Council Updates

9 November 2001

Council Elections
Council agreed that the incoming Council for 2002 should consider and decide on the co-option of a junior member (in respect of the vacancy in that category). Council-elect should also decide if it wished to exercise its new power to appoint a maximum of three additional members to the Council as statutory members under
s 48 of the Legal Profession Act (Cap 161).

Council Workplan Meeting
Council appointed Mr Philip Jeyaretnam to chair an ad-hoc planning committee consisting of Mr Leo Cheng Suan, Ms Malathi Das from Council and Ms Yasho Dhoraisingam to draw up a proposed Council Workplan for 2002. This will be discussed by the Council-elect at a meeting to be held on 1 December 2001.

Census of the Legal Industry 2001
Council was advised that the Ministry of Law was planning to hold feedback sessions on the census with about 100 lawyers on 12 and 13 November and had invited Council to send representatives to attend the sessions as well. The purpose of the census was to gather current, accurate and relevant data to help the ministry formulate policies to better position the legal sector in the face of challenges in the new economy. Several representatives from the Council volunteered to attend the sessions.

Survey by the Supreme Court
Council noted that the Supreme Court has sent out a survey form to law firms to garner views on the public's attitudes and perceptions of the Supreme Court. The goal of the survey is to obtain feedback that will help the court maintain and enhance public trust and confidence in the dispensation of justice.

Proposal for Advocacy Committee of Law Society to Teach Advocacy at the Postgraduate Law Course ('PLC')
Mr Philip Jeyaretnam informed Council that two years ago, the Advocacy Committee submitted a proposal to teach advocacy at the PLC, but the proposal was shelved because of costs, viability and limited resources. The Board of Legal Education ('BLE') has recently broached the subject again and the Advocacy Committee is willing to submit a fresh proposal to the BLE.

The new proposal would include the Advocacy Committee running the Advocacy Workshop as part of the PLC. The BLE would provide all materials and arrange the venue and attendance, while the Advocacy Committee would provide the teachers and conduct the workshops at a set fee. Council approved the proposal.

Report on LEXCEL Study Trip by the Director, Professional Standards
The LEXCEL is a voluntary practice management system that sets out core elements of procedures/protocols that a law firm could put in place for case/people/financial/risk management, services planning and office administration.

The Practice Management Committee, in consultation with Ms Yasho Dhoraisingam, who went on the study trip to London, recommended that the LEXCEL model was workable for the Singapore context and proposed that the Law Society purchase the franchise. M/s Alexander Forbes, the Law Society's insurance brokers, would be approached to sponsor the purchase of the franchise as it helps in risk management. Council agreed to enter into negotiations with the Law Society of England and Wales to purchase the franchise and amend where necessary the standards to suit the needs of the Law Society of Singapore.

Professional Indemnity Premium Rates for 2002
The Law Society's Professional Indemnity Committee and its brokers have advised Council that in view of the 11 September 2001 world events, the insurance industry in certain sectors witnessed an increase in premiums. However, the insurance companies involved in the Law Society's scheme will only know sometime in December 2001 or January 2002 whether this will have an effect on the scheme. The Professional Indemnity Committee will monitor the situation and keep Council informed.

Company Legislation and Regulatory Framework Committee ('CLRFC') - Public Consultation
The CLRFC was appointed by the Ministry of Finance, the Attorney General's Chambers, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore in 1999 to review company law and the regulatory framework and recommend changes which accord with global standards in order to promote a competitive economy. Before finalising its draft recommendations, the CLRFC would like to table for public consultation the issues that will impact on businesses and corporate practitioners and invited the Law Society to give its feedback.

Extraordinary General Meeting ('EOGM') - 25 October 2001 - Solicitors Real Estate Scheme
Council noted that the relevant committees have been approached to consider the scheme that was debated at the EOGM. Council was informed that the Ethics, Professional Indemnity and Conveyancing Practice Committees will be reverting with their views early next year.