Singapore Academy of Law

15/08/2026

Can theatre make access to justice feel real?

Ms Viviene Sandhu, Co-Managing Partner at Clifford Law LLP and Pro Bono SG Ambassador, believed it could — and commissioned 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲, a production centred on the human realities behind access to justice.

For Viviene, it was also a chance for law students and young practitioners to reflect on what it truly means to practise law with humanity. As she said, "Getting a law degree is one thing. Becoming a lawyer is about understanding people."

Read her full story: https://sal.org.sg/articles/when-access-to-justice-takes-the-stage/

11/08/2026

From dreaming of rearing yaks in Nepal to defending people who may otherwise face court alone, Mr Aristotle Eng's route to the Bar has been anything but conventional.

For Aristotle of Andre Jumabhoy LLC, it began with a single moment: watching a former schoolmate plead guilty and walk out alone, without a lawyer and without anyone in the gallery. That experience redirected his restlessness into a career in criminal defence.

As he puts it, “Being a voice for the ‘voiceless’ is about speaking up for my clients and vigorously pursuing a credible defence in court.”

Read his story: https://sal.org.sg/articles/from-the-fringes-to-the-front-line/

03/08/2026

The Singapore Academy of Law brought together voices from across the legal community for the 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 (the "Symposium") 2026 — a day dedicated to collective conversation and joint solutioning for the future of our profession.

Deputy Attorney-General Valerie Thean, SC, opened the Symposium with a call for cross-generational collaboration and collective action. Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon and Chief Justice - Designate Sushil Nair reflected on the state of the profession and the choices that will shape its future, while Professor David Wilkins of Harvard Law School offered a thought-provoking keynote that sparked lively discussion in the room.

As the focus of this year's Symposium is joint solutioning to address challenges facing the profession, it was opportune to celebrate the winners of the 𝗛𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱: 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲-𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 jointly organised by DBS Bank, the SG Courts and the Singapore Academy of Law, from 38 teams' proposals.

Congratulations to the four teams for their innovative and practical ideas in future-proofing the legal profession! 🏆
🧠 Most Innovative — Misfits
❤️ Most Life-Changing — Nexus Sparks
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Most Human-Centred — Jereiriselle
✅ Most Feasible — Chubbles

The conversations also drew on insights from Associate Professor Seow Hon Tan of SMU Yong Pung How School of Law, who shared findings from her four-month pilot empirical study "Staying in the Game". Her presentation highlighted how small, intentional actions can help lawyers build more meaningful and sustainable careers, adding an important perspective to the day’s discussions on shaping a purposeful and sustainable legal profession.

We were honoured to have Minister Edwin Tong SC, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, close the Symposium with his address.

📸 Swipe through for a look back at the day!
Photo credit of Minister Edwin Tong: Ministry of Law, Singapore.

29/07/2026

At AI Assurance Exchange 2026, we shared a stage with Resaro to present an independent evaluation of LawNet AI’s trustworthiness.

Mayank Soni, Responsible AI Scientist at Resaro, an AI testing company, highlighted reassuring results from their hallucination testing. Alvaro Vigil, Head of AI Solutions at LawNet Technology Services, explained how LawNet AI’s “safety first” design achieved those outcomes.

LawNetAI and Resaro were part of the Global AI Assurance Sandbox programme by and AI Verify Foundation that brings together AI application deployers with specialist technical testing companies to test real-world applications.

Download the full case study here: https://file.go.gov.sg/sandbox-salxresaro.pdf.

LawNet AI is available exclusively on LawNet 4.0. Migrate your account today: https://www.lawnet.com/migrate.

23/07/2026

More than 30 years separate Ms Preetha Pillai and Mr Timothy Hsu’s calls to the Bar – Preetha entered practice in 1993, when having a computer on every lawyer’s desk still felt revolutionary. By the time Timothy was called 30 years later, AI and the long-term sustainability of the legal profession were already in focus.

And yet, as both come together to compare notes on life in the law, they found themselves returning to the familiar question: how can the profession remain one that lawyers want to build a career in? It’s a theme that sits at the heart of this month’s Legal Profession Symposium, which both plan to attend.

Read the full article: https://sal.org.sg/articles/30-years-apart-one-shared-profession/

21/07/2026

There is no single playbook for workplace sustainability.

Across the profession, organisations are rethinking how leadership, culture, communication and ways of working can better support their people amid the demands of legal practice.

As the lead-up to the Legal Profession Symposium, this short video features Rajah & Tann Asia as a Living Case Study on workplace sustainability — sharing its experience and reflections on building a more sustainable workplace.

Explore more workplace sustainability stories and resources on the 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗹: http://livingcasestudy.sal.sg/

The conversation continues at the Legal Profession Symposium as the profession comes together to shape a more sustainable future.

17/07/2026

Following the announcement that Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon will retire on 26 February 2027, after more than 14 years of distinguished service as Singapore’s Chief Justice, we take this opportunity to express our profound thanks for his leadership and service as President of the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL), and for his immense contributions to Singapore’s legal profession.

