Council Updates

19 October 2001

Electronic Filing System ('EFS')
The EFS Committee is still working on the issue of the Singapore Network Services' ('SNS') disclaimer on the EFS website and will report back to the Council. The Council also noted that SNS has changed the platform for the system, as some serious problems had arisen during the migration to the Web based system.

National University of Singapore ('NUS') - Law Faculty's Academic Affairs Review
The NUS has consulted with the Council and other parties on their proposals for changes in the curriculum for their law degrees, including the possibility of 'double-degrees' (eg in Law and Economics). Council members have met with Associate Prof Tan Cheng Han, Dean of the Law Faculty, to discuss the proposed changes, and we have proposed that Ethics be included in the curriculum and that efforts be made to improve the standards of advocacy and professional etiquette.

Law Awareness Committee - Proposed Seminar on Rights and Responsibilities of New Citizens
The Criminal Legal Aid Scheme and the Law Awareness Committee are jointly organising a Seminar on the Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens, to be held in conjunction with a presentation ceremony for new citizens being arranged by the Community Development Council of Singapore.

LawAsia Conference 2001 in Christchurch, New Zealand
LawAsia has elected a new President, Dr Gordon Hughes. Mr Palakrishnan, SC, will be the Law Society's representative to the LawAsia Council.

Compensation Fund
The High Court has approved the Council's application for a scheme whereby a proportion of the Compensation Fund monies can be loaned, with interest, towards the Building Fund to reduce the mortgage for the purchase of the Law Society's premises, secured by overdraft facilities which will be on standby to meet any needs of the Compensation Fund when they arise. The scheme will provide savings of about $534,000 to the Society over the next seven years. The Council recorded its appreciation to Mr N Sreenivasan, Treasurer and Council member, and to Mr Andrew Chan, Counsel for the Law Society, for the substantial work and research involved in forwarding this scheme.

Social & Welfare Committee
The Council noted and approved amendments to the Welfare Fund Rules which will be circulated to members.

The proposed Charity Dinner, originally planned for December 2001, has been postponed to the first quarter of 2002.

Instruments (Formalities) Bill 2001
The Law Society was invited by the Attorney General's Chambers to give its feedback on the Bill, and the Civil Practice Committee, Conveyancing Committee and Corporate Practice Committee, as well as Council members, have been asked to give their views for transmission to the draftsmen.