Council Update   

26 January 2006

Members of the Committee to Review Legal Aid 

Vice President Ms Malathi Das and co-chair of the Committee, advised the Council that the following persons have been invited to serve on the Committee:

1   Mr Yap Teong Liang

2   Mr Sean La’Brooy

3   Ms Debbie Ong (National University of Singapore)

4   Ms Myrna Blake (Sociologist)

The Council approved the appointment of the members named above and was advised that the Committee would have its first meeting on 3 February 2006.

Renewal of the Society’s Professional Indemnity (‘PI’) Insurance Scheme from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007

Representatives of the Society’s Broker, Alexander Forbes, attended the meeting with Chairman of the PI Committee, Mr Quentin Loh, SC and a member of the Committee, Mr Lok Vi Ming, SC.

A presentation was made to Council on the following issues:

1   salient aspects of current coverage;

2   claims analysis;

3   markets and response; and

4   the renewal terms.

Council agreed with the PI Committee’s recommendation on the lead insurer and co-insurers which agreed to participate in the scheme with a five per cent reduction in the current year standard premium.

The Council also approved the PI Committee’s recommendation to amend the Professional Indemnity Rules to make it clear lawyers were responsible to pay their insurance premiums for the scheme policy arranged by the Council to indemnify members against any loss arising from claims in respect of civil liability. The Council concurred with the Committee that it was important for lawyers to meet their premium liability to obtain protection under the scheme. The amendments, when approved, would be publicised to members.

The Committee would continue its study on reviewing the scheme’s loading policy and measures to enhance risk management amongst members and law practices.

Future of the Building Levy 

The Council decided that a dialogue session with members to obtain their feedback on the future of the building levy be held in April 2006.

Coffee Sessions with Members Who Practise in Small Law Firms  

Council noted that the second coffee session that it hosted on 20 January 2006 was well attended and members gave candid feedback on practice issues that were of concern to them. The Council agreed to host two more coffee sessions with small firms. The next session would be held in early March 2006. 

First Status Report on the Society’s Legal Mission to India

The CEO Ms Yasho Dhoraisingam advised the meeting that 30 members had indicated an interest to be a part of this mission that would visit two cities, Delhi and Mumbai, from 2–8 April 2006. Members would be briefed about doing business in India and meet Indian business representatives. A briefing would be held by the Society for interested members on 6 February 2006.