NEWS

Council Updates

19 May 2003

Changes to the Solicitors’ Accounts Rules
Council unanimously agreed to conduct a survey with all law practices on proposals of Council to tighten the Solicitors’ Accounts Rules. There were three proposals, the first, whether all law practices should carry out monthly reconciliation of their clients’ bank statements against their client’s ledger.

The second proposal was for partnerships and law corporations, to introduce an internal control of a co-signatory approval process for consent to withdraw payments above $5,000 from the client account.

For sole solicitors only, as there was no co-signatory, the third proposal was the alternative internal control mechanism to engage an accountant to carry out the monthly book-keeping function of a law practice.

The survey will also seek members’ feedback on counter written proposals by some members. The survey results would be presented to all members.

Liberalisation of the Law Society’s Practice Rules
Mr Loo Ngan Chor was appointed by Council as chairman of a special ad-hoc committee to review all our Rules of conduct to study and then recommend how our ethical Rules could be liberalised for the benefit of both the profession and the public.

A Special Award
Council decided to dedicate an award in the name of the Society’s first President, Mr Tan Chye Cheng or better known as Mr CC Tan. This award would honour a member who represents the hallmarks of the profession — honesty, integrity, courtesy and fair play. The late Mr CC Tan was widely regarded as epitomising these qualities during his 57 years in practice.

A three-man committee of Council had been appointed to finalise the terms of the award.

Projects of the Information Technology Committee 2003
Mr Jim Lim, Mr Bryan Tan and Mr Martin Marini appeared before Council as Chair and members respectively of the committee.

The IT Committee had identified the following core areas to help members deal with aspects of IT that impinged on the practice of law:

The Committee had begun various training initiatives this year and would continue to do so in the course of the year.

The Committee was overseeing the Society’s web portal. The IT Committee had identified two aims for the portal: to serve as an interface between the Law Society and its members, and to serve as the face of the Society to the public.

The Committee was requested by Council to look into the possibility of an e-voting system for Council elections, and to prepare and present to Council a six-month report on the usage of the portal.

Projects of the Social and Welfare Committee 2003
Mr David Nayar, the Chairman of the Committee appeared before Council.

Mr Nayar reported that the highlight of the Committee’s calendar this year was planning the Society’s first ever Family Day in August 2003. Another important project was the Annual Dinner and Dance that will be held on 18 October 2003 at the Ritz Carlton.

The Committee is in the midst of planning a legal mission to Sri Lanka.

Profile of Lawyers Who Did Not Renew Their Practising Certificates for the Practice Year Commencing 1 April 2003
Council was informed that the number of lawyers issued with practising certificates as of 30 April 2003 stood at 3,198. This was a one percent decrease from the previous year.

The number of lawyers who ceased practice as at 30 April 2003 was 218 with 189 lawyers from the junior category, 17 from the middle category and 12 from the senior category.

30 May 2003

Liberalisation of the Law Society’s Practice Rules
Council was advised that Mr Loo Ngan Chor had nominated Mr Steven Seah, Mr Lim Wee Teck and Associate Professor Eleanor Wong of the National University of Singapore as members of the ad-hoc committee.

Mr Leo Cheng Suan was nominated Council representative of the committee.

The ad-hoc committee would also look to three senior members of the Bar as resource persons.

The terms of reference of the ad-hoc committee were being finalised and would include a review of the Publicity Rules, Naming of Firm Rules and the Professional Conduct Rules.

Law Society’s Web Portal
Mr William Phua, the Director of IT at the secretariat, presented a six month activity report on the usage of the Society’s homepage as requested by Council at the last meeting. The records showed a heavy usage of the homepage.

Mr Phua was requested to determine the number of members who visited the Members’ portal only. The CEO was requested to write to chairpersons of all Practice Committees of the Society to advise them that the IT Committee could offer them assistance in any area of IT that they may require. Similarly, if the IT Committee required any practice law assistance with its IT work, the Society’s Practice Committees would be available to assist.

Projects of the Muslim Law Practice Committee 2003
Mr Seeni, Mr Syed Yahaya and Ms Halijah Mohamed appeared before Council.

The Committee reported that it was working very closely with the Syariah Court .

The Committee was currently working on two projects, namely, the Digest of Appeal Cases and a joint project with the Syariah Court to produce Law Awareness pamphlets in both English and Malay for next year.

Concept Paper on a Series of Practice Management Seminars for Small Firms
The Continuing Professional Development Committee proposal was to conduct four subsidised seminars for small firms between June and July on practice management. An objective of the Society’s work plan for the year was to promote learning initiatives to help members cope with a profession in transition.

Implementation of the Law Society’s Free Legal Advice Column in Newspapers for SARS-related Legal Issues

Council was informed that TODAY and Lianhe Zaobao newspapers would run the advisory column for eight weeks. TODAY would also use the advice given for broadcast on the SARS TV channel.

CC Tan Award
Council approved the criteria for the award.

The Society would seek members’ feedback on possible nominees for Council to consider. The three-man committee of Council would also make suitable recommendations of nominees for the award. The award would be publicised in the Singapore Law Gazette and weekly E Jus News.

Review of the Bar Memorial Scholarship Rules
Council considered the Social and Welfare committee’s review of the above Rules that were first drafted in 1918.

Council was of the view that the original objective of the scholarship, to provide a scholarship for the children of lawyers and support staff that worked in law practices or the general legal industry, should be preserved.

Council agreed to incorporate a new criterion, which was consideration of the financial needs of the applicant when the application was made. The revised rules would be submitted to Council at its next meeting.

More publicity would be given about the scholarship via E Jus News to all members.

Young Lawyers Second Dinner Series
Council was informed that the dinner would be held at the OCBC Executives’ Club on 19 June 2003. The speakers were Mr LP Thean, Mr Michael Hwang, SC and Ms Indranee Rajah, SC. The topics would centre on ethics and professional courtesy. This dinner would be a self-funding project with a portion of the proceeds donated to the Courage Fund.

Law Society’s Annual Dinner and Dance 2003
The Social and Welfare Committee requested that this year’s dinner, which will be held on 18 October 2003, be open to spouses and partners of members. Council agreed to this change.