Since 2012, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon has guided SAL through significant changes to deepen our impact for our members. Under his exceptional stewardship, SAL strengthened its role in bringing the legal community together, supporting professional development, advancing legal technology and building thought leadership in the frontiers of law.

Always with a heart for the profession, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon also led SAL in jointly galvanising Singapore's legal community to address the issues impacting its future and to collectively build a more sustainable and future-confident legal fraternity.

Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon will continue to serve as President of SAL until 26 February 2027, when Justice Sushil Sukumaran Nair, Justice of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court, will take office as Singapore’s 5th Chief Justice and also as the 5th SAL President.

Justice Sushil Nair brings extensive experience from a distinguished 35-year legal career before joining the Bench, including as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Drew & Napier and Head of its Corporate Restructuring and Workouts practice.

We look forward to Justice Sushil Nair's leadership to continue the growth of our impact for the profession.

Read more here:

Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon retires on 26 Feb 2027, with Justice Sushil Sukumaran Nair appointed as the 5th Chief Justice of Singapore. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

15/07/2026

Workplace sustainability is not a programme — it is reflected in the way people experience work every day.

From leadership practices to team culture and support systems, law firms are exploring different ways to build environments where people can work, communicate, and support one another.

As part of the lead-up to the 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺, SAL is sharing a series of 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆. In this first video, Setia Law LLC shares its experience as one example of how firms are responding to a challenge faced across the profession.

Want to explore more workplace sustainability stories and resources? Visit the 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗹: http://livingcasestudy.sal.sg/

The conversation continues at the 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 as the profession comes together to shape a more sustainable future.

10/07/2026

𝗦𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀, 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵

Months of brainstorming, research and late-night solutioning all came down to one moment — the chance to convince the judges that their idea could make a real difference.

From over 35 participating teams, seven finalist teams in the 𝗛𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 took the stage on 6 July. With just seven minutes to pitch and five minutes to answer questions, the finalists had to think on their feet as they presented their ideas to a distinguished judging panel.

The Hackathon focuses on some of the issues facing the legal profession today: using AI responsibly in the workplace, helping Singapore law practices expand internationally, and building more sustainable legal careers. These were key theme issues that surfaced from 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 (𝗟𝗣𝗦) 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, and the ideas from the Hackathon will help shape conversations leading up to 𝗟𝗣𝗦 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.

From responsible AI and workplace sustainability to cross-border legal practice, the finalists brought forward a range of creative solutions aimed at preparing the profession for the future. But good ideas alone were not enough — the judges put the teams through their paces, asking tough questions about how their proposals could be implemented and whether they would work in the real world.

𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗻 𝗫𝘂 opened the session and later met the teams during a walkabout, where he presented tokens of appreciation in recognition of their efforts and contributions.

The judging panel comprised:
• 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆-𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗖
• 𝗠𝗿 𝗧𝗮𝗻 𝗞𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝘄𝗲𝗲, Chief Transformation & Innovation Officer, Singapore Courts
• 𝗠𝗿 𝗬𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗭𝗲𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻, Chief Executive, Singapore Academy of Law
• 𝗠𝗿𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝗯𝗶𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗺, Head, Group Legal & Business Compliance, DBS Bank
• 𝗠𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗵, Director, CHP Law LLC and Founding Member, Mindful Business Singapore

The Hackathon is part of the lead-up to 𝗟𝗣𝗦 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, where the wider conversation on future-proofing the legal profession will continue.
So, which ideas will come out on top?

𝗪𝗲'𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗟𝗣𝗦 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟵𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗱!

𝗛𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 is co-organised by Singapore Academy of Law, SG Courts and DBS.

09/07/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗲 — 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲?

Two hundred years ago, the Second Charter of Justice laid the foundations of Singapore’s legal system. Since then, the Rule of Law has underpinned trust in institutions, confidence in commerce, access to justice, and the stability that allows societies to progress.

Yet today, the Rule of Law faces new and complex pressures — geopolitical uncertainty, technological disruption, shifting social expectations, and the growing need for cooperation across borders.

To commemorate 200 years of upholding the Rule of Law, the 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 will bring together Chief Justices, judges, policymakers, scholars and legal practitioners from across jurisdictions to examine one of the defining questions of our time:
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝘂𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗮𝘄 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱?

The Conference will feature:
▪ Keynote address by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon
▪ Four plenary sessions over two days
▪ Lunchtime address by Justice Philip Jeyaretnam
▪ Closing reflections by Ms Koh Swee Yen SC
▪ A fireside chat with Chief Justices across various jurisdictions
▪ SAL Annual Lecture on 25 November

📅 𝟮𝟰–𝟮𝟲 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
📍 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗶-𝗟𝗮 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲

View the programme and register: https://events.sal.sg/event/GlobalRuleofLawConference2026/summary

SG Courts Ministry of Law, Singapore