Singapore, December 28, 2023 — A dispute over leadership at the Law Society of Singapore (LawSoc) revealed a breakdown in communication and procedure, prompting its newly elected president, Professor Tan Cheng Han, to acknowledge areas for improvement in the organization’s governance.
Leadership Dispute Highlights Communication Gaps
The recent controversy centered on a requisition for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) and questions surrounding the election of the current president.
- A requisition for an EGM wasn’t immediately addressed, violating the Legal Profession Act.
- Initial concerns focused on the president’s election legitimacy, later clarified to a preference for an elected member in the role.
- Professor Tan acknowledged the need for better dialogue between the council and members regarding resolutions.
- His priorities as president include preparing lawyers for the impact of artificial intelligence and ensuring the sustainability of legal practices.
The initial flashpoint was LawSoc’s failure to convene an EGM after receiving a requisition notice on November 24. The Legal Profession Act mandates the council to convene such a meeting within 14 days, with the meeting itself to be held within 30 days of receiving the notice. By the 14-day deadline, no EGM had been scheduled.
What is the process for convening an EGM at the Law Society of Singapore? According to the Legal Profession Act, the council must convene a meeting within 14 days of receiving a valid requisition notice, and the meeting must be held within 30 days.
Dissatisfaction surfaced during a December 10 tea session, leading to a subsequent motion calling for censure of council members who opposed convening the EGM. Professor Tan explained the situation stemmed from an initial interpretation of the resolution as challenging the legality of Mr. Dhillon’s election, as the council understood it to require the president to be an elected member.
The resolution was later amended to express the view that the council “ought to” elect an elected member as president, rather than questioning the validity of Mr. Dhillon’s appointment. “This is clearly a resolution that is within the power of the EGM to pass,” Professor Tan stated. He added that proactive discussion between the council and members regarding potential issues with resolutions would be beneficial moving forward, suggesting such situations “should be rare.”
When asked about extending the elected-member requirement to other office bearers, Professor Tan noted that non-elected members had previously served as vice president and treasurer without issue. “Thus, while I understand why some members may feel that such positions should also be open only to elected members of council, I do not think there is much support for such a view.”
Goals as President
With his presidency underway, Professor Tan outlined his immediate priorities: equipping lawyers to effectively utilize artificial intelligence, bolstering their skills to navigate technological changes, and ensuring the long-term viability of legal practice, particularly for younger lawyers and smaller firms. He also expressed a desire to broaden the legal profession’s international presence.
“I intend to ask members to help council to think through how best these challenges can be addressed. I believe there is much wisdom within the profession and we can come up with good ideas if we think about the issues collectively,” he said. “The solutions will also require us to act collectively as a profession so I would like members to co-curate them and have a sense of ownership of the direction forward.”
Professor Tan declined to comment on an independent workplace harassment probe reportedly conducted by TSMP Law Corporation into LawSoc, citing confidentiality.
