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NEWS |
‘Know The Law’ Official Launch | Law Society 5th Charity Golf Tournament 2002 | Supreme Court Open House 2002 | Of Candles, Images and Reflections | Calendar of Events for the First Half of 2003
‘Know The Law’ Official Launch
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The Law Awareness Committee (‘the Committee’) first published the ‘Know The Law’ booklet in 1998 for the 3rd Law Awareness Exhibition. The booklet was meant to cater to the masses and it had to be written in simple language
with easy to read materials. The booklet was published in four languages: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil, so that more people could have access to it.
When the Committee embarked on this project in 1998, it could not have anticipated the success of the booklet. The initial 5,000 copies printed in English had run out and very few copies are now available in Chinese, Malay and
Tamil. Surprisingly, there was still a demand for the booklet.
In 2001, the Committee decided to publish a second edition of the booklet. The contents were updated and new topics added. The Committee interviewed several parties before finally engaging Innersphere Design to give the booklet
a new look and design.
Many hours were spent by numerous volunteer lawyers in writing, editing, reading and re-reading the several drafts before going to print. To these volunteer lawyers, the Committee is indebted to you and sincerely thanks you for
your time and effort.
A total of 3,000 copies in English, 2,000 copies in Chinese, 1,000 copies in Malay and 1,000 copies in Tamil of the booklet were printed.
The Committee decided that the second edition of the booklet should be introduced to the public through an official launch. The Committee put up a proposal to Council and Council was in agreement.
The Launch was held on 16 November 2002 at the National Library@Orchard. The Honourable The Chief Justice Yong Pung How was the Guest of Honour. The President, Mr Palakrishnan, SC, started the proceedings by addressing the
audience of invited guests (which included the Registrar of the Supreme Court and the Registrar of the Syariah Court) with a short speech. The Chief Justice was then invited to launch the booklet. With the click of a button, a
90-second montage signalled the official launch of the booklet.
Channel NewsAsia sent their television crew to cover the official launch. The New Paper carried an article entitled ‘Don’t know the law? Here’s help’ on 16 November 2002 on the booklet. The author of the article, Mr Arul John,
recognised the efforts put in by the Law Society to reach out to members of the public when he wrote:
The Society has been involved in trying to help people with the law since the early 1990s.
The booklet was first sold at the Supreme Court Open House from 29 November to 1 December 2002 in conjunction with the Free Legal Clinic. The booklet is now available for sale at the Accounts/Finance Department of the Law
Society at S$2 per copy.
The Launch would not have been possible without the support from Council.
It would also not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of Mr Christopher Woo, Ms Malathi Das, Mr Mohamed Lutfi bin Hussin, Ms Tan E-Fang, Mr Edwin Sim and Mr Gokul Haridas in the planning, preparation and
execution of the launch. In his speech, the President of the Law Society said:
I am pleased to observe the camaraderie and esprit de corp that have been achieved by the Law Awareness Committee in working together, regardless of the odds, to deliver on both their LawBuzz project and this ‘Know The Law’ publication this year.
It has indeed been a personal honour and privilege for me to have been able to work with each and every one of them. The success belongs to them.
The Committee also recognises and acknowledges the support given by Mr Abdul Rahim Kassim, Mr Jimmy Khoo, Mr Ho Meng Third, Ms Chu Sooi Yoon, Ms Sharmaine Lau, Ms Seah Min Wai, Ms Juliana Oh, Ms Shirin Kamsir and Ms Dorothy
Yong from the Secretariat at the Launch.
Last but not least, a warm thank you also goes to Mr Goh Phai Cheng, SC, and Mr Suresh Damodara for graciously accompanying the President to greet the Chief Justice upon his arrival.
Foo Say Tun
Chairman, Law Awareness Committee
Law Society of Singapore
The following is the address of Mr Palakrishnan, SC, President of the Law Society of Singapore at the Launch of the 2nd Edition of the ‘Know The Law’ booklet, published by the Law Awareness Committee of the Law Society of Singapore.
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Our Guest of Honour, the Honourable Chief Justice Yong Pung How, Members of the Council of the Law Society of Singapore, Members of the Law Awareness Committee, distinguished guests and friends.
Two of the essential ingredients of the Mission Statement of the Law Society are service to the community and ensuring access to justice.
The Law Awareness Committee of the Law Society of Singapore executes both ingredients of our Mission Statement earnestly and admirably, even amidst the difficult constraints that often present themselves with voluntary work.
That the Committee is led by one of our younger members and is made up of lawyers from mainly our Junior and Middle categories bode well for our profession, as it represents the commitment of our younger members of the Bar to
community service, through useful utilisation of their legal education and knowledge: it is their role in our future, what with remodelling Singapore and all.
The second edition of the ‘Know The Law’ booklet sees timely republication after its sell-out first edition published in 1998. It is the only legal publication we know that is produced in our four national languages: English,
Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. It is truly designed to reach out to the masses, both in terms of language, simplicity, brevity and in capturing the essence of issues of concerns of the general public.
In this edition, 14 topics of general interest have been updated. Four new topics have also been added: the Advance Medical Directive, Muslim Inheritance Law, Legal Costs and Making a Complaint.
A total of 7,000 copies have been printed and will be distributed to various institutions, such as junior colleges and polytechnics (which were part of the LawBuzz Project), as well as our Family Service Centres, as a reference
material. Copies will also be available to the general public through the Law Society and major bookshops at a nominal price. With the kind support of the Supreme Court, copies will also be available on sale to the public at the
Supreme Court’s upcoming Open House from 29 November to 1 December 2002.
From conception to updating to proofreading, volunteers from the Law Awareness Committee and several members of the Law Society have lent their helping hands ‘gratis’ to see that the publication makes its encore this year. This
has also enabled the cost of the publication and, consequently, its price to be kept down. My thanks go to these volunteers.
It is said that from what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.
I thank the Law Awareness Committee for undertaking this project and giving to make the lives around us better, through awareness and knowledge of the law.
It is also said that the reward and real grace of conscious service is the opportunity not only to be of service, but also to grow in wisdom, experience greater unity and aspire to greater heights.
I am pleased to observe the camaraderie and esprit de corp that have been achieved by the Law Awareness Committee in working together, regardless of the odds, to deliver on both their LawBuzz Project and this ‘Know The Law’
publication this year.
It remains for me to thank your Honour, the Chief Justice, for gracing the launch of our humble publication as our Guest of Honour and to all our guests present for your show of support.
Law Society 5th Charity Golf Tournament 2002
On Sunday, 24 November 2002, we held our 5th Charity Golf Tournament at Orchid Golf & Country Club. The event was to raise funds for the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme. Under the Scheme, our volunteer lawyers render free legal aid
and assistance to applicants.
We were very honoured to have once again as our Guest-of-Honour, the Honourable Minister for Law and Foreign Affairs, Professor S Jayakumar. This is the fifth consecutive year that the Honourable Minister has graced this event,
and we are very grateful for his untiring efforts and active encouragement in helping us to raise funds. The Honourable Minister had single-handedly secured sponsors for no less than 10 flights.
The tournament saw a lot of familiar faces who continue to give us their unwavering support. About 135 participants took part. The weather was perfect and everyone had an enjoyable time. The Hole-In-One prizes consisted of a
variety of drivers, amongst others, which drew the enthusiasm and efforts of many of the participants.
We managed to raise an estimated net sum of S$100,000, despite the economic situation.
We would like to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Honourable Chief Justice Yong Pung How, judges of the Supreme Court, judges of the Subordinate Courts, Lee Foundation, Singapore Pools Pte Ltd,
organisations, law firms, members of the legal profession and members of the public for their generous donations, sponsorship and participation.
Thank you one and all, for your support in making this fund raising event another success for our public project and for a worthy cause.
Goh Siok Leng
5th Charity Golf Organising Committee
Law Society of Singapore
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Prof S Jayakumar and Mr Tan Chuan Thye |
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Eager golfers registering before the tee-off |
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L to R: Mr Rajan Nair, Mr Eddie CP Lee, Mr Tan Siah Yong and Mr Troy Yeo |
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The Guest-of-Honour, Prof S Jayakumar, Minister for Law and Foreign Affairs |
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Mr Wee Pan Lee, Chairman of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme Committee |
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L to R: Mr Stefanus Johannes Schoeman, Prof S Jayakumar, Mr Hahm Myung-Chul and Mr K Kesavapany |
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Mr Palakrishnan, SC and Mr B Mohan Singh |
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After a hard day's work, good grub is a must |
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Supreme Court Open House 2002
Free Legal Clinic
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The Law Awareness Committee (‘the Committee’) was invited by the Supreme Court to participate in the Supreme Court Open House 2002 from 29 November to 1 December 2002 by running a free legal clinic. With blessings from Council,
the Committee went ahead to plan and organise the event.
On 25 September 2002, a letter was sent out to members appealing for volunteers.
A week before the event, the Committee had only 90 volunteers who had stepped forward. In that one week, the Committee members, especially Ms Foo Siew Fong, managed to persuade many lawyers to sign up as volunteers.
The first Free Legal Clinic session started on 29 November 2002 at 2pm. It was held at the Singapore Academy of Law Restaurant on the third level of City Hall Building. By 6pm on 1 December 2002, our volunteer lawyers had seen
a total of 320 members of the public and the breakdown of the 320 enquiries is shown in the table.
These numbers do not include members of the public who were turned away because they were there seeking a second opinion on their case when they already had solicitors on record acting for them.
At the Free Legal Clinic, the Committee’s ‘Know The Law’ booklet was put on sale for the first time to members of the public after it was officially launched by the Honourable Chief Justice on 16 November 2002 at the National
Library@Orchard. It is the only booklet containing legal information which is published in four languages. The sales were encouraging and copies are still available from the Finance Department of the Law Society at S$2 per copy.
The Committee wishes to extend its sincere thanks to all the volunteers (some of whom did more than one session) and the Secretariat, especially Ms Sharmaine Lau, Mr Clifford Hang, Ms Jacqueline Liew, Ms Juliana Oh, Mr Jimmy
Khoo, Ms Shirin Kamsir, Ms Ong Siok Ing and Ms Dorothy Yong, for giving up their precious time to make the event a success for the Law Society.
Special thanks go to:
| SUBJECT MATTER | NUMBER OF ENQUIRIES |
| Family Law | 73 |
| Wills and Probate | 70 |
| Personal Injury Claims | 17 |
| Employment Law | 19 |
| Insolvency (Bankruptcy and Winding up) | 30 |
| Others: a) Debt Recovery b) Company Law c) Landlord and Tenant d) Contract Law e) Others (Medical Negligence, Immigration, Departmental Summonses, Renovation Dispoutes, Defamation, Conveyancing, Private Summonses, etc) |
25 10 9 12 55 |
List of Volunteer Lawyers for the Free Legal Clinic• Mr Ang Cheng Hock (Allen & Gledhill)
Foo Say Tun
Chairman, Law Awareness Committee
Law Society of Singapore
Of Candles, Images and Reflections
The Law Society of Singapore ‘Thank You’ Dinner
After an almost 10-year hiatus, a ‘Thank You’ dinner for all Law Society Committee chairpersons and members was held this year. As with many suggestions made at Council level, the suggestor is often arrowed with executing the
idea, but this was indeed one pleasurable duty I gladly undertook with fellow Council member, Helen Chia, and some members of the Secretariat.
Despite the same being held during the weather-wet, but holiday-hot period of December, the function saw a commendable attendance of some 90 odd members out of the 200 committee members, who had received e-mail invitations.
Many who sent regrets had scheduled travelling, but it was wonderful to have past-Presidents, Mr Peter Cuthbert Low, Mr Chandra Mohan and Mr George Lim — all of whom are in our Resource Panel — join in the festivities amidst their
busy schedules.
By 7pm on 10 December 2002, members starting trickling into The Pabulum Restaurant on the second level of the newly-opened SAFRA Town Club in Carpenter Street. Each was greeted with a token of appreciation, comprising, inter
alia, a Law Society pinnette specially commissioned for the function by the Law Society, and a glass candle from outgoing President, Mr Palakrishnan, SC. The candle was symbolic of Mr Pala’s tribute to our volunteers as being
those who lose nothing ‘by lighting another’s candle’ (see the President’s Message in the November 2002 issue of the SLG).
Despite the comfortable booths and seats provided, a good part of the crowd preferred standing on arrival, and mingled warmly, catching up with friends; the camaraderie that is ever-present amongst Law Society committee members
was evident.
The night kicked off with my bubbly co-conspirator, Ms Helen Chia, taking the stage as our Lady-of-Ceremonies. Our President was invited to say ‘a few words’, a euphemism to those of us who know the President, as it was clear
that Mr Pala was not going to let his last opportunity to address his members as President go by just like that. So stomachs growled as Mr Pala gave more than the usual thanks to all members for their support of the Law Society
not only this year, but in the years past — many of our members having been in our committees for a substantial number of years. He also outlined some of the challenges to be faced by the profession and the Society in the coming
year. Certainly more than a few words, but much food for thought.
The President then thanked our outgoing Council members for their contributions: Mr Goh Phai Cheng, SC, Mrs Murgiana Haq, Mr Patrick Ang and Mr Leonard Loo. Mr Leonard Loo, the only outgoing member able to be present, received
the customary plaque of appreciation to outgoing Council members, and shared his experiences as a Council member with those present.
Dinner was then served, and a buffet spread of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes greeted our guests. For at least a good half an hour thereafter, the only sounds to be heard from the floor were the clink of cutlery against
crockery and chatter muffled by chow.
Once the physical appetite was sated, it was time for some nourishment of the spirit — and no, I don’t mean the free-flow of beer! Attendees were then treated to a montage, somewhat hastily, but nevertheless lovingly, put
together by the ad-hoc organising team, comprising of nostalgic music, old and new photos, the occasional quip and a lot of heartfelt thanks. The appreciative silence which met the montage, interspersed with the occasional
applause for a particular committee member, was heartwarming, as were the requests for copies of the montage after the show.
Our President-elect, Mrs Arfat Selvam, was next invited to address the floor, but graciously and dutifully did so with literally just ‘a few words’ as exhorted by the President. She also presented the President (an avowed fan
of the Red Devils) with a farewell gift from the Law Society — a monogrammed Manchester United jersey, with the Number 7 of David Beckham, as well as a copy of the montage for the evening — on the occasion of his retirement from
the Presidency at the end of the year.
The organisers, unfortunately, could not oblige the President’s impromptu request for either ‘Posh’ or ‘Spice’ to accompany the gifts.
The evening ended on a mellow note, with some remaining groups of guests nursing drinks and desserts, as others slowly drifted out from this weeknight event, no doubt to prepare to meet a new day of challenges.
In all, as organisers, Helen and I were touched by the positive response and kind words of our guests, although we know that the event was but a small gesture compared to the time and effort these committee members put in to
serve our members and our community.
Thank you once again, and a Blessed New Year to you all!
Malathi Das
Council Member
Law Society of Singapore
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Outgoing Council member, Mr Leonard Loo, shares his experiences |
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The new President of the Law Society, Mrs Arfat Selvam, presents a gift of appreciation to outgoing President, Mr Palakrishnan, SC |
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Mr Palakrishnan, SC, tightly clutches his prized possession, the Manchester United jersey |
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'Hear ye, hear ye' Ms Helen Chia beckons the crowd |
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The new SAFRA Town Club packs in the guests |
Calendar of Events for the First Half of 2003
NOTE THE FOLLOWING RED LETTER DATES:
14 OCTOBER 2003: NOMINATION DAY; 18 OCTOBER 2003: ANNUAL DINNER & DANCE;
24 OCTOBER 2003: ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING; and 31 OCTOBER 2003: ELECTIONS.
| DATE | EVENT | ORGANISED BY | |
| January | 4 | Opening of Legal Year |
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| 7 | E-Learning Portal Roadshow | Training | |
| 9 | Construction Law Seminar - Management of Defects Cases |
Training | |
| 14 | E-Learning Portal Roadshow | Training | |
| 16 | Insolvency Law Seminar | Training | |
| 21 | E-Learning Portal Roadshow | Training | |
| 22 | Structured Trade Finance | Training | |
| 25 | Annual Workplan Briefing with Committees and Members | CEO | |
| February | 18 | Accounting Forensics Seminar | Training |
| 20 | Briefing on Manual PC Renewal for Support Staff of Law Firms | Professional Standards | |
| 24-25 | Law Practice Management Course | Training | |
| 27 | Briefing on E-Filing PC Renewal and Features of Law Society's Professional Indemnity Policy | Professional Standards | |
| April | 13-17 | Commonwealth Lawyers Association Annual Conference (Australia) |
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| 27 | Law Society Shield Cross-country Run* | Sports Committee | |
| May | 2nd Young Lawyers Dinner Series (date to be confirmed) | Young Lawyers Committee | |
| 3 | Bowling Masters* | Sports Committee | |
| 4 | Knowles Cup/Wee Chong Jin Cup/CC Tan Cup* | Sports Committee | |
| 25 | Law Society Shield 11-A-Side Tournament* | Sports Committee |
