Council Updates

IT Incentives

Mr Jim Lim, Chairman of the IT Committee together with Mr Naresh Mahtani, Chief Executive Officer, met with Mr Phang Kang Chau of the Ministry of Law and are working together with the Ministry on the question of incentives for IT training by law firms. An IT Law event is being planned for June 2001, to attract foreign investors to use law firms in Singapore for matters relating to this area.

Quality Rating of Law Firms?

The Council noted that there has been a proposal that there should be a quality rating of law firms, such as ISO Standards and projects akin to LEXCEL. The Society is in the process of consulting with the Productivity and Standards Board ('PSB') on the said concepts. It was suggested that an accreditation system (rather than a rating system) should be established. The system could be implemented on a voluntary basis for a few years, and then reviewed as to whether it should be made mandatory.

Workplan of the Practice Structures Committee for 2001

The Council referred to the Minutes of Meeting of the Practice Structures Committee dated 14 March 2001 and noted that this year, the Committee's focus is on Group Law Practices and how the Group Law Practice system can be improved. Mrs Arfat Selvam informed Council that there have been nine applications to form Law Corporations. The Council agreed that a Practice Direction should be published to inform applicants of the rules relating to naming conventions of Law Corporations.

Request for Recognition of Qualifications and Registration of New Zealand (NZ) Patent Agents

Mrs Murgiana Haq, Chairperson of the Intellectual Property Committee, informed the Council that the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore ('IPOS') has received a request by the New Zealand High Commission for a Mutual Recognition Agreement between Singapore and New Zealand in relation to patent agents' qualifications and registration, similar to the reciprocal arrangement between Australia and New Zealand.

The Intellectual Property Committee has informed IPOS that it is not currently in favour of allowing New Zealand Patent Agents to practise in Singapore, as the playing field is not level for reciprocity in terms of the transfer of technologies and related issues. However, the matter will be reviewed in two years' time.

Bench and Bar Games 2001

The President informed the Council that another $40,000 was needed to fund the Games. He encouraged all Council Members to donate generously and to ask their firms and contacts to do the same.   Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore ('MINDS') - Request for Volunteers in Legal Assistance Program Network The Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore ('MINDS') has requested for assistance and would welcome all lawyers who are willing to volunteer for MINDS. This request will be published in the Fax Bulletin.

Our badminton players hard at work-earning their first victory in the history of the Games

'Asian Law Awards' organised by THC Event Organisers

A notice will be published that the Society is not involved in the event and has not agreed to participate in and/or judge the award.