November 2013 ISSN: 0219 - 6441 law link EMBRACEMBRACEE YOURYOUR CHALLCHALLEENGNGEESS AAMYMY LLEEEE ’82’82 WALKINGWALKING WITHWITH GIANTSGIANTS TPTPBB MENMENOONN ’61’61 AFFAIRSAFFAIRS OFOF THTHEE HHEEART-ART- MEMEDIATIONDIATION && PROPRO BONOBONO GGEEOORRGGEE LIMLIM ’81’81 AAPPPPLYINGLYING THTHEE LLEESSONSSSONS LLEEARNTARNT ININ RREEALAL LIFLIFEE TETEOO GGUANUAN SIEWSIEW ’04’04 AWFULLYAWFULLY INSINSPPIRINGIRING lynlyn LEELEE ’96’96 THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL UNVERSITY OF SINGAPORE FACULTY OF LAW LawLink / 2013 CONTENTS 2 aLAWMNUS features 18 Dean’s Diary TPB Menon ’61, 10 Walking with Giants Law School Highlights Amy Lee ’82, Embrace Your Challenges Reunions 4 14 Students Drive 20 Pro Bono Activities George Lim ’81, NUS Law Reunion in Hong Kong Affairs Of The Heart – 5 21 Mediation & Pro Bono Law Alumni NUS Law Reunion in Shanghai Mentorship Programme 15 22 Appreciation Evening Teo Guan Siew ’04, A Family Night Out Applying the Lessons 6 Learnt in Real Life 23 Class of 2013 Farewell Dinner & Commencement 16 Class of ‘83 Reunion Lyn Lee ’96, 8 24 Awfully Inspiring Launch of Centre for Class of ’93 Reunion Law & Business 1 dean’s diarY LawLink / 2013 elcome to the annual print edition of LawLink! WOne of the great privileges of being at NUS Law is the tremendous history of which we are so proud. Our alumni have gone on to occupy the highest legal offices in the land – including the current and former Chief Justices, Attorneys-General, and Ministers for Law. We can also claim partners in all the major law firms in Singapore, as well as in New York and London, Hong Kong and Shanghai. We celebrate the achievements of all our alumni who achieve significant milestones in the legal profession. In these pages you can learn more about our advisory council member Amy Lee ’82, former Law Society President George Lim ’81, and member of the first graduating class from NUS Law TPB Menon ’61. Other alumni follow paths less travelled. Some move into the public sector, such as Teo Guan Siew ’04, who directs the enforcement division at the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Or they start private ventures, as Lyn Lee ’96 did, when she launched Awfully Chocolate. Their stories are also to be found in this edition of LawLink. This year’s ceremony received even more media attention than normal. This was partly due to the honorary doctor of laws degree that was But NUS Law graduates achieve in so many fields. For example, I was conferred upon Singapore’s founding prime minister, Mr Lee Kuan especially pleased this year to see our alumni featured so prominently Yew. The award recognised Mr Lee’s extraordinary contributions in the National Day Parade. Selena Tan ’94 was the creative director to Singapore, but also the important role that law has played in and Rani Singam ’94 led one of the most moving renditions of Majulah Singapore’s development. Singapura that I have ever heard. There was also considerable interest in our graduate Darren Tan ’13, In their own way, all our alumni contribute to the multifaceted history of who had spent more than ten years in prison before being admitted NUS Law. to NUS Law. Through his industry and dedication, he earned himself a second chance at being a productive member of society — a chance And, every year, we add to that history with a new graduating class. that he has embraced. But to me, the most moving part of this year’s ceremony was the fact that the Class of 2013 became our first to create a class gift as part of their graduation festivities. They explained this as an example of “paying it forward”— passing on good fortune from which they had benefitted to others needier than themselves. None of the students were yet earning salaries, but I know that this support will be enormously significant to the students that it helps, and to all those who see it as an example of dedication to others. Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Permission required for reproduction. If you would like to explore how you can help future generations of students, please do not hesitate to contact Trina Gan ’04 or myself. This could take the form of your own class gift, a scholarship in the name of a loved one, or a professorship in an area in which you would like to have a lasting legacy. DEAN’S I hope you enjoy reading in these pages about the many activities going on at NUS Law. Do consider dropping by to DIARY learn more in person. SIMON CHESTERMAN Dean, NUS Law 2 3 LAW SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS LawLink / 2013 LAW ALUMNI MentoRSHIP PROGRAMME APPRECIATION Pro Bono Group President Denise Tay ’16 and Vice-President Wilson Koh ’16 explain Pro Bono Group EVENING activities to NUS President Prof Tan Chorh Chuan, NUS Board of Trustees Chairman Mr Wong Ngit Liong STUDENTS and Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong Oct 2013 was a memorable 3 evening when about 140 mentors DRIVE PRO BONO and mentees networked