune-in to Tune-up your Wellbeing in the Hybrid Workplace |
14 Oct 2021 | Managing Conflicts & Resolving Disputes Effectively Through Mediation (Frontline): MOE |
18 Oct 2021 - 22 Oct 2021 | Strategic Conflict Management for Professionals (Module 2) - Hybrid |
19 Oct 2021 | SMC’s Presentation to NTU Business students |
19 Oct 2021 | Perspectives from the Bench - To appeal or not to appeal |
21 Oct 2021 - 27 Oct 2021 | Family Therapeutic Justice Certification Programme |
21 Oct 2021 | Playbook on China’s Corporate Restructuring Tools and Their Cross-border Implications |
29 Oct 2021 | Venture Business Considerations (IV): Valuation of Startups |
02 Nov 2021 | Implication of Climate Change Laws on Compliance, Risk and Cost of Business |
05 Nov 2021 - 13 Nov 2021 | Family Therapeutic Justice Certification Programme |
08 Nov 2021 - 11 Nov 2021 | Strategic Conflict Management for Professionals (Module 1) - Online |
09 Nov 2021 - 10 Nov 2021 | Managing Conflicts & Resolving Disputes Effectively Through Mediation (Frontline): MOE (2 runs) |
09 Nov 2021 | Tune-in to Tune-up your Professional Online Profile |
10 Nov 2021 | [Fireside Chat] Perspectives from the Bench – Appeals Against Decisions in the Family Justice Courts |
15 Nov 2021 - 19 Nov 2021 | Strategic Conflict Management for Professionals (Module 2) - Hybrid |
16 Nov 2021 | A cross-border overview of consent in data protection regulation: understanding when and how to obtain it |
18 Nov 2021 | Specialist Insight Series: Down the Digital Rabbit Hole – Investigations, Injunctions and Associated Remedies involving Crypto Assets |
18 Nov 2021 | Specialist Insight Series: Old Story New Twist - Insolvency and Valuation Issues involving Crypto Assets |
22 Nov 2021 - 23 Nov 2021 | Mediation Skills Assessment (2 runs) |
23 Nov 2021 | Policing Ethics in Arbitration - Pipedream or Imperative? |
29 Nov 2021 | Legal Leaders Dialogues - Justice System Transformation: Public-Private Partnership Journeys |
30 Nov 2021 - 02 Dec 2021 | [Cyber Edition] 13th Junior College Law Programme |
01 Dec 2021 | Legal Leaders Dialogues - Legal Business Transformation: New Approaches to Legal Services Delivery |
03 Dec 2021 | Legal Leaders Dialogues - Legal Talent Transformation: Enabling Trusted Future-ready Legal Professionals |
07 Dec 2021 | Tune-in to Tune-up your Journey as a Young Legal Professional |
03 Jan 2022 - 06 Jan 2022 | Strategic Conflict Management for Professionals (Module 1) - Online |
19 Jan 2022 | Upcoming Indonesia Personal Data Protection Law—Key Provisions to Know and How It May Affect Businesses |
25 Jan 2022 | Mediation Skills Assessment |
07 Feb 2022 - 10 Feb 2022 | Strategic Conflict Management for Professionals (Module 1) - Online |
10 Feb 2022 | Hot Topics in ESG and Energy Law – The Singapore Experience |
12 Feb 2022 - 12 Mar 2022 | LAW 403 Mediation Advocacy (SUSS) |
12 Feb 2022 | Managing Conflicts & Resolving Disputes Effectively Through Mediation: OnePeople.Sg |
16 Feb 2022 | SPACs - Current Trends in the US and Singapore |
21 Feb 2022 - 25 Feb 2022 | Strategic Conflict Management for Professionals (Module 2) - Hybrid |
25 Feb 2022 | Singapore Law for Cross-border Loans |
07 Mar 2022 - 10 Mar 2022 | Strategic Conflict Management for Professionals (Module 1) - Online |
09 Mar 2022 | Introduction to Company Law and Foreign Investment of Cambodia and Vietnam |
12 Mar 2022 | LAW 403 Mediation Advocacy (SUSS) |
24 Mar 2022 - 26 Mar 2022 | SAL-INSEAD Legal Leadership Programme |
28 Mar 2022 | Mediation Skills Assessment |
29 Mar 2022 | Tune in to Tune up: Technology as a Tool in Legal Education |
31 Mar 2022 | Season 2: Utilising Singapore (and Other Offshore Jurisdictions) to Restructure Indonesian Companies |