19 May 2006

The Corporate Governance Code of Council

The CEO, Ms Yasho Dhoraisingam, advised Council that Mr Derrick Wong and Mr Wong Chak Weng, the two members invited by Council to serve on the Audit Committee proposed in the Corporate Governance Code, had kindly consented to serve on the Committee.

The Future of the Building Levy

Council discussed the feedback given by members at the dialogue session held at the Society on 20 April 2006. Council noted that members at the dialogue session gave feedback that the Society should not look to purchase bigger premises, but did support a suggestion that there be a general increase in subscriptions given the number of years that the amount has stood and the current and future needs of the Society. As the existing building would be fully paid for by this year, the building levy of $300 imposed to acquire the current premises should be allowed to lapse after this practice year.

The Treasurer, Mr Michael S Chia, advised Council that a projected sum of $120,000 per year would be needed for the maintenance of the Society’s premises and two Bar rooms, and so the sum of $500,000 remaining in the Building Fund could only sustain this for the next four to six years.

Council noted the suggestion for a small increase in the membership subscription, and the support for it. Membership subscriptions had not increased for over 15 years.  
A subscription increase would help the Society obtain necessary income to improve the work of the Society and meet its 
long-term needs.

Council, after a discussion, was of the view that an increase in membership subscription of a rate of $100 per member would achieve the objectives stated above. Council agreed to place a resolution at this year’s Annual General Meeting (‘AGM’) for practitioner members to vote. In addition, a formal resolution would be placed before the AGM to transfer the sum of $500,000 standing in the Building Fund to the General Fund.

Promotion of the Profession

Council was advised that the Small Firms Committee strongly supported the idea of a programme to promote the legal profession by means of an advertisement campaign. Council agreed that the Chairman of the Committee and Council representative on the Committee, Mr Rajan Chettiar, work with the Communications department of the Secretariat to prepare a concept paper that would set out ideas for such a campaign so that the Society could obtain a fee quote from public relations agencies for the same, for Council’s consideration. However, Council expressed the view that such promotion can be costly, and cost-effectiveness would have to be carefully considered.

Work-Life Balance for Lawyers

The CEO, Ms Yasho Dhoraisingam, advised Council that she had met with representatives from the Ministry of Manpower (‘MOM’). They expressed interest to work with the Society to improve workplace practices of law firms and corporations. Projects could include preparation of a pamphlet on part-time work, promotion of the WoW! Fund set up to help employers kick-start work-life programmes, a best practices presentation to large and medium sized law practices and articles in the Singapore Law Gazette on promoting personal work-life practices.

Council agreed to work with MOM and decided that the draft pamphlet on engaging in part-time work by lawyers, drawn up by MOM, be reviewed by a co-chairperson of the Young Lawyers Committee, by Mr Rajan Chettiar and two members of the Society who practise on a part-time basis in their law practices.

India Mission of the Law Society from 2 to 
7 April 2006

The CEO, Ms Yasho Dhoraisingam, presented a report on the Society’s mission to the cities of Delhi and Mumbai. Council agreed that the International Relations Committee look at the proposal in the mission report for further missions to other Indian cities for the promotion of the Singapore legal profession.

Renovation of the Subordinate Courts Bar Room

Council was advised that the ad-hoc committee appointed to recommend a design and contractor for the renovation of the Bar room would make a recommendation to Council shortly. The renovation work, which would cost at least $60,000, would commence in September 2006.

The Annual Bench & Bar Games 2006 – Langkawi, Malaysia, 28–30 April 2006

Thanks in no small part to the warm hospitality and friendship extended to the Singapore delegation by the Kedah/Perlis Bar, the Games were a great success, at least off the field. Ms Laura Liew advised Council that the Sports Committee would review the Society’s performance at the Games with the convenors and consider if the types of games played at these annual Games ought to be reviewed.

Appointment of the Society’s Representatives to Singapore Academy of Law (‘SAL’) Committees – 18th Annual Meeting of the Senate of the SAL

Council approved the two nominees by the Honourable Chief Justice to the Professional Affairs Committee, namely the Honourable the Judicial Commissioner Sundaresh Menon and Mr Ronnie Quek.

Council appointed the following members as the Law Society’s representatives on the following committees of SAL:

Ex-Co – Ms Malathi Das

Publications – Ms Malathi Das

Legal Education – Mr Thio Shen Yi

Law Reform – Mr Michael Hwang, SC

Membership & Social – Mr Lee Terk Yang

Professional Affairs – Mr Jimmy Yim, SC and Mr Leo Cheng Suan

Council for Law Reporting – Mr Petrus Huang

LawNet Management – Mr Jim Lim and Mr Lim Seng Siew

Electronic Litigation Systems – Mr Jim Lim

Legal Heritage – Dr G Raman

International Promotion of Singapore Law – Mr George Tan