Non-practising lawyers also play role in upholding rule of law: Chief Justice

He emphasises need to secure public trust and confidence in the legal system and profession

- Selina Lum

All lawyers, even non-practising ones who do not appear in court, play a crucial role in the healthy functioning of the rule of law, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon said on April 21.

Missteps or errors of judgment can affect public trust and confidence in legal professionals and in the legal system as a whole, he said.

A non-practising lawyer cannot appear in court or give advice to clients, but can take different career pathways, such as joining a company as in-house counsel or going into academia.

Chief Justice Menon emphasised the need to uphold trust in the legal profession, given that the concept of the rule of law has come under notable strain in recent times.

He was speaking on April 21 to the first cohort of lawyers to be admitted to the Bar as non-practising lawyers under a new framework that provides greater career flexibility for law graduates.

Previously, law graduates had to pass the Bar exam and complete six months of practice training at a law firm before they could be admitted to the Bar as practising lawyers.

Under the new framework, law graduates can be admitted to the Bar as non-practising lawyers after passing the Bar exam.

Only those who wish to become practising lawyers have to undergo a period of practice training, which has now been lengthened to a year.

In his speech, Chief Justice Menon said the new framework was part of a more intentional and structured approach to the way young lawyers undergo training.