Council Updates

Survey On Litigation Costs

Council will ask the Civil Practice Committee to look into conducting a survey of taxed Bills of Costs, to determine the sources of the increase in the costs of litigation. Upon collation of the results of the survey, the Committee will consider holding a dialogue with the courts regarding this issue.

Law Society 'Privilege Card'?

The Social and Welfare Committee proposed the creation of a Privilege Card for all Law Society Members. The card will entitle members to special discounts at selected restaurants, spas, hotels, sports shops, etc. The card would be renewed on an annual basis, and would perhaps be linked to the members' renewal of their Practising Certificates. This would ensure that only members of the Law Society will be entitled to the privileges.

Council agreed with the proposal. The Social and Welfare Committee will proceed with the project.

Criminal Legal Aid Scheme

Dr Lincoln Wee, Director of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme ('CLAS'), informed Council that a two-part news feature on CLAS would be broadcast on the evenings of either 30 April and 1 May 2001 or 1 and 2 May 2001. The broadcast would be on the evening news for each of the four languages and Channel News Asia.

The broadcast will feature interviews with volunteer lawyers, as well as past recipients of Criminal Legal Aid.

Malaysia-Singapore Bench & Bar and Quadrangular Games 2001

The President reported that the Honourable Chief Justice Yong Pung How, as well as the Singapore High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur, have both sent letters of thanks and congratu-lations to the Law Society, for the success of the Games.

The total donations collected to date, for funding of the Games, was a whopping sum of $60,000. This is the largest amount ever collected in the history of the Games.

Non-renewal of Practising Certificates in 2001

Mr William Phua, Director of Information Technology, presented a series of charts, detailing the statistics relating to the Practising Certificate renewal exercise in March and April 2001.

Council noted that the trend of young lawyers leaving practice is continuing. As at 15 May 2001, a total of 335 practitioners had not renewed their Practising Certificates. The majority of those who failed to renew their Practising Certificates are in their third to fifth year of practice.

Council decided that survey forms would be sent to each lawyer, who left practice, to ascertain their reasons for leaving the profession and what they are doing or intend to do next. Similar forms will be sent to managing partners of all firms, to obtain their feedback as well. Follow-up telephone calls will be made to persons who do not return the survey forms to the Law Society.

Late Renewal of Practising Certificates

Council noted that all instances of late renewal of Practising Certificates must be referred to the Inquiry Committee, as the lawyers in question would have been acting, in the capacity of an advocate and solicitor without a valid Practising Certificate, this being in violation of section 25 of the Legal Profession Act.

Admission of Advocates and Solicitors

The President reminded Council Members that this year's Mass Call would take place on Saturday, 2 June 2001 at 10am. All Council Members were reminded to attend the Welcome Reception, hosted by the Law Society at the Singapore Academy of Law Restaurant. A total of 173 advocates and solicitors will be added onto our Roll.