Mr C C Tan, as the more senior members of the Bar know, was one of the founding partners of Tan Rajah & Cheah (founded in 1947), where I started my legal career as a newly qualified lawyer in 1977 (it was my first job, and chances are, my last …). At the time I was employed as a legal assistant by TRC, Mr C C Tan was already a highly respected, successful luminary in the legal fraternity (he started legal practice in 1933 and was in legal practice till his demise in 1991 at the age of 80). He was consistently unassuming and gracious with everyone – with other members of the Bar, Judges, clients, members of the public, and even with the most junior lawyers of the firm such as me. We learnt the “lore” (LORE not just LAW) of being lawyers during regular lunches that Mr Tan would host in places such as the Town Club, or in the camaraderie of the then crowded Supreme Court Bar Room where the current and burning issues of the day (including law, politics, a bit of gossip about lawyers, Judges, etc) were discussed and debated over many cups of tea and coffee served by faithful stalwarts such as the late Mr Choo. In the 1970s and 1980s many senior lawyers would intermingle with junior lawyers and words of wisdom, etiquette and good Court manners would be imparted unselfishly. Such was the camaraderie that it was not uncommon for a senior lawyer in one firm to send a junior lawyer in another firm a precedent or copy of a case-report to help him or her out in a particularly challenging case. How I long for those yesteryears and the friendly ways of legal practice.
And when I think of Mr C C Tan, what stands out most is his principle that we are privileged and honoured to be lawyers and that we must repay this privilege with service – to the legal fraternity, to worthwhile institutions and in service to Society and the nation. After working for about three years in TRC, I broached the subject to Mr Tan of serving in a sub-committee of the Law Society. I will always remember his reply to me – he said: “Chandra, it is your duty and your privilege to do so”. I took that principle of service so much to heart, that I have it on good authority that I would always talk about “Service and giving back to Society” with young lawyers including those who came to see me for services as a Commissioner for Oaths and Notary Public. One of those young lawyers then was Susan de Silva, (a fellow member of the Bar) who was of course so impressed with me and my idealistic ways that she eventually agreed to marry me seven years ago, after the passing of my late wife Goury (also a practising lawyer) in 2000.
Mr C C Tan also exemplified a paradox – that of a humble man who was nevertheless prepared to call things out if he thought that something was wrong. He had the courage of his convictions, and he would speak up even if the cause was not popular, or came from a higher authority. But he would criticise the thing that he believed was wrong, never the person. For example he (and many senior members of the Bar) had their concerns about the Singapore Academy of Law when it was to be launched and its effect on the role of the Law Society and the independence of the Law Society. And about the purchase of a property to house the Law Society. Sometimes he was heard and things changed, and sometimes not. But even if he didn’t win, or if the other side did not agree with him, he was not less respected for it, but possibly more.
The C C Tan Award also reminds us of the importance of one’s reputation. Mr C C Tan’s reputation for being not just a very accomplished lawyer, but perhaps more importantly, for his decency, courtesy, humility, and for his personal and professional integrity has endured during his lifetime and beyond. This is the kind of legacy that cannot be acquired just by handling the biggest cases, earning big fees, or having the best offices. This is the kind of legacy that comes from being a lawyer who works hard and smart, and who never ceases being a human being who practises the law with heart and compassion, and a purpose beyond himself. And so my dear fellow lawyers, let us never settle for less than camaraderie, the courage of our convictions, and service above self!
And such good traditions must endure. We all grow up and mature to be what we are because of our family, our good friends and to a large extent our generous law firms. The ethos and good natured partners I have had over the years in TRC taught me how to serve not just my clients, and my staff, but also society as a whole. Lawyers are privileged to serve, and serve they must with distinction. I believe I acquired this spirit also through sports, especially team games like soccer and hockey – you learn to fight hard together, and accept victory and loss sportingly. My son Valmiki Nair (practising in Dentons Rodyk) would of course include rugby as he is a rugby fanatic – I can see that he has got a bit of his father’s genes and habits!
As I matured in legal practice, I had the passion to improve the legal profession. I therefore decided to contest in the Law Society Council elections in the junior category in the early 1980s. I served the Law Society Council from around 1982 to 1991 and continued from 1994 to 1998. I served in various Law Society Committees from the late 1970s and as the President from 1995 to 1997, and still serve in some of the sub-committees. I also served in the Board of Legal Education, Academy of Law, the National University of Singapore Council, the National University of Singapore Society (“NUSS”), various government ministries’ committees, and as a Nominated Member of Parliament. I feel it is my duty and an honour to serve my profession and society in whatever way I can. The profession needs genuine and sincere volunteers to ensure continuity and leadership in making sure we have an independent and proactive Bar, always respected by Singaporeans and the outside world.
I have tried to practise law as professionally as possible, with care and concern for my clients, both in civil, commercial and criminal work, for my law firm and colleagues, for my Law Society, and for society as a whole. However, sadly in recent years I have noticed commercialism creeping in and stifling professionalism. I therefore would urge our colleagues at the Bar to be mindful of this and minimise the erosion of professionalism.
Idealism must always be in our hearts. Idealism in wanting to do good, in wanting to stand up to noble and honourable principles, in helping the down-trodden, in the poor who can’t afford legal representation, in speaking up on constitutional, administrative and political issues in order to be counted and in the interests of Singapore. Overall, the legal profession is still a noble and honourable profession. All of us have a duty to ensure standards are kept high and that we maintain this privilege.
Once again thank you to the Council for honouring me with the C C Tan award. I do wish the outgoing and the incoming Council members continued success in their hard work at Law Society. And to Gregory Vijayendran, Ms Kuah Boon Theng, Adrian Tan and Dhillon Dinesh Singh, congratulations on holding the important positions of President, Vice-Presidents and Treasurer respectively with effect from 1 January 2017. And I wish all in the legal fraternity good health, happiness and joy in the practice of law and in life generally.
Chandra Mohan K Nair
