Council Updates

The Law Society's Professional Indemnity ('PI') Policy with the Society's Insurers

Representatives of the Law Society's brokers, Alexander Forbes, addressed the Council on their proposed renewal terms for the Law Society's PI policy. Mr Quentin Loh SC, Chairman, Professional Indemnity Committee ('the Committee'), and Justice (Rtd) Goh Joon Seng (Consultant to the Committee) were also present.

The brokers briefed the Council on the claims position for the year and informed the Council that the current insurers, AXA, would in view of the claims notified, only renew at a 5% increase on the standard premium. Members with no claims paid will enjoy a 7% reduction on the standard premium. The Committee and the Council agreed to accept the brokers' recommendations.

Bench & Bar Games 2001

The Majlis Peguam, Malaysia, has requested that The Law Society of Singapore host this year's Bench and Bar Games. The Sports Committee has discussed the request and scheduled the Games to take place from Friday, 4 May, to Sunday, 6 May 2001.

Committees Workplan Meeting 2001

The Law Society's Committees Workplan Meeting was held on Saturday, 10 February 2001, at the Hotel Grand Plaza Parkroyal. The Chairpersons/Representatives of the following committees presented their reports at the meeting:

• Conveyancing Practice - Mr Derrick Wong;
• Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS) - Mr Wee Pan Lee;
• Ethics - Mr Chim Hou Yan;
• Family Law - Ms Ellen Lee;
• Intellectual Property (IP) - Mrs Murgiana Haq;
• Information Technology (IT) - Mr Jim Lim;
• Electronic Filing System (EFS) - Mr Jim Lim;
• Law Awareness - Mr Foo Say Tun; and
• Publications - Ms Elizabeth Wong.

4th CLAS Charity Golf Tournament

The President informed the Council that Mr Wee Pan Lee, Chairman of the CLAS Committee, has agreed to be the Chairman of the 4th CLAS Charity Golf Tournament and announced that Professor S Jayakumar, the Honourable Minister for Law, had already raised $25,000 for the Tournament.

Lunch with the Permanent Secretary (Law)

Council members attended a lunch hosted by the Permanent Secretary (Law) on 7 February 2001.

Review of Conveyancing Fees

The Council appointed Mr Gan Hiang Chye, Council Member, and Mr Derrick Wong, Chairman, Conveyancing Practice Committee, as the Law Society's nominees to the Conveyancing Scale Fees Review Committee under section 108 of the Legal Profession Act to make the necessary Order to give effect to the accepted recommendations of the Committee.

Multi-Disciplinary Practices ('MDPs')

The Council noted that 63 persons attended the Multi-Disciplinary Practices Dialogue Session on 20 February 2001 at the Hotel Grand Plaza and that their views will be taken into consideration. The MDP Committee will prepare an updated Report and present it to the Council.

Mediation between Law Firms

Ms Yasho Dhoraisingam, Director of Professional Standards & Membership Services, reported that she has written to the Malaysian Bar Council for information on their procedure for mediation between law firms. The following Council Members have volunteered to serve as mediators: Mr Palakrishnan SC, President, Mr Bala Chandran, Mr Philip Jeyaretnam and Mr Thio Shen Yi.

Dialogues with the Judiciary

The Council noted that members were kept informed of the many dialogue sessions between the various practice committees and the judiciary. It was suggested that members should be informed of up-and-coming dialogue sessions, perhaps via the Fax Bulletin, so that they can provide their views and suggestions before such meetings.

Bench & Bar Games

The Bench & Bar Games will be held in Singapore from 4 to 6 May 2001. The President will write to the Registrars of the Supreme and Subordinate Courts to request that they do not fix hearings during the Bench & Bar Games for members who are participating in the Games.

International Bar Association

The Council decided that Ms Dianna Kempe, President of the International Bar Association, would be invited for a meeting with the Council and International Relations Committee ('IRC') members in March 2001. The meeting, which will be held at the Conference Room of the Law Society, will be open to all members. Mr Chandra Mohan, Chairman, IRC, and Mr C Arul, an IRC member, also met with the Executive Committee on Wednesday, 28 February 2001, to discuss various activities of the IRC.

Criminal Advocacy Skills Workshop

The Criminal Practice Committee has decided to hold a workshop on advocacy skills in criminal proceedings.