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In Progress
Message from the President
The legal services sector today is experiencing a time of transformation, precipitated in particular by the rise of generative artificial intelligence (โAIโ). Faced with this reality, the Academy has nonetheless remained steadfast in its mission to future-proof its systems and equip its members for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. There are three particular points I would highlight.
First, we have developed and diversified our resources to provide models and standards for our members. We launched a new series of Singapore Law Reports featuring selected decisions of the State Courts, the Family Courts and the Youth Courts, to promote awareness of these important aspects of our local jurisprudence. We also enhanced our efforts to serve the needs of corporate lawyers by forming the Corporate Law Practice Committee.
Second, we continued to invest in intellectual capital by introducing a suite of new learning and development programmes. The Junior Lawyers Professional Certification Programme, which will be offered to lawyers with less than five years of post-qualification experience from 2025, aims to set the industry standard for the holistic development of young lawyers. The Academyโs specialist accreditation scheme for Data and Digital Economy has also been extended to suitable in-house counsel.
Third, we have harnessed technology as a key enabler in the delivery of the Academyโs services. Several improvements have been made to the LawNet portal to make the research experience more intuitive for users. We are also exploring the integration of generative AI with LawNet, as the Academy collaborates with the Infocomm Media Development Authority to fine-tune a large language model for Singapore law using the LawNet dataset. The Academy Library has also developed from an online reader to an online library, where subscribers enjoy unlimited access to its collection of Academy Publishing resources, as well as better search, cross-referencing and footnoting features.
On behalf of the Academy, I thank our members and staff for their invaluable contributions and continuing support, which have made these achievements possible. I am confident that the Academyโs work will continue to play a critical role in supporting the legal services sector as we navigate the road ahead.
Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon
President, Singapore Academy of Law
About Us
The Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) is on a mission to make Singapore the legal hub of Asia by equipping its members with the insights and tools they need to stay ahead.
Executive Board
as of 1 December 2023
Chief Justice
Sundaresh Menon
President, SALย
Chair, Board of Governors,
Asian Business Law Institute
Attorney-General Lucien Wong SC
Vice-President, SAL
Mr Jason Chan SC
Vice-President, SAL
President of the Law Society of Singapore
Justice Aedit Abdullah
Chair, Promotion of Legal Technology Innovation Committee
Justice Andre Francis Maniam
Representative for Singapore Mediation Centre
Justice Debbie Ong
Chair, Learning and Professional Development Committee
Justice Kannan Ramesh
Chair, Legal Research and Publications Committee
Justice Kwek Mean Luck
Chair, Statutory and Corporate Services Committee
Justice Goh Yihan
Co-Chair, Legal Research and Publications Committee
Co-Chair, Learning and Professional Development Committee
Deputy A-G Ang Cheng Hock SC
Chair, Professional Affairs and Membership Committee
Deputy A-G Lionel Yee SC
Representative for Legal Service Commission
SAL membership
0
Active SAL Members
Including the 430 who were inducted at Mass Call 2023
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Private Practitioners: 42%
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In-house legal: 15%
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Singapore Judiciary/Legal Service Officer: 6%
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Academics: 1%
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Students: 5%
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Non-practitioners: 1%
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Foreign lawyers: 2%
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Unspecified/others: 28%
The Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) marked its 35th anniversary in 2023 with
a renewed dedication to honour and service.
The SAL motto, honor est in honorante, is a reminder that honour lies in honouring: one becomes honourable only through the honour one bestows upon fellow members of the profession, the court and the public.
The motto was introduced by SALโs first President Chief Justice Wee Chong Jin in 1988, at the address he delivered at that year’s Annual Dinner of the Law Society.
The SAL motto honor est in honorante was central in the design of SALโs first logo which continues to be used as its ceremonial crest today
Starting a new tradition
From 2023, a lapel pin in the shape of SALโs ceremonial crest bearing the motto will be issued to every SAL member. The pin will also bear the memberโs unique admission number. The start of this new tradition was announced by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon at Mass Call 2023.
This pin serves not only to identify the wearer as an Advocate and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore, but also serves as a reminder of our obligation to uphold the high standards and ethics of this noble profession. I hope you will wear it with honour and a profound sense of service whenever you discharge your duties as an officer of the court.
