In December 2010, the Pro Bono Services Office organised a Pro Bono Short Essay Contest as part of the Office’s support of the Singapore Academy of Law’s Junior College Law Programme. The programme is open to students currently studying in a local junior college. The title of this year’s essay was Why Do You Think It is Important for Lawyers to Do Pro Bono Work? The winning entrants will be invited by the Pro Bono Services Office for a two-week attachment, where they will have the opportunity to learn and assist with the Law Society’s Criminal Legal Aid Scheme and Community Legal Clinics.
Out of 19 essays that were submitted, only three were handpicked to win by Mr N. Sreenivasan, the Pro Bono Ambassador 2010/2011. The three winners are Chan Wenli, Ng Hui Min and Queenie Sit.
Winners of the essay contest:(from left) Queenie Sit Chan Wenli and Ng Hui Min
Queenie Sit
Hwa Chong Institution (Year 2)
17 years old
Excerpt from Essay:
Many fresh lawyers entertain hopes of earning big money, but they can realize that this act of kindness by taking up Pro Bono cases will not be at the expense of profit. Hopefully, they will realize one day that Pro Bono may not just be an act of kindness from a lawyer, but a lifeline to their client.
Why did you enter the Junior College Pro Bono Short Essay Contest?
I have never thought about anything else besides becoming a lawyer, preferably in criminal law.
Have you participated in volunteer work before?
I play the violin, piano and erhu so when my school organises charity concerts, I always participate. I also regularly visit an old folks’ home and play games with the residents.
Chan Wenli River Valley High School (Year 6)
17 years old
Excerpt from Essay:
Doing pro bono work can also be a refreshing experience for lawyers, especially those in corporate or finance sectors, as it requires more face-to-face contact. Most importantly, by doing pro bono work, lawyers not only gain a sense of satisfaction; lives of their clients could very possibly be changed for the better after having access to justice.
Why did you enter the Junior College Pro Bono Short Essay Contest?
To win the two-week attachment! I don’t really know what I would like to study in university so I thought I would find out more about law as a profession.
Have you participated in volunteer work before?
I am a Sunday school teacher and every weekend is an enduring experience. My school had also organised a 10-day long visit to a hill tribe in Thailand. Our aim was to cultivate a sustainable environment by planting trees and building a pond for fish rearing.
Ng Hui Min
Innova Junior College (Year 2)
17 years old
Excerpt from Essay:
I feel that it is important for lawyers to do pro bono work because law is created to ensure justice in the society and its fairness should not be limited by whether one is able to meet the customary legal fees. In other words, I think law does not only help the rich. The poor deserves justice too.
Why did you enter the Junior College Pro Bono Short Essay Contest?
I am a member of the Junior College Law Program (“JCLP”) at my school. After I attended the talk organised by the JCLP, I was inspired by Josephus Tan and really wanted to win the two-week attachment at the Law Society Pro Bono Services Office for the experience.
Have you participated in volunteer work before?
I volunteer at an old folks’ home and have also spent some time in China teaching English to Chinese children. The China trip was organised by my school as part of a 40-day immersion programme.
