Council Bulletin

Mrs Arfat Selvam, Vice-President, reported that there has been another overhaul of the Rules. The Rules are scheduled to be published by the end of April and are to come into effect in the next three months.

The Professional Indemnity Committee has met to discuss the issues relating to insurance for law corporations. Further discussions will take place with the PI policy insurers about consequential amendments to insurance policies for law corporations.

Ms Yasho Dhoraisingam, Director of Professional Standards and Membership Services, informed the Council that about 50% of the practitioners e-filed their applications.

Mr William Phua, Director of IT and Finance, and Ms Yasho Dhoraisingam, attended a meeting with the Registrars of the High Court on 4 May 2000, to discuss solutions to difficulties faced during the e-filing of practising certificates and possible ways to improve the system.

Chaired by Mr Edmond Pereira and Mr Wee Pan Lee, the Dialogue Session was attended by about 40 lawyers.

Amongst the subjects discussed were the proposed amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, which were mentioned by the Attorney-General in his speech at the Millennium Law Conference.

Ms Chu Sooi Yoon, Director of Practice Standards, informed the Council that the Criminal Practice Committee also intended to hold dialogue sessions with the courts, the police and other organisations involved in criminal practice and procedure.

The Council has considered the draft Practice Direction on Equity in Lieu of Fees prepared by the Ethics Committee and a decision has been made to inform members that equity in lieu of fees may amount to contingency fees in certain circumstances.

Ms Yasho Dhoraisingam, Director of Professional Standards and Membership Services, referred the Council to the current register of Group Law Practices and to the recommendations of the Group Law Practices Committee as set out in the minutes of their meeting of 24 August 1999.

The Council has agreed to adopt the recommendation of holding a ‘closed-door meeting’ with current and potential Group Law Practice members to obtain their feedback and suggestions.

Mr Derrick Wong, Chairperson and Council Representative of the Conveyancing Practice Commitee, informed the Council that he would be having a meeting with the Heads of the relevant Government departments, representatives of REDAS and the banks to discuss the possibility of dispensing with legal requisitions to save costs, and the Electronic Lodgement System that is to be launched in the next two years.

Mr David Nayar enquired about the feasibility of the Law Society setting up its own Bureau service for EFS. Mr N Sreenivasan offered to gather information about cheaper alternatives to the recommended EFS package and will inform other firms of the options either in The Singapore Law Gazette or in the Fax Bulletin.

Mrs Arfat Selvam, Vice-President, informed the Council that a dialogue session with members was planned for 27 June 2000 and members have been informed via mailers.

A booklet with essential information is being prepared for circulation to members.

A separate mailer has been sent out to members, informing them that the draft Law Corporations Rules are available for collection at the Law Society. Members have been invited to give their feedback.

Mr William Phua, Director of IT and Finance, reported that he and members of the EFS Committee met with the officers from the Subordinate Courts on 5 May 2000 and with officers from the High Court on 6 May 2000. At the meetings, problems relating to EFS set out in a list of issues, and the proposed solutions referred to therein, were discussed with the courts.

A mailer will be sent to members as to the items in the said list of issues and proposed solutions.

Conveyancing — Report by Ad-Hoc Sub-Committee on Scale Fees, Separate Representations, Solicitor’s Real Estate Scheme

Mr Goh Phai Cheng SC, Vice-President, Ms Christi na Goh, Treasurer, and Mr Philip Jeyaretnam presented a report describing the following three alternative approaches:

disallow any brokerage for real estate referrals ( as is the current policy);
adopt the practice in the United Kingdom — ie permitting full-scal e real estate agencies with legal practice; or
remove the current self-imposed restrictions on incidental brokerage of real estate.

Mr Jeyaretnam mentioned that judging from the experiences in England, the Solicitor’s Real Estate Scheme would provide business opportunities for lawyers. However, accompanying ethical issues like touting need to be considered.

The Council deliberated the three suggested alternatives and decided to approve in principle the second alternative above. Mr Philip Jeyaretnam and Mr Derrick Wong have been appointed to work on refining the draft Rules and the recommended business model.

Mr William Phua, Director of IT and Finance, informed the Council that between 75–80% of members have email facilities.

He referred the Council to his written report and proposals concerning the further development of the Society’s Website (‘the Website Project’). In particular, three sections of the Website, namely, the Contents (such as information on the Society), Community Services (such as the ‘I-Directory’ of lawyers and law firms) and Commercial Services (such as the sale of items and a ‘Legal Hub’ with links to other portals) were highlighted.

Mr Phua said that the Project would take 3–6 months to complete. In the interim, some of the proposed new contents and developments to the Website will be implemented in stages.

The Council decided that the IT Department in the Secretariat would proceed with the Project as expeditiously as possible. Law Awareness Committee Proposal for Project 2001

Theatre In Education’ concept on 9 May 2000 has been approved by the Council. This will be the Law Awareness Committee’s major community project for 2001.

Council Updates