Council Updates

28 March 2002

Study Report on Mandatory Continuing Legal Education ('MCLE')
The Continuing Legal Education Committee would study how implementation of the recommendations made in the report could be undertaken.

Dialogue Sessions with Members
A dialogue session with representatives of the 10 largest law practices was held on 16 March 2002 and another dialogue session was held with sole proprietors on 20 April 2002. Council reviewed the feedback from the dialogue session with the 10 largest practices that was attended by representatives from eight practices. Issues such as the cost of doing business, limited liability partnerships and tax incentives were discussed. Council has forwarded these concerns to the Secretary of the Working Group on Legal Services for its information.

Council would review the feedback from the dialogue session with sole proprietors at its May meeting.

Motor Insurance Task Force Barometer of Liability
The Motor Insurance Task Force was set up in 2000 to review the practices and conduct of the motor insurance industry in Singapore. The Task Force had drafted a Barometer of Liability based on various models practised around the world to establish a set of international best practices for the motor insurance industry.

The Civil Practice Committee had recommended that Council appoint an ad hoc Committee to study the proposal. Council appointed Mr Chia Boon Teck to chair this ad hoc Committee. Council also identified members of the Law Society who should be invited to serve on this ad hoc Committee in view of their experience in this area of practice.

CEO's Quarterly Status Report on Workplan 2002
The CEO's quarterly status report outlining progress of the Law Society in meeting its workplan targets for the year was noted and accepted by Council without any amendments.

Request for Feedback Regarding Human Tissue Research in Singapore
The Intellectual Property Committee had drafted the Law Society's feedback on this issue to the Bioethics Advisory Committee.

Meeting with the Bar Council of Malaysia's Governing Council by the Law Society's Council
The tradition to return the visit of the Office Bearers of the Bar Council of Malaysia to Singapore last year would be continued with a visit to Malaysia planned sometime in August.

Nomination of Three Members to Serve on the Electronic Lodgment Project Management Committee of the Singapore Land Authority
Council appointed Mr Ernest Balasubramaniam, a member, to be one of the three members to serve on the Committee. Mr Balasubramaniam would nominate two other members to work with him on the Committee.