at Nine Thirty by Awfully Chocolate at the Esplanade. It was a night of appreciation for the ACTIVITIES outgoing mentors and a warm welcome for the incoming mentors. NUS Law Students (from left) James Kwong ’17, Jerrold Soh ’18 and Clement Lin ’17 The NUS Law Alumni Mentorship Programme (LAMP) is a collaboration he term pro bono publico, or as it goals are to involve, inform, inspire, and schools. At NUS Law, the programme between the Career Centre@Law and is commonly known, pro bono, is a give back with the opportunities they takes the form of a second year module the NUS Law Alumni Office and it links T Latin phrase used for professional have been blessed with. that requires students to do 20 hours of first and second year NUS Law students work provided voluntarily as a form of pro bono work. Students have already with alumni mentors who can share The PBG is only part of the pro bono public service. Common in the legal embraced the programme by initiating first hand experiences, provide insights story at NUS Law, which is one of the profession, NUS Law has a long tradition new projects and expanding on existing to the legal profession as well as few law schools in the world to offer of voluntary student involvement in PBG and CJC projects. practical guidance, encouragement and pro bono placements as part of first pro bono that helps the disadvantaged, support. Student mentees will have the year orientation, organized through and opportunities will only get better with For example, three first year students, opportunity to become better equipped the Freshmen Orientation Central the Mandatory Pro Bono Programme. Clement Lin ’17, Jerrold Soh ’18 and to make well-informed decisions about Committee. The Criminal Justice Club James Kwong ’17, have already embarked their professional development. Organised pro bono activities began at (CJC), another student-driven group, has on their personal project to help the elderly NUS Law in 2005 when the student- been instrumental in focusing attention with legal issues. When asked how they NUS Law Club President, Danial Hakim ’16, initiated Pro Bono Group (PBG) was on the criminal justice system. Formed intend to go about this initiative, Clement shares “LAMP is undoubtedly beneficial, formed to create pro bono opportunities in September 2009, the CJC initiated says “Right now we are getting in touch as it enables students to get up close and for law students and raise awareness of two key activities: the Innocence Project with organisations to find out more about personal with current practitioners from the professional obligation to serve the developed with the support of the the common problems they face with a diversity of fields. The experiences and community. Since then, PBG members Attorney General’s Chambers, aims to regards to the elderly and using that challenges shared by the mentors will have consistently taken leadership roles promote just outcomes by examining information, we will figure out how best give an insight into the profession and in pro bono activities, including winning possible cases of wrongful convictions; we can help them. If possible, we will put what life will be like after graduation and the annual Student Volunteer Award for and the annual Criminal Justice them in touch with the people who are the options available within the industry”. Subordinate Court volunteers. Current Conference exposes secondary school empowered to assist.” The students hope activities include assisting at legal clinics, and tertiary students to criminal justice to produce an information package which If you are willing to share your valuable teaching legal concepts to secondary issues. In development is the Courts details information important to the elderly, experiences with our students and school students in the home grown Legal Martial Project, which aims to render legal such as the Central Provident Fund and would like to be updated on next year’s Education and Awareness Programme assistance to military servicemen. The housing matters. They intend to support LAMP, please do not hesitate to drop us (LEAP), and participating in research CJC also supports several pro bono clinics, lawyers who want to do pro bono work an email at [email protected] projects that support Singapore non- including HELP Centre and Remand Clinic, but who hesitate because information is profit organisations such as AWARE, in collaboration with the Subordinate not easily accessible. HOME and Project Law Help. The PBG’s Courts of Singapore. activities were recently highlighted when Congratulations to all these students, they were selected to present their work Since 2012, the NUS Pro Bono Office who put their legal knowledge to use to the Prime Minister at the Student has been established to provide students for the community from an early stage in Showcase for the UTown Opening on with more support to develop and their education, and who truly embody Thursday, 17 October 2013.