NEWS

Council and Committee Update

Council’s Guidance Note 2 of 2012
 
Council’s Guidance Note 2 of 2012 on “Guidelines for Handling of Clients’ Files When a Solicitor Leaves a Law Practice to Practise in Another Law Practice” was issued on 16 October 2012 and is also published on page 10 of this issue of the Law Gazette.
 
Circular 2 of 2012 on Conditions for Issuance of Fresh Sale & Purchase Agreement under the Housing Developers Rules
 
The Conveyancing Practice Commtitee issued Circular 2 of 2012 on 9 October 2012 on “Conditions for Issuance of Fresh Sale & Purchase Agreement under the Housing Developers Rules”.
 
The Circular sets out the updated conditions/terms of issuance of a fresh Sale & Purchase Agreement on the sub-sale of a property under the Housing Developers (Control & Licencing) Act (Cap 130); and supercedes the Council’s Ruling on Conditions for Issuance of Fresh Sale & Purchase Agreement under the Housing Developers Rules reproduced in the Conveyancing Practice Directions and Rulings 2009, section 5.
 
Condition to be Included in Letter of Engagement or Warrant to Act
 
Council resolved that law practices be requested to include in their Letters of Engagement or Warrant to Act a condition that a client shall not commence civil proceedings against a law practice for civil recovery, including compensatory damages, unless the matter is first referred for mediation, for instance, through the Singapore Mediation Centre.
 
This decision was made at the initiative of the Professional Indemnity Committee which was of the view that by using mediation to resolve disputes with clients, claims payments under the Professional Indemnity Scheme can be contained as mediation will pave the way for a faster and more cost effective way of dispute resolution.
 
A notice to members on the above was disseminated via e-mail on 5 October 2012. The notice included a sample mediation clause for members’ reference. Members were also reminded that the terms of the letter of engagement including any clause on alternative dispute resolution must be clearly explained to clients.
 
Lecture on Privatisation of International Law and Its Impact on the Singapore Legal Community
 
The Public & International Law Committee organised an evening lecture on “Privatisation of International Law and Its Impact on the Singapore Legal Community” on 22 October 2012. The Honourable Judge of Appeal Justice Sundaresh Menon (as he then was) shared his views in a keynote lecture, with a panel comprising Mr Simon Tay, Mr Michael Hwang, SC and Professor Yeo Tiong Min, discussing the salient points in the lecture.
 
The keynote lecture is available to members at the Law Society website (Members’ Library > Practice Matters > Public & International Law).
 
Minutes of Extraordinary General Meeting
 
The minutes of the Extraordinary General Meeting held on 24 September 2012 were circulated to members in the Society’s e-bulletin, eJus News, on 23 October 2012. The minutes are also available at the Society’s website (Members’ Library > Society Matters > General Meetings).
 
LAWASIA 26th Conference 2013
 
The Law Society will be co-hosting the Conference to be held from 27-30 October 2013 in conjunction with the Biennial Conference of Chief Justices of Asia and the Pacific.