More than 430 Advocates and Solicitors who were called to the Bar at Mass Call 2023 were the first the be issued with a custom lapel pin from SAL. Pictured above, new SAL member Mr Matthew Cheng and his parents.ย
New SAL members and their loved ones celebrate being called to the Bar at Mass Call 2023.
Milestones
SALโs development over the last 35 years has been closely intertwined with that of the legal profession.
Anniversary Dinner & Conferment Ceremony
Throughout his career in both academia and the Judiciary, the great passion of Justice Phangโs professional life has been Singapore law.ย In contributing to its development, he has served not just the legal community, but also our nation.ย
CITATION FOR THE HONOURABLE SENIOR JUDGE JUSTICE ANDREW PHANG
SAL celebrated its 35th anniversary with an appreciation dinner on 22 November 2023 to thank its committee members for their devoted service and contributions. The highlight of the evening was the conferment of Honorary Member for Life and Fellow for Life on Justice Andrew Phang.
SAL at 35: Marking SALโs 35thย anniversary are (from left): Professor Jayakumar, Honorary Member for Life; Justice Andrew Phang, Honorary Member for Life; Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, President, SAL; Justice Chao Hick Tin, Honorary Member for Life; Mr Yeong Zee Kin, Chief Executive, SAL
Justice Phang joins the ranks of seven others who have been bestowed this honour:
Mr Lee Kuan Yew (1990)
Former Chief Justice Dr Wee Chong Jin (1992)
Dr David Marshall (1992)
Former Chief Justice Mr Yong Pung How (2007)
Former Deputy Prime Minister Professor S Jayakumar (2008)
Former Chief Justice Mr Chan Sek Keong (2013)
Justice Chao Hick Tin (2018)
Key Highlights of 2022 โ 2023
TechLaw.Fest 2022
SAL Appreciation Dinner and Awards Night 2022
A history of ADR in Asia
SAL Annual Lecture 2022
Senior Counsel Reception
Academy Publishingโs 15th Anniversaryย
Operationalisation of LawNet Technology Services
Appointment of Mr Yeong Zee Kin as SAL CE
Cutting-Edge Content
The content developed by SAL continues to be a standards-bearer in the industry, raising the profile of Singapore law and helping members make sense of it in a clear and accessible manner. The content is developed by dedicated teams at Academy Publishing and the Asian Business Law Institute (โABLIโ), a subsidiary of SAL.
While Covid might have cloistered us in our home offices for most part of the past three years, Academy Publishingโs work did not abate. In total, 16 volumes of law reports, 17 new books, 27 journals, 83 SAL Practitioner articles and the monthly Civil Litigation Update were published in (the pandemic) period.ย
ย
Did You Know?
Almost all of SALโs content is distributed through LawNet, which is continually improved to support new content forms. This past year, Academy Library, SALโs e-reading service, was enhanced with better search, cross-referencing and footnoting features. A subscription service was also launched in August 2023. This follows a similar improvement to LawNet Asian Insights, which was enhanced with summaries of key Asian news, content-specific access control, and previews of latest articles in April 2022.
