This was the Address by Palakrishnan, SC, at this year’s Law Society Annual Dinner and Dance 2002.

I hope by now all of you would have received your copy of this year’s Annual Report.

Stark white in cover, it opens into a myriad of colourful pages.

Symbolic perhaps of the often unassuming way in which the Law Society works behind-the-scenes to provide a whole host of services to our members — quite often taken for granted.

Services, which would be impossible to undertake or deliver — notwithstanding a fully-employed Secretariat with a staff strength of 30 — without some 700 volunteers from our practising and associate membership coming forward to give freely and willingly of their time.

A leader’s courage to fulfil his vision comes from passion, not position. I believe this passion can only be fuelled by the support from the ground — our members and volunteers.

In this, my last year as President of the Law Society (with eight years of Council work behind me, and even more years as Chairman and a member of its various Committees), I wish to single out praise for our group of volunteers.

These volunteers serve on our standing committees, as volunteers in our Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (‘CLAS’) in representing the poor and needy, or even volunteer ad-hoc when co-opted to do so, as in the case of our Advocacy trainers and LawBuzz volunteers or by writing for our Singapore Law Gazette.

Their efforts enrich the lives of their fellow members and the community at large — efforts which may signify little without the participation of the entire population of members who support these activities by funding them, attending them, or just cheering from the sidelines, as in our sporting activities.

Thus, our volunteers help the Law Society as an organisation reach new heights by not only providing basic human resources, but also by bringing fresh ideas and much needed skills and feedback, and putting in the elbow grease to see these ideas through to fruition and execution.

The attitude that only paid work matters is lamentably common. You will look in vain in books on economics for so much as a mention of the contribution which voluntary service makes to the national well-being.

Money has increasingly become a common measure of one’s success, and a common motivator for productive work. If that is so, it makes a disturbing commentary on current social values, and may lead to ethical bankruptcy.

Voluntary service, on the other hand, is so valuable to its beneficiaries as to be literally priceless. Who could ever quantify the worth to that member of public who receives criminal legal aid, when he would otherwise not be able to afford legal services? Or the price of the self-esteem that greater knowledge, self-reliance and autonomy can bring to the needy when you empower them with advice at a free legal clinic.

In difficult times, people tend to be inward-looking and withdraw into a shell of work and activity that produces only monetary returns. The act of volunteering is often left to the wayside after all the other more pressing concerns of work, family or recreation are met.

But I am proud to say that the legal profession has traditionally been prolific in its contribution to society. A great number of our members who are volunteers are active in the fields of sports, the arts, consumerism, social work, women’s groups, health fields, government agencies, etc.

Others donate their time to religious groups, which are also partially involved in health, welfare and education. In other words, these people are directly concerned with helping others. And in helping others, they are helping the whole society.

More than a decade ago, an article published in an American news magazine described how women were using volunteer work as a foot in the door to the employment market. They believed that by participating and helping others, they can acquire valuable interpersonal and job-related skills that will open the door to increased job opportunities.

So too, should our young lawyers consider the intangible benefits that voluntary work brings with it which will enhance your professional life: networking with your seniors and other lawyers, honing your interpersonal skills, working with like-minded people who share a common vision, building up your confidence by interacting with other stakeholders in the justice system and legal landscape, both locally and internationally.

Start now to give of your time, and make it part of your routine, whether on a regular or ad-hoc basis. Your candle loses nothing, when it lights another.

To this end, I am heartened to see seven candidates putting up their candidacy for two places in the Junior category of Council this year, and this Dinner announcing the inaugural Young Lawyer’s Award.

Later this evening, continuing the tradition that was started in 1998 under my predecessor, Mr George Lim, we shall also be honouring the outstanding contributions of members of our Committees. Added to this, something that was inaugurated last year, the awards for the Friends of the Law Society.

This year has seen these dedicated members and their Committees overcome tremendous odds, in terms of time and financial constraints, to serve us.

Many of these recipients have been in our Committees for several years now, often germinating from members in our Junior category. Year after year, they do yeoman service, do not rest on their laurels and are spurred on to come up with new ideas. With such dedication from both practising and non-practising members, I am sure the Society will continue to move forward and upward, from strength to strength.

The Law Society has this past year once again enjoyed tremendous support from the Judiciary, the Ministry of Law, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the Legal Service, the Singapore Academy of Law, the NUS Faculty of Law, the Board of Legal Education and many agencies, both through formal and informal discourse and interaction.

Such rapport and support can only come through mutual respect, an understanding of our respective roles in the legal system and with a common purpose to promote the Rule of Law and democracy.

The Law Society’s continued relevance in the future is dependent entirely on our members’ belief in its effectiveness and their commitment to its existence.

As members, ask of the Law Society the same high standards and sacrifice that we ask of you. Let those who serve never be overcome by bureaucracy, or stagnate due to complacency.

I ask that all members present continue to give your support to the Law Society and take ownership of the Society by participating in its activities and making your voice heard through the Society, for your continued relevance in the profession and in our community to be sustained.

When I stood for elections to Council eight years ago this October, I pledged to make time for the Law Society, and quoting Samuel Johnson in his ode to Winter, to ‘catch the transient hour, and improve each moment as it flies’. Eight years is hardly a transient hour, but I have done my best to improve each moment.

As we honour the volunteers amongst us, let us think about what else we could be doing ourselves. The watchword of voluntarism is ‘do what you can’. If you do all you can, it can never be too little.

As I started my speech with our Annual Report, let me end with the last page of the Report, and say to all members who have helped the Society in one way or other in the year, ‘Good work’, with my sincerest thanks.

Palakrishnan, SC
President
Law Society of Singapore

Your President Listens Members of the Law Society will continue to have the opportunity to meet Mr Palakrishnan, SC, President of the Law Society, at his fortnightly Saturday sessions at the Law Society's premises between 10.30am and 12noon. The sessions for next month will be on 7 and 21 December 2002..