Good Work, Hard Work

One of the striking changes in the profession over the past couple of decades has been the decline in the number of criminal practitioners. It is rare to find young lawyers wishing to make their name in criminal defence. The buzzwords of today are international arbitration, financial services and competition law.

There are likely to be many factors at play in this decline, pull factors such as new opportunities in non-traditional areas of the law, but also negative ones, such as a sense that it is hard for criminal defence lawyers to make a difference. Some practitioners complain of the odds seemingly against them. At the beginning of last year, Council identified two principal areas in which reform is needed: first, the extent to which documents are disclosed to the defence ahead of trial, and, second, the circumstances under which police statements are recorded. Since then Council has taken soundings within the profession to discern the consensus over the direction of reform and to present the profession’s views to other constituents in the criminal justice system. In June, I and three other Council members had the opportunity to meet with the Minister for 
Home Affairs, while in July, a highly successful seminar took place to discuss criminal discovery. The Criminal Practice Committee, chaired by Edmond Pereira, has been hard at work. The fruit of all this work is a policy paper which will be submitted to the authorities this month. How this paper is received will depend on the strength of the arguments presented, and the extent to which it can be shown that the proposals are indeed ultimately in the public interest as Singapore develops.

The Law Awareness Committee approaches crime from a 
different angle. It gets practitioners involved in crime prevention, as well as seeking to bring together the police, social workers and others, to improve procedures for how vulnerable persons, such as youth and educationally subnormal individuals, are taken care of within the system. The Law Awareness project tackling Youth Crime was implemented in August, following sustained and intensive planning since the start of the year. This year, the Committee, under Christopher Woo’s able chairmanship, has aimed its message at teachers and discipline masters. A seminar for teachers was held in August, complemented by visits to schools and the publication of a teacher’s aid, in the form of a mock tabloid called Youth Times. The last major Law Awareness Project had looked at how people with special needs are accommodated (or not) within the criminal justice system, and had pioneered an approach of attempting dialogue with the police and discussion involving social workers. This approach was continued for this year’s project, with Rev Sam Kuna of Teen Challenge giving the keynote speech, and a prisons and a police officer contributing presentations as well.

Naturally, the Society’s work has not been limited to criminal practice and law awareness. Committees have helped Council to work on the new practice structure of limited liability partnerships, for which the necessary amendments to the Legal Profession Act are in the offing. In addition, submissions have been made on various items of impending legislation.

Soon it will be time for Council elections. Council has been busy reaching out to members, in particular by a programme of visits to law firms and by lunches with committee members. Among other objectives, we have hoped to spark greater interest in running for Council. Serving on Council, while at times onerous and challenging, is rewarding for the perspective it gives its members on the problems and opportunities facing the profession. What is required to be a good Council member is simply a good attitude, comprising three things — a readiness to roll up one’s sleeves and get down to work, an objective cast of mind ready to take decisions based on the facts and the best interests of the profession and the public, and a passion for the practice of law. We certainly encourage people to participate in the elections, and if it has crossed your mind, and yet you are not sure whether to do so or not, have a word with one of our existing Council members, so that you can understand more fully what commitment is required. Then, close your eyes, and take the plunge. Sometime, somewhere, you’ll know it was all worthwhile.

Philip Jeyaretnam, SC

President

The Law Society of Singapore