Council Updates

28 September 2001

Census/Survey by Ministry of Law
Council has given feedback to the Ministry of Law on the draft census/survey questionnaire. MinLaw has taken into consideration the Law Society's suggestions and has incorporated some of the suggested amendments to the questionnaire.

Survey by Law Society on Lawyers Leaving the Profession
The results of the survey have been circulated to members and Council will follow up on the following issues identified in the survey:

• Issues relating to the pace of litigation and litigation costs - to be referred to the Civil Practice Committee.
• Issues relating to legal fees, remuneration, firms' overheads and management of law firms - to be referred to the Practice Management Committee.

Feedback Session with Senior Minister of State for Education, Mr Peter Chen and Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, Dr John Chen
All practising lawyers have been invited to participate in the session, scheduled to be held on 16 October 2001.

The results of the survey on lawyers leaving the profession will also be forwarded to the Ministers prior to the session for feedback to the Feedback Unit.

Tea Reception with Legal Service Officers
The President, Mr Palakrishnan, SC, reported that the tea reception held on 14 September 2001 drew a good response from the legal service, and there was a good exchange of ideas between both sides.

Accounting Standards Committee
Mrs Arfat Selvam, Vice-President, will represent the Law Society on the Accounting Standards Committee of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore ('ICPAS').

National University of Singapore ('NUS') - Law Faculty, Academic Affairs Review
The NUS has approached the Law Society for comments in relation to recommendations for changes to the NUS curriculum and the nature of the law degree. Council decided to meet with the Dean, Faculty of Law, to discuss the recommendations.

International Relations Committee - Twinning Programme
Council has decided that, in view of the financial constraints on the Law Society, the Twinning Programme with law associations of developing countries in the region should proceed with support and funding from MinLaw.

Council members mingling with the Legal Service Officers at the Tea Reception

Law Society Counsellors
Thirty lawyers have agreed to continue as Law Society counsellors, and letters of appointment will be sent to them in due course.