3 January 2003

Workplan of the Council for 2003
Council adopted its workplan for the year and will meet all members of our standing committees on 25 January 2003.

At this meeting, Council would present and receive feedback on the workplan.

A feature on the Law Society’s workplan would be published in the March issue of the Singapore Law Gazette.

A New Communication Channel with Members
Council agreed to hold a weekly session called ‘Council Listens’ at the Law Society. A member of Council would be present at the Secretariat premises at lunchtime each Monday, to hear feedback and offer assistance to members who have problems or issues to raise.

Report of the Practice Structures Committee 2002 on De-linking Practising Certificates (‘PC’)
Mrs Arfat Selvam presented a summary of a report adopted by Council last year, which recommended that PCs be de-linked from a law practice. This would enable lawyers to practise, if they wished, on a part-time or locum basis.

Council will give priority to the implementation of this scheme in 2003.

Report of the Solicitors’ Real Estate Scheme (‘SRES’) Committee
Mr Gan Hiang Chye, Council member and Chairman of the SRES ad hoc committee, informed Council that the draft report prepared by the ad hoc committee was being finalised and would be presented to Council soon.

Appointment of the Committees of the Law Society 2003
Council appointed the committees of 2003 and finalised the terms of reference of these committees.

A major change was that the Conveyancing Practice and Rulings Committees would be merged to form one committee called the Conveyancing Practice Committee. This Committee would look at all matters relevant to conveyancing practice.

Adoption of the Law Society’s Calendar of Events
Council adopted the Secretariat’s proposed Calendar of Events for the year. Dates have been fixed for the Annual Dinner & Dance (18 October 2003), Annual General Meeting (24 October 2003) and Election Day (31 October 2003) and would be published for members’ information.

End of Year ‘Thank You’ Dinner for Law Society Committee Members
The feedback was that the Dinner, held on 10 December 2002 to thank committee chairpersons and members for their voluntary service, was successful.

Council would consider holding such an event on an annual basis.