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Annual Report 2013 Bridging Connectingideas People Bridging ConnectingIdeas People annual report 2013 Bridging ConnectingIdeas People Elgin Bridge is used as a metaphor in the Elgin Bridge, which is a stone’s throw from 2013 Annual Report to represent our focus on the Law Society’s office, is a vehicular and communication and outreach to members. pedestrian bridge across the Singapore River, linking both North and South Bridge Road. Bridges connect people and places and enable the passage of ideas. Bridges open up The existing bridge was completed in 1929 opportunities for communities to be helped, and named after Lord Elgin, Governor-General they reduce isolation and bring of India (1862-1863). As this was the first society together. bridge spanning the river, the two roads leading to it were accordingly named North Bridge Road and South Bridge Road. Elgin Bridge is also known as thih tiau kio in the Hokkien dialect, meaning “iron suspension bridge”. In 2008, Elgin Bridge was marked for conservation as part of the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s expanded conservation programme, reflecting its prominence in Singapore’s history and heritage. our people Our Mission 5 The Council 6 The Executive Committee 7 Council Report 8 The Secretariat 10 President’s Message 11 CEO’s Report 15 Treasurer’s Report 18 Audit Committee Report 21 Year in Review 22 Statistics 31 pro bono services Pro Bono, Learning and Support Services 35 Community Legal Clinics 44 Criminal Legal Aid Scheme 54 contents Law Awareness 56 Project Law Help 58 growing our practice Advocacy 63 Alternative Dispute Resolution 64 Civil Practice 66 Continuing Professional Development 68 Conveyancing Practice 70 Corporate Practice 72 Criminal Practice 73 Family Law Practice 75 Information Technology 77 Insolvency Practice 78 Intellectual Property 80 1 The Law Society of Singapore • Annual Report 2013 growing our practice International Relations 82 Muslim Law Practice 84 NIMA-PIMA 85 Probate Practice 86 Publications 88 Public and International Law 90 Small Law Firms 91 Social and Welfare 92 Solicitors’ Accounts Rules 94 Sports 96 Young Lawyers 98 enhancing professional standards Admissions 103 Anti-Money Laundering 105 Ethics 106 Inquiries into Inadequate Professional Services 107 contents Report of the Inquiry Panel 108 serving the community Compensation Fund 117 Professional Indemnity 118 acknowledgements 123 auditor’s report pages in grey The Law Society of Singapore • Annual Report 2013 2 our people 3 The Law Society of Singapore • Annual Report 2013 The Law Society of Singapore • Annual Report 2013 4 our mission To serve our members and the community by sustaining a competent and independent Bar which upholds the rule of law and ensures access to justice. 5 The Law Society of Singapore • Annual Report 2013 the council 17 8 9 18 19 20 11 15 10 12 13 16 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Seated: 1Young Chee Foong, 2Kelvin Wong (Treasurer), 3Leo Cheng Suan (Vice-President), 4Lok Vi Ming, SC (President), 5Thio Shen Yi, SC (Vice-President), 6Wong Meng Meng, SC (Immediate Past President), 7Lim Seng Siew Standing: 8Anand Nalachandran, 9Tan Joon Liang Josephus, 10Tan Gim Hai Adrian, 11See Chern Yang, 12Simran Kaur Toor, 13Eng Yaag Ngee Rachel, 14Tang Bik Kwan Hazel, 15Lisa Sam Hui Min, 16Gregory Vijayendran, 17Kenneth See, 18Michael S. Chia, 19Sean Francois La’Brooy, 20Lee Terk Yang Not in main picture: Kuah Boon Theng Moiz Haider Sithawalla The Law Society of Singapore • Annual Report 2013 6 the executive committee 4 5 6 1 2 3 Seated: 1Leo Cheng Suan, 2Lok Vi Ming, SC, 3Thio Shen Yi, SC Standing: 4Anand Nalachandran, 5Kelvin Wong, 6Lim Seng Siew Not in main picture: Kuah Boon Theng 7 The Law Society of Singapore • Annual Report 2013 council report Outgoing Council Members for 2012 Council Meetings The term of the following Council members ended on There were 4 ordinary meetings and 1 special meeting 31 December 2012: of the Council from September 2012 to December 2012. The attendance of members was as follows: Rajan Menon Koh Theng Jer Christopher Kang Yixian Member Present Absent Council Members for the Period 1 Wong Meng Meng, SC 5 0 January 2013 to 31 December 2013 (President) Lok Vi Ming, SC 4 1 Senior Category (not less than 12 years’ standing) (Vice-President) Lok Vi Ming, SC (President) Leo Cheng Suan 4 1 Leo Cheng Suan (Vice-President) (Vice-President) Thio Shen Yi, SC (Vice-President) Kelvin Wong (Treasurer) 1 4 Kelvin Wong (Treasurer) Wong Meng Meng, SC (Immediate Past President) Rajan Menon 3 2 Young Chee Foong Young Chee Foong 5 0 Lim Seng Siew (Executive Committee Member) Lim Seng Siew 4 1 Kuah Boon Theng (Executive Committee Member) Eng Yaag Ngee Rachel Kuah Boon Theng 5 0 Tan Gim Hai Adrian Eng Yaag Ngee Rachel 2 3 Gregory Vijayendran Ganesamoorthy Thio Shen Yi, SC 