- Employment Contracts: The Implied Duty of Trust and Confidence: Dong Wei v Shell Eastern Trading (Pte) Ltd [2022] 1 SLR 1318
- Delineating the Procedural Requirements for Instructions for Variation Work in Construction Contracts โ Vim Engineering Pte Ltd v Deluge Fire Protection (S.E.A.) Pte Ltd [2023] SGHC(A) 2
- Recent Developments in Sentencing for the Offences of Voyeurism and Distribution of Intimate Images โ Public Prosecutor v GED [2022] SGHC 301 and Nicholas Tan Siew Chye v Public Prosecutor [2023] SGHC 35
- When to Call Your Expert in Civil Litigation
- Between Deference and Distance: An Enforcement Courtโs Approach to Rulings and Proceedings in the Seat Court โ CZD v CZE [2023] SGHC 86
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Doctrinal Issues in Recovering NFTs That Have Been Wrongfully Taken Away โ Janesh s/o Rajkumar v Unknown Person (โCHEFPIERREโ) [2023] 3 SLR 1191
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Limitation Of Liability In Singapore And England
- “Enforcingโ Arbitral Awards through Winding-Up Proceedings
- Employee Share Option Plans in Singapore
- Employee Investigations โ The Limits to Accessing Employeesโ Emails and Personal Devices
- Ancillary Restraints In Mergers And Acquisitions: A Competition Law Perspective
- A Contractorโs Entitlement To Adjudication โ Judicial Interpretation Of Amendments To The Building And Construction Industry Security Of Payment Act
- Does Size Of Debt Always Prevail? Determinative Factors For Court-Appointed Liquidators And Judicial Managers In Singapore
- Granting A Discharge Under Section 232 Of The Criminal Procedure Code: Ahmad Danial bin Mohamed Rafaโee v Public Prosecutor [2023] SGHC 94
- Assessment of Mitigatory Weight of an Accused Personโs Guilty Plea
- The Emergency Arbitration Process under the SIAC Rules 2016 โ A Comparison with Court-ordered Interim Measures under s 12A of the International Arbitration Act 1994
- The Law Governing Arbitrability at the Pre-Award Stage: A Welcome Starting Point โ Anupam Mittal v Westbridge Ventures II Investment Holdings [2023] SGCA 1
- The Warrant of Arrest and the Importance of Getting it Right the First Time Round โ The Jeil Crystal [2022] 2 SLR 1385
- On Contractual Interpretation and the Importance of Pleadings and Submissions in Technical Disputes โ ICOP Construction (SG) Pte Ltd v Tiong Seng Civil Engineering Pte Ltd [2022] SGHC 257
- Placing Sanctioned Entities Into Judicial Management
- Invalidating Suspension of Payment Clauses which Circumvent Section 17(3) of the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2004
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- 20,119 pages of Supreme Court cases and 13,710 pages of State Courts cases published as unreported judgments on LawNet.
- The SLR (State Courts, Family Courts and Youth Courts) series was launched in January 2023. As at 31 March 2023, 17 SLR State Courts (SLR(StC)) cases, amounting to 336 pages, were published on LawNet.
- As of 31 March 2023, the following resources were available on LawNet:
- 85 of the 138 precedents in the database were reviewed, updated and republished.
- 857 pieces of commissioned content and 38 pieces of original content in the form of interviews with subject matter experts and commentary were published on LawNet Asian Insights.
- 263 sets of pleadings uploaded in the Pleadings database.
- 3,471 items were published on LawNet Legal Research
- OpenLaw was further updated with judgments from 2000
- The second tranche of Venture Capital Investment Model Agreementย (โVIMAโ) documents was released in September 2022.
- An advocacy guide on civil commercial litigation was launched in September 2022 to provide developmental milestones and areas of exposure that junior litigators should progressively seek to unlock.
A Learning and Development
Institute of Choice
The learning and professional development of the legal profession has been the raison d’รชtre for SAL since day one. In the years since, it has emerged as a learning and development institute of choice for the profession, with a blend of standard-setting signature events, structured training and topical discussions on pertinent topics. More than 6,500 members attended at least one SAL training programme last year.
Grooming the next generation of leaders is key to realising SALโs vision of making Singapore the legal hub of Asia. In line with this, SAL makes leadership training a priority, with flagship programmes like the SAL-INSEAD Legal Leadership Programme enjoying record attendance last year. SAL also organises training sessions that help members make sense of dicey and complex legal issues. Through these, they are also exposed to legal trends and developments in overseas jurisdictions.
Attending the SAL – INSEAD Legal Leadership Programme made me rethink my approach to work trips, to be more structured and strategic. I now map out what sectors interest me and potential clients in that jurisdiction and think about how to connect with them.
Recognising excellence
Every year, SAL presents scholarships, prizes and awards to expand access to the legal profession and recognise excellence within it:
Senior Counsel
Two new Senior Counsel were appointed:
- Mr Kelvin Poon SC
- Mr Wong Woon Kwong SC
Special Accreditation
As the sole specialist accreditation body for the legal profession, SALโs accreditation matters. This past year, 11 Data and Digital Economy Law and 12 Building and Construction Law practitioners were accredited as specialists in their respective fields.
