Council Update   

18 April 2006

Meeting with the Registrar of the Subordinate Courts on Practice Concerns

The Director of Practice Standards, Ms Chua Lik Teng, advised the Council that the Society had a meeting with the Registrar and representatives from the divisions of the civil and family courts on 27 March 2006. At the meeting, the courts requested for details to support any feedback by members.

An article on the discussions held at the dialogue session, together with a letter from the Registrar to the President of the Society would be published in the May issue of the Singapore Law Gazette.

The Subordinate Courts also invited the Law Society to a further dialogue session on the former’s workplan. This dialogue would be attended by the President, Vice-Presidents and representatives from the Society’s various Practice committees.

Code of Corporate Governance for the Council of the Law Society – Appointment of Members of the Audit Committee

The CEO, Ms Yasho Dhoraisingam, informed the Council that the Finance Committee would recommend two members of the Society to serve on the Audit Committee. The CEO would contact these two members and advise the Council if they accepted the invitation at the next meeting on 19 May 2006.

Mr Michael Hwang SC and Mr Thio Shen Yi were appointed to serve on the Audit Committee as the two representatives from the Council.

Quarterly Financial Reporting to the Council

The Treasurer, Mr Michael S Chia, took the Council through the Balance Sheet of the Society as at end March 2006 which was healthy, and highlighted key financial information to the Council.  

Use of the Pastoral Care Fund

As a follow-up to the pastoral care fund initiative that was launched in August 2005, Vice-President Ms Malathi Das would work with the CEO and the Finance Committee of Council to implement the suggestions that were approved by Council last year on the use of the Fund and report back to Council. Ms Das added that as two Council members on the Pastoral Care Committee had completed their term in Council, the remaining members of the Committee (Mr Rajan Chettiar, Mr Tan Siah Yong and Mr Anand Nalachandran) and she would study the feasibility of another proposal of a self help fund for members.

Publication of a Guidance Note on Electronic Storage of Files

The Guidance Note prepared by the Practice Management Committee was adopted by Council and would be published in the June issue of the Singapore Law Gazette (see page 8).

A Fund-raising Film Event Organised by the Young Lawyers Committee (‘YLC’)

Council approved the request of the YLC to organise a fund-raising film event to raise money for the Society for the Physically Disabled. Members would be invited to purchase movie tickets at $25.00 each for the film The Da Vinci Code to be screened on 19 May 2006 and/or make cash donations.

Approval to Send Four Advocacy Teachers for an Advocacy Trainers Course in Australia

Council approved a grant to send four members who were advocacy teachers for an advocacy training course in Melbourne, Australia in May 2006.

Final Status Report on the Annual Malaysia/Singapore Bench and Bar Games 2006

Mr Lee Terk Yang, the Council representative on the Sports Committee, presented a written status report on donations received and reported that a total of 190 members would be attending the Games. The Singapore delegation would be headed by the Honourable the Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong in Langkawi, Malaysia from 28 to 30 April 2006.

Non-Executive Directorships in Trade Mark and Patent Companies Whilst Practising as an Advocate and Solicitor

Following a request by a few members for guidance, the Ethics Committee expressed the view to Council that practising lawyers can be non-executive directors in trade mark and patent companies whilst in private practice. Council accepted the guidance of the Committee.

A Memorandum of Understanding (‘MOU’) with the Bar Association of San Francisco

Council approved in principle the signing of an MOU of co-operation with the San Francisco Bar Association. The International Relations Committee was tasked to review the terms of the MOU.