Singapore needs more people trained in international law

From maritime boundaries to digital trade, the global legal order defines Singapore's place in the world. Building expertise in international law is a national imperative.

- Chen Siyuan

“Where has this court discussed the doctrine you refer to?” This was one of many questions Ms Raelee Toh, representing Singapore Management University at the 2024 Lachs Space Law Moot world championship round, had to answer.

The person who asked her the question? Mr Peter Tomka, former president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Without missing a beat, Ms Toh answered with both the correct case name and the exact paragraph. Ms Toh and her teammates, Elizabeth Ho and Genieve Wu, not only went on to win the final, but six months later, would again emerge triumphant at the Jessup Moot, an even larger international law contest.

This time, it was Ms Wu’s turn to be interrogated by ICJ judges in the world championship final. With hundreds in the audience watching, she confidently fielded questions on exclusive economic zones and sovereign immunity.

As a law academic, I have long advocated making moot court a mandatory law school activity. Mooting, which simulates courtroom argument, trains students to analyse complex disputes, research for months, think on their feet, and make persuasive arguments based on fact and law.

These are skills that remain resilient in an increasingly AI-driven world. In international law moots especially, students internalise the norms, reasoning, and spirit of diplomacy in ways no textbook can teach.

Despite Singapore's longstanding success in international law moot competitions, not many of our graduates embark on international law careers, be it in practice, policymaking, or academia.

There is still a gap between our capabilities and our national investment in this domain. This is not a status quo we want to preserve.

INTERNATIONAL LAW IS OF EXISTENTIAL IMPORTANCE TO SINGAPORE

For a small and vulnerable city-state, international law is not an abstract concept, but a necessary scaffolding for our survival.