Council Updates

19 April 2002

Recommendations of the Civil Practice Committee on the Pace and Cost of Litigation
Council would invite Mr Vinodh Coomaraswamy to recommend appointments to an ad hoc committee to study and make recommendations on the paper presented by the Civil Practice Committee on the pace and cost of litigation.

Proposed Survey with Inhouse Legal Counsel on MDPs
The MDP Committee plans to conduct a survey with the Non-Practitioner Members ('NPMs') of the Law Society to obtain their views on the feasibility and benefits of setting up MDPs in Singapore. The areas of focus of the survey include:

• scope of practice of a MDP;
• professional ethics and conduct; and
• safeguards, particularly with regard to client confidentiality.

Council approved the survey and the forms would be posted to NPMs of the Law Society.

The MDP Committee was requested to look at a MDP model with foreign professionals in other jurisdictions.

Agreement for EFS Phase 4.0 Specifications
The agreement for the External Design Specification for Web-based Front-end Application for Phase 4.0 of the Electronic Filing System was reviewed by the EFS Committee and found to comply with the Rules of Court and Procedure. The front-end was deemed to be user-friendly and incorporated the comments of the Law Society.

Council agreed to the President signing the agreement.

Paper by the President on the TDB Mission Trip to China
Following the President's report of his trip and the many opportunities that were now open in China for business, Council directed the International Relations Committee to examine the possibility of entering into Memorandums of Understanding with the law societies in three Chinese cities, namely Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Report of Ad Hoc Committee on the Motor Insurers' Task Force's 'Barometer of Liability'
The ad hoc committee, after studying the proposed draft on 'Barometer of Liability', submitted its report to Council which addressed several concerns regarding the prerequisites proposed.

Council accepted and adopted the report and reply to the General Insurance Association of Singapore.

Young Lawyers Committee - Report on Its Annual Young Lawyers Event at Level 69 Equinox
Council was informed that the event held on 28 March 2002 was a success. The Young Lawyers Committee plans to hold a series of four seminars where several practitioners from the middle and senior categories would be invited to give talks to young lawyers.

10 May 2002

Implementation Report on the Concept of Practice Sections
Council accepted the CEO's recommendations on the implementation of the concept of practice sections for the Law Society, following feedback from members last year supporting this idea.

The project would be planned as a pilot project with five practice sections that would be included: Property, Civil, Criminal, Family and Information Technology & Practice Management.

Adjourned Extraordinary General Meeting ('EOGM') of 24 April 2002
Following the EOGM, Council decided to appoint Council member, Mr Gan Hiang Chye, to form an ad hoc committee to study a proposal to be submitted to Council on the Solicitors Real Estate Scheme.

Dialogue Session with Sole Proprietors
The sole proprietors who attended the dialogue on 20 April 2002 were very keen to have the Law Society facilitate networking sessions for them. Council decided that the Continuing Legal Education Committee would assist to create such networking sessions at its seminars as non-members, owners and directors of small- and medium-sized enterprises attended many seminars of the Law Society.

Recipients of the 'Friends of the Law Society' Award and Plaques of Appreciation
Committee chairpersons of all standing committees would be invited to make nominations for the awards.

Status Report on the Final Preparations for the Bench & Bar Games
The Sports Committee reported that final preparation for the Games was underway and that all flights to Kota Kinabalu have been fully booked with about 230 members and their families travelling to the Games. With donations from members of the Bar, the judiciary, as well as UBS Private Banking and Daimler-Chrysler, the donation target for this year's Games was met.

Approval of Budget for the Publication of the Law Society's Directory 2002/2003
Council approved the budget and the appointment of the design firm to produce and print the 2002/2003 Directory, scheduled for release in end July/early August 2002.

Working with SAGE on Elder Abuse
Council agreed to Council member, Ms Malathi Das, working with the Singapore Action Group for Elders' Legal Sub-committee workgroup to study the causes of elder abuse and to look into protection for elders via legislation.