4 1 Lisa Sam Hui Min Michael S. Chia Lisa Sam Hui Min 3 2 Michael S. Chia 3 2 Middle Category (7 to 12 years’ standing) Moiz Haider Sithawalla 2 3 Moiz Haider Sithawalla Anand Nalachandran (Executive Committee Member) Koh Theng Jer Christopher 1 4 Sean Francois La’Brooy Anand Nalachandran 4 1 Lee Terk Yang See Chern Yang Sean Francois La’Brooy 1 4 Lee Terk Yang 1 4 Junior Category (less than 7 years’ standing) Ong Pang Yew Shannon 1 4 Tang Bik Kwan Hazel Tan Joon Liang Josephus Tang Bik Kwan Hazel 3 2 Simran Kaur Toor Kang Yixian 2 3 Kenneth See (from 18 February 2013) Simran Kaur Toor 3 2 The following members of Council for 2013 are Statutory Members nominated by the Minister for Law to serve on the Council: Thio Shen Yi, SC Kelvin Wong Eng Yaag Ngee Rachel The following members of Council for 2013 are Statutory Members nominated by Council to serve on the Council: Lim Seng Siew Kuah Boon Theng Michael S. Chia annual report 2013 The Law Society of Singapore • Annual Report 2013 8 There were 8 ordinary meetings and 1 special meeting of the Council from January 2013 to August 2013. The attendance of members was as follows: Member Present Absent Lok Vi Ming, SC (President) 8 1 Leo Cheng Suan (Vice-President) 8 1 Thio Shen Yi, SC (Vice-President) 6 3 Kelvin Wong (Treasurer) 7 2 Wong Meng Meng, SC (Immediate Past President) 4 5 Young Chee Foong 9 0 Lim Seng Siew 9 0 Kuah Boon Theng 9 0 Eng Yaag Ngee Rachel 2 7 Tan Gim Hai Adrian 8 1 Gregory Vijayendran Ganesamoorthy 8 1 Lisa Sam Hui Min 8 1 Michael S. Chia 6 3 Moiz Haider Sithawalla 4 5 Anand Nalachandran 8 1 Sean Francois La’Brooy 4 5 Lee Terk Yang 2 7 See Chern Yang 6 3 Tang Bik Kwan Hazel 6 3 Tan Joon Liang Josephus 8 1 Simran Kaur Toor 4 5 Kenneth See (from 18 February 2013; not yet appointed to 5 2 Council in the January and February meetings) 9 The Law Society of Singapore • Annual Report 2013 the secretariat 10 7 2 17 5 16 15 3 12 14 13 8 4 1 11 6 9 Not in picture Chief Executive Officer Communications & 1Tan Su-Yin Membership Interests Compliance 12Shawn Toh, Director, Department Head 2Kenneth Goh, Director, Department Head 3 Continuing Professional Kevin Wang, Assistant Director Development Conduct 13Jean Wong, Assistant Director, Department Head 4Ambika Rajendram, Director, Department Head 5K Gopalan, Director Finance 14Jasmine Liew, Director, Department Head Representation & Law Reform 15Clifford Hang, Senior Assistant Director 6Michelle Woodworth Cordeiro, Director, Department Head Information Technology 16Michael Ho, Director, Department Head Pro Bono Services 7Lim Tanguy Yuteck, Director, Department Head Publications 8Nadine Yap, Director 17Sharmaine Lau, Director, Department Head 9Shahrany Binte Hassan, Director 10Vimala Chandrarajan Khan, Director 11Babara Seet, Assistantannual Director report 2013 The Law Society of Singapore • Annual Report 2013 10 president’s message The Family Expands In my speech at the Opening of the Legal Year 2013, I noted that the number of local lawyers holding practising certificates had exceeded 4,000 for the first time in 2012. This contrasted rather sharply in percentage terms with the 1,579 local lawyers when I joined practice in 1987. The increase in numbers over the last 26 years was, however, neither uniform nor quite as spectacular as the percentage figures appear to suggest. Although the number of lawyers doubled over the next 10 years to 3,243 in 1997, it was to take another 15 years before the profession would see a net increase of 800 local lawyers in its ranks. In fact, the profession only added a net number of 176 local lawyers in the 10 years between 1997 and 2007. This contrasts sharply against the dramatic growth of the profession in the last 2 years. In 2012, a total of 457 local lawyers joined the profession, and in 2013, the number stands at 479 at the time of this Message. The increase in numbers in the last couple of weeks is unprecedented. The local Bar has never been this big and is testament to the popularity of the law course, the high standing of the profession and the robust health of Singapore’s economy. The increase shows no sign of abating. With the second law school at SMU now at full stride, the profession can expect about 450 new entrants to the profession each year, not including graduates from the law courses of 35 approved overseas universities. And of course there is also the third law school coming on stream in a few years. The legal family has certainly grown. And we are still growing. We need now to build on the strong foundations our predecessors laid for us and continue to equip our members with new skills to make sure everyone continues to be relevant in the evolving economy in the years ahead and to make the Law Society and our members even more resilient, not just to survive but to succeed in an increasingly complex society.
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