Council Update   

15 February 2006

Addressing ‘Quality of Life’ Concerns of the Profession

Council reviewed an MBA thesis of a Singapore law graduate Mr Samuel Ang entitled the ‘Flight of Singapore Legal Eagles’ where the causes of Singapore lawyers leaving practice was explored.

The Society requested Mr Ang to write a synopsis of his thesis as an article for the Singapore Law Gazette and he has kindly agreed to do so.

At the meeting, the Council noted that it would have a dialogue with the Subordinate Courts later in March 2006 to raise practice concerns of members and that the Society would continue to raise such concerns as and when they arise.

The Council hoped the article by Mr Samuel Ang, when published, would provide law practices an insight into the causes of job
 stress and dissatisfaction of lawyers and help proprietors, partners and directors of law practices determine if the work practices at their offices could be changed to help alleviate the pressures 
of daily practice. 

A Corporate Governance Code for the Council of the Law Society

The meeting noted that in late 2005, a decision was made to draft a corporate governance code for the Council. A draft was completed and reviewed by the Executive Committee of the Council. The draft was before the Council for a review.

The Council approved the draft code which set out statements on the role of the Council, its composition, access to information, management of human resource, financial management, accountability and audit control.

The Council noted that the code provided for an audit process and risk management with the appointment of an Audit Committee comprising two Council members and two nominated non-Council members to review the financial activities of the Society. The Council recommended that the draft code be amended to provide for the appointment of an external internal auditor.

The draft code would be revised by the CEO for the approval of the Treasurer before a review by the Council at its next meeting of 10 March 2006.

Investment of the Law Society’s Reserves

The Treasurer, Mr Michael S Chia, briefed Council on the current status of investments and returns. The Society had invested its reserves with UBS Wealth Management which had thus far generated returns between five to six per cent. The Council at the meeting met two representatives from UBS Wealth Management to obtain advice to review investment strategies with the aim to better improve returns from the Society’s investments.

Terms of Reference of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Law Society to Review Capital Punishment

The terms of reference of the committee was circulated to the Council after its meeting and approved.

The terms of reference of the committee are ‘To consider and report whether liability under the criminal law in Singapore to suffer capital punishment should be limited or modified, and if so, to what extent; and to inquire into and take account of the position in those countries whose experience and practice may throw light on these questions and of relevant internal instruments and practices’.

Publication of an Information Booklet on the Regulatory Framework for Charities in Singapore

The Council reviewed the terms of a written proposal submitted by Mr Sean La’Brooy, Chairman of the Project Law Help Committee, outlining the Committee’s proposal to produce a booklet on the regulatory framework for the charities sector in Singapore. The Committee requested a grant of $10,000 from the Society to cover the cost of publication of 1,000 copies of the booklet. Council approved the project and agreed to the request for a grant.

10 March 2006

A Dialogue with Members on the Future of the Building Levy

Council discussed the terms of a draft information leaflet to facilitate a dialogue with members on the future of the building levy before this year’s annual general meeting on 16 October 2006.

The information leaflet was amended by the Council and it was decided that a dialogue be held with members at the Law Society on 19 April 2006. 

A Corporate Governance Code for the Council of the Law Society

Council adopted the revised draft code which provided for the appointment of an external internal auditor for the Society.

Council decided that the implementation date of the corporate governance code would be 1 August 2006. The code would be published to members and posted on the Society’s website.

Appointment of an Assistant Treasurer of the Law Society

The meeting appointed Council member, Mr Lee Terk Yang, as Assistant Treasurer of the Law Society from 13 March 2006.

Coffee Sessions with Small Law Firms

A report on the three sessions held to date prepared by the Director of Practice Standards, Ms Chua Lik Teng, was reviewed by the Council.

The meeting noted that the sessions provided an opportunity for members of the Council to hear first-hand, practice concerns of small firm lawyers. Council decided to continue with these sessions for all remaining 700 small firm practitioners.

The President advised the meeting that practice issues raised at the last three coffee sessions relevant to the Subordinate Courts would be raised at a meeting with the Registrar of the Courts at the end of the month. 

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

The CEO, Ms Yasho Dhoraisingam, referred to her written report and advised the Council that to date, 16 lawyers would be travelling on the mission scheduled from 2 to 8 April 2006.

Council was also advised that two seminars on Singapore law to be delivered to Indian businessmen were confirmed with speakers from the Intellectual Property Office, the Academy of Law, and International Arbitration Centre along with three members of the Society.