In Conversation With Conveyancers

Over 70 conveyancing lawyers attended a lively dialogue session on conveyancing issues held by the Conveyancing Practice Committee on 15 February 2000 at City Hall Chambers.

Highlights of the session included the following possibilities: the freeing of fixed scale fees, the removal of lawyers' conveyancing monopoly, the introduction of real estate work for solicitors and the reduction of costs in conveyancing matters.

Some suggested that the Law Society should make representations to the relevant authorities to prevent or delay the freeing of scale fees. Some voiced their fears that the freeing of the fixed scale may result in many small firms being unable to remain competitive and survive legal practice.

The Chairman shared his view that if fixed scale fees were eventually freed, fees would eventually gravitate to an acceptable level when demand meets supply.

There was also an active discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of joint and separate representation. If the freeing of the scale created a level playing field, members felt that separate representation should be enforced to allow members to choose which type of clients they preferred to represent. The participants also brought up the issue of conflict of interest in cases of joint representation.

Subordinate Courts' New Year Reception

In the spirit of fostering even closer co-operation between members of the Bar and the Judiciary, the Subordinate Courts Bench hosted a New Year Reception at the Subordinate Courts, for members of the Council of the Law Society on 27 January 2000.

As a symbol of the Judiciary's recognition of the critical role which lawyers play in the administration of justice, Senior District Judge Richard Magnus presented our President, Mr Palakrishnan, with a framed copy of the Subordinate Courts Justice Statement.

  Mr Palakrishnan (L) & Senior District Judge Richard Magnus (R)

Reaching Out to Government Departments

L-R: Mr Bala Chandran s/o A Kandiah, Mr Low Wee Ping, Mr Ng Peng Hong

L-R: Mr Low Wee Ping, Ms Juthika Ramanathan

L-R: Ms Foo Tuat Yien, Mr Goh Phai Cheng SC

L-R: Ms Tan Peck Cheng, Dr S Chandra Mohan, Ms Juthika Ramanathan

The Society's invitation to meet and mingle with Council members at 39 South Bridge Road was taken up by representatives from ten government departments.

Amongst the Society's guests were Dr S Chandra Mohan, Official Assignee & Public Trustee/Official Receiver; Ms Liew Woon Yin, Registrar, Intellectual Property Office of Singapore; Mr Ng Peng Hong, Deputy Registrar, Supreme Court; Ms Juthika Ramanathan, Registrar, Registry of Companies and Businesses; and Mr Low Wee Ping, Director, Legal Services, MINDEF.

Welcoming our guests, Mr Palakrishnan, President, announced, 'We want to reach out to all government departments, and to be open and free to have dialogue sessions on anything affecting the legal profession.'

After Mr George Lim, Immediate Past President, extended his warm thanks to all the government departments for their support and assistance, our guests took turns to address and thank the Law Society.

Said Mr Ang Yong Tong, Executive Director of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, 'The SIAC hopes to focus on domestic arbitration and to work with the Law Society in this area, as we can play complementary roles.'

Ms Foo Tuat Yien, Registrar, Land Office, thanked the Law Society for its support, remembering the efforts of the late Ms Sylvia Khoo, a former Council member and Mr Gan Hiang Chye, the Conveyancing Practice Committee Chairperson in 1999.

Tracey Yeo
Director, Media & Publications
The Law Society of Singapore

Lights, Camera, Action!

Dramatic Moments At The Law Society's Workplan 2000 Meeting

Suddenly the screen flashed the words 'There are no impossible dreams, only our limited perception of what is possible.' To the strains of 'Space Odyssey 2001', the theme for this year's Workplan, 'Reaching Out' filled the screen, projected upon the far horizon.

The theatrical moment was not lost on the audience: some clapped, some gasped, others chuckled. Yet others commented in true Singlish fashion, 'So drama!'

As the music faded, the meeting began with the President, Mr Palakrishnan, outlining what was in store for everyone. It was to be a Workplan Meeting designed to excite the senses, pique curiosity and inspire our supportive Committee Members, hopefully, to greater heights.

Each attendee was given a 'goodie bag' and referred to a Committee Kit dubbed the 'Hello Kit' containing information such as lists of Council members, Secretariat contact numbers, Committee Chairpersons and Members, LawCare information and information on the Law Society Counsellors scheme.

Expressing his appreciation to all Committee members for volunteering their time to serve on the Law Society's Committees, the President went on to invite the Treasurer, Ms Christina Goh, to remind Committees of their budgetary responsibilities. Mr Naresh Mahtani, CEO, was then invited to briefly outline the Secretariat's role and responsibilities.

The Practice Committees' focus will be on strategies to keep up with the rapid pace of change in the profession. The IT and EFS Committees will be hard at work helping practitioners to get ready for the implementation of EFS, and to cope with the changes it will entail.

The Ethics Committee, together with the IT Committee, will also look into ethical issues brought about by the impact of the IT age on the provision of legal services. Mr Chim Hou Yan, Chairman of the Ethics Committee, who drollingly introduced his Committee as one which hopes to work itself out of a job, spoke in general of the need for lawyers to identify their 'core values', and having identified these core values, to hold on to them amidst the challenges posed by a more open competitive marketplace.

With change comes recognition that not all members may be able to cope with the changing complexion of practice with the same ease and equanimity. As such, Mr David Nayar, Chairman of the Social and Welfare Committee, highlighted two programmes, which his Committee is focusing on this year in order to reach out to practitioners, namely, LawCare and the Welfare Fund. He stressed that all assistance provided under these two programmes is given on a strictly confidential basis, so that members need not worry about their emotional problems or difficulties becoming common knowledge. For the LawCare counselling and therapy programme, the Law Society is not even told the names of members who seek assistance from the Care and Counselling Centre.

L-R: Mr Palakrishnan, Mrs Arfat Selvam and Mr Naresh Mahtani.

Mr Edmund Pereira

In keeping with the theme of 'Reaching Out', the President also informed all Committee Members of his 'Your President Listens' sessions held every alternate Saturday at the Law Society's conference room and encouraged members to feel free to come down and discuss their concerns with him.

Mr Chim Hou Yin

Japanese Delegation Visits Law Society

Members of the Council and the International Relations Committee

The delegation had just come from Australia, where they were on a fact-finding mission to research into the position of various countries with regard to multi-disciplinary practices (MDPs). They were also scheduled to take a tour of Rajah & Tann on 11 February 2000.

During the two-hour meeting, the Council and members of the International Relations Committee fielded numerous questions from the delegation about MDPs and Singapore's policies with regard to foreign lawyers and law corporations. The delegation in return imparted information on the Japanese and Australian positions on these issues.

The meeting concluded with parties agreeing to continue the exchange of information as matters develop.

Mr Haruo Okada signing the Society's guest book

Adeline Ang
Director, Public RelationsThe Law Society of Singapore