8 December 2006

Law Society Arbitration Scheme

The Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee reported that it had finalised the documentation relating to the establishment of the Society’s domestic arbitration scheme after taking into consideration Council’s previous feedback. The Committee presented the revised proposed fee scale, proposed criteria for admission as arbitrator, and proposed budget for the implementation of the arbitration scheme for Council approval.

Council approved the proposed fee scale and criteria for admission and referred the proposed budget for the scheme to the Finance Committee for its review before approval.

Law Awareness Project 2007

Mr Edwin Sim, Mr Patrick Tan and Mr Christopher Woo of the Law Awareness Committee appeared before Council to brief Council on the Committee’s proposal for the Law Awareness Project 2007, a biennial public awareness programme.

For 2007, the Committee proposed a series of media campaigns and activities during the year, culminating in a major event at readily accessible public venues in the third quarter of 2007, featuring an exhibition and free legal clinics.

Council approved the proposal and referred the proposed budget presented by the Committee for the project to the Finance Committee in 2007 for its review before approval.

Expansion of Criminal Legal Aid Scheme

The Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (‘CLAS’) Committee proposed to expand the scope of offences covered by CLAS, subject to further information being obtained from the Subordinate Courts. CLAS also outlined a scheme to undertake a recruitment drive to recruit more volunteers to meet the increasing demand for assistance under the CLAS.

Status Report on the Work of the Ad Hoc Committee to Review Capital Punishment as Sentencing Policy

The Council was advised that Mr Chia Boon Teck would provide a status report of the work of the ad hoc committee at the Council meeting in January 2007.