Council Update   

31 March 2006

Modernisation of the Law Society’s Secretariat

Council studied a report after a review by the Executive Committee of Council (‘Exco’) of 2005 and 2006 to improve the organisation of the Society’s secretariat to better serve the needs of members and the community.

Council requested Exco to review the expenditure costs to modernise the secretariat and report back to Council.

A Dialogue Session with Members on the Future of the Law Society’s Building Levy

Council reviewed a second draft of a fact sheet to members on information relevant to enable members to give feedback on the future of the building levy. The second draft was approved by Council for publication to members with an invitation letter to the dialogue session to be held on 20 April 2006 at the Law Society at 5.30pm.

Workplans of Committees of the Law Society

Council noted the terms of the workplans of various Committees for 2006 submitted to Council. Council had requested Committees to submit their internal workplans to enable the Society to be advised of activities and projects of  Committees.

Council approved the proposal of the Information Technology and the Electronic Litigation Committees to be merged as one Committee to better serve members’ information technology needs and concerns.

Promotion of the Profession

Council noted that promotion of the profession was a workplan target for 2006. At the meeting, Council referred to articles that described advertisement campaigns run by Law Societies in England and Australia to promote the profession.

Council decided that as the initiative to promote the profession arose from feedback from small firm practitioners, this matter be referred to the Small Firms Committee for its views 
and feedback.

Hacking of the Law Society’s Website on 
26 March 2006

Mr William Phua advised Council that a police report had been lodged by the CEO, Ms Yasho Dhoraisingam, and the case was under Police investigation. The meeting was also advised that the company hosting the Society’s server had conducted an investigation and the report submitted to the Society was reviewed by Council at the meeting.

Final Status Report on the Law Society’s Legal Mission to India from 3 to 7 April 2006

The CEO, Ms Yasho Dhoraisingam, advised Council that 10 law practices would be travelling on the mission, and that visits to the High Court in Mumbai and the Supreme Court in New Delhi had been arranged. She also informed the meeting that there would be a meeting at Singapore’s High Commission in New Delhi on 7 April.

Budget for the Annual Bench and Bar Games 2006

The Treasurer, Mr Michael S Chia, took Council through the Sports Committee’s budget for the Games. Council noted that donations stood at $17,000 whilst the donation target was $32,000. The meeting was advised that a second letter of appeal to law practices for donations would be signed by the President.

The budget for the Games was approved by Council. The meeting noted that there would be 150 members travelling to Langkawi, Malaysia for this year’s Games.

Appointment to the LawNet Conveyancing Sub-committee of the Singapore Academy of Law (‘SAL’) for 2006/2007

Council nominated Mr Ernest Balasubramaniam as the Society’s representative on this SAL committee.