22 August 2003

Preparation of a Final Report on Multi-Disciplinary Practices (‘MDP’)
Mr George Tan, Chairman of the MDP Committee, advised Council that the Committee was in the midst of collating survey responses from members on their interest to practice with a MDP Group Law Practice (‘GLP’) and if members wanted a dialogue to give feedback on the proposed MDPGLP. The Committee was also collating feedback obtained from other professional organisations. The Committee would submit its final report to Council at the end of October 2003.

Law Awareness Weekend 2003
Mr N Sreenivasan, Chairman of the Law Awareness Committee, appeared before Council to report on the programmes and activities planned for the 4th Law Awareness Weekend (‘LAW’).

This year’s LAW would be held over two weekends, on 20 to 21 September and 27 to 28 September 2003, at Marine Parade and Woodlands. The programmes were jointly organised with the South East CDC and North West CDC respectively. The LAW would for the first time include public talks and closed forums on the subject of Child and Family in addition to the usual law exhibitions and free legal counselling clinics.

Bid to Host the 2006 International Bar Association (‘IBA’) Conference
Mr Yang Ing Loong, Council member and representative on the International Relations Committee, advised Council that the Committee would recommend that the Law Society explore the possibility of Singapore hosting the 2006 IBA Conference. Council supported this proposal and requested the Committee to study the matter.

Report of the Young Lawyers Committee’s Mission Trip to Kuala Lumpur
Mr Montague Choy reported that the Singapore delegation had a very rewarding trip and had been warmly received by their Malaysian counterparts.

He reported that during the trip, the Malaysian Bench had expressed interest in Singapore’s arbitration and mediation developments, as well as our court fee structure.

LawAsia Country Councillors Meeting on 1 September 2003 in Tokyo, Japan
Council approved Ms Malathi Das’s attendance at the Law Asia biennial conference and was pleased to hear of her personal appointment to LawAsia’s Executive Committee. Ms Das reported that she would be meeting with a representative of the Law Asia Family Committee to discuss the possibility of the Law Society hosting a Family Conference in Singapore.

15 September 2003

Signing Ceremony for the Knowledge Buy-Out Agreement with the Law Society of England of its Lexcel Standards
Council was advised that the knowledge buy-out agreement signing ceremony would be held on 11 December 2003 followed by a seminar.

The Annual Bench and Bar Games
The meeting noted that the Bench and Bar Games, hosted by Singapore from 11 to 13 September 2003, was a success. Members of the two countries’ Bars enjoyed the farewell dinner and most of all enjoyed the wit and humour of Mr CR Rajah, SC, Master of Ceremonies for the night.

Projects of the Family Law Practice Committee
Ms Ellen Lee, Chairperson of the Family Law Practice Committee, appeared before Council. Ms Lee highlighted the Committee’s involvement in several projects this year, namely:

1. Producing a practice-based family law manual for practitioners. A final draft is expected to be ready by year-end.
2. Holding regular dialogues with the Family Court.
3. Providing feedback on the proposed Family Law EFS module.
4. Holding dialogues with the Housing and Development Board and the Ministry of Community Development and Sports on practice matters.
   
   

The Law Society’s Sri Lankan Legal Mission
Council noted that 15 members would travel to Sri Lanka as part of the Society’s legal mission to the island from 21 to 27 September 2003. The delegation would be headed by Council member, Mr Suresh Damodara. The legal mission had been planned with much assistance from the Sri Lankan Bar Association for which the Society is grateful. The mission would travel to the Board of Investments, Arbitration Centre, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal and be briefed on Sri Lankan law at the leading Law School in Colombo. For the remaining five days, members of the Bar would holiday at Kandy and Trincomalee before returning home.