Justice Kannan Ramesh presenting the certificates of accreditation to...
ROW 1
(1-4)
Senior Accredited Specialists in Building and Construction Lawย
- Ms Lynette Chew
- Mr Kirindeep Singh
- Mr Tan Tian Luh
- Mr Yong Boon Onย
(5-8)
Accredited Specialists in Building and Construction Lawย
- Mr Ang Minghao
- Mr Ching Meng Hang
- Mr Daniel Ho
- Mr Kelvin Kek
ROW 2
(1-4)
Accredited Specialists in Building and Construction Lawย
- Ms Amanda Koh
- Ms Valerie Koh
- Ms Magdalene Ong
- Mr Reuben Gavin Peter
(5-8)
Senior Accredited Specialists in Data and Digital Economy Lawย
- Mr Benjamin Cheong
- Mr Lam Chung Nian
- Mr Rajesh Sreenivasan
- Mr Bryan Tan
ROW 3
(1-3)
Senior Accredited Specialists in Data and Digital Economy Lawย
- Mr Lionel Tan
- Mr Steve Tan
- Mr Tan Wee Mengย
(4-7)
Accredited Specialists in Data and Digital Economy Lawย
- Mr Lam ZHen Guang
- Mr Justin Lee
- Mr Lim Seng Siew
- Mr Alex Toh
SAL Scholarships
Three scholars were awarded the SAL Undergraduate Scholarship 2022:
- Ang Boon Jie – National University of Singapore
- Bernice Ng – Singapore Management University
- Manpreet Kaur D/O Kulwant Singh – Singapore University of Social Sciences
The Singapore Law Merit Award
This yearโs awardee is Professor Simon Chesterman, who has drawn attention to scholarship in Singapore in the areas of data protection and AI governance.
The SAL Merit Awards
These are presented to members for their service in promoting and advancing the objectives of the Academy. This yearโs awardees are:
Mr Ng Jern-Fei KC for helping to raise the profile of foreign lawyers in Singapore and engage them in SALโs work.
Dr Stanley Lai SC for his contributions to TechLaw.Fest.
Mr Thio Shen Yi SC for his leadership of SALโs Corporate Social Responsibility Working Group, which has raised over $1 million for the YRF-STAR Bursary.
Other Prizes
- Christopher Bathurst Prizeย
Ms Magdalene Ong received the Christopher Bathurst Prize 2022, which is an essay-writing competition for young lawyers.
- ECC-SAL Mooting Competition
Ms Ayana Ki and Ms Melody Lau won the ECC-SAL International Mooting Competition, which challenges young lawyers and law students to showcase their advocacy skills.
Providing Trust Services
SAL remains SALโs a trusted custodian of confidential information and documents, with several statutory functions.
Authentication of notarial certificates and legalisation of public documents.
SAL provides stakeholding services for sale and purchase transactions
For newly developed private residential properties, commercial properties and executive condominiums under certain statutory schemes
SAL manages the national Wills Registry
Through which the public can deposit and enquire about wills deposited in the registry.
SAL helped bring alternative dispute resolution into the mainstream in 1997, when it set up the Singapore Mediation Centre, a first-of-its-kind institution.
Today, it continues to be a market leader, mediating 366 matters in the past year. Training remains an important activity for SMC, with courses for fresh graduates (Part B Mediation Course), non-legal professionals and SAL members as well.
The appointment of Commissioners for Oaths and Notaries Public
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Commissioner for Oaths
Appointed from 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023
0
Commissioner for Oaths
Appointed from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
0
Notaries Public
Appointed from 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023
0
Notaries Public
Appointed from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
Sharing Beyond Borders
As a symbol of its excellence, SAL has been invited to share its experience in managing and digitalising public trust services with global partners.
The SAL team with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia, during the latterโs study visit to Singapore in August 2022.
SALโs Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer Mr Paul Neo introducing the e-Register system at the HCCH Conference in Manila in October 2022.
Two overseas training courses were conducted for the Arbitration Centre and the Ministry of Employment, Productivity & Industrial Relations, both of Brunei Darussalam.
Copyright ยฉ 2024 Singapore Academy of Law