Law Society members to hold extraordinary general meeting following concerns over election of new president

In its earlier statement, LawSoc confirmed Mr Dhillon’s election as the 2026 president at a council meeting but declined to comment further on the proceedings, citing confidentiality reasons.

Mr Dhillon, a seasoned lawyer called to the Bar in 1995, is co-head of Allen & Gledhill’s international arbitration practice and chairman of Pro Bono SG, a charity that provides free legal aid.

Lawyers earlier told CNA that a requisition notice had already been circulating in the days following the announcement on Nov 17 of Mr Dhillon’s appointment, accompanied by messages seeking support and asking for signed requisition forms to be sent to Mr Low and Mr Chandra Mohan.

This notice had called for an EGM to discuss the independence of the Bar and whether the president must be an elected member of council, in light of Mr Dhillon’s appointment announced earlier that month.

In a response to CNA’s queries on Nov 25, LawSoc confirmed that a written requisition notice for an EGM was “deposited with a vice-president” at 4pm the day before. 

It said that the council was reviewing the requisition in accordance with Section 68 of the Legal Profession Act. LawSoc is governed by the Act.

The latest notice submitted by Mr Low states that the LawSoc council “resolved not to convene an EGM”, hence the requisitioners are putting out their own notice to convene an EGM. 

Under the Act, any 25 members may requisition a general meeting by submitting a written, signed notice to the president or a vice-president. The council must convene the meeting within 14 days and the meeting must be held within 30 days of receiving the notice.

If the council fails to do so, the requisitioning members may convene the meeting themselves within two months of submitting the notice.

While the LawSoc has not called for an EGM, it is organising a tea session on Wednesday (Dec 10) to “address any queries or concerns of members on any issue, in particular the transition of Council-elect 2026 into office and their plans for 2026”, according to a message from LawSoc to members.

Mr Low, Mr Chandran Mohan, Mr Dhillon and Mr Chacko had declined comment when contacted. 

Mr Low is managing director at Peter Low Chambers, while Mr Chandra Mohan – who was LawSoc president from 1995 to 1997 – is a partner at Tan Rajah & Cheah. Mr Chandra Mohan was also Nominated Member of Parliament from 2002 to 2004.

FIRST PRESIDENT-ELECT TO BE APPOINTED INTO COUNCIL BY MINISTER

Mr Dhillon is the first president-elect to be a statutory member appointed by the Law Minister, LawSoc said in response to CNA.

However, it noted that this was not the first time ministerial appointees have held office bearer roles. Some have served as vice president or treasurer previously.

“There is no express rule in the Act that prohibits a statutory member appointed by the Minister for Law to be elected as the president, or any other office-bearer, of the Law Society,” LawSoc said in its statement.

Referring to the Act, LawSoc said there were no special qualifications or credentials to be elected as president, simply that council members must not be disqualified from holding office.

When approached, the Ministry of Law (MinLaw) told CNA on Nov 26 that it was aware of ongoing discussions among lawyers on this issue.

Noting that the Legal Profession Act allows the Law Minister and the council to nominate up to three statutory members into the council, a spokesperson said that statutory members are members of the LawSoc council and are not representatives of MinLaw.

“The statutory members are expected, as with the rest of council, to act in the best interests of the Law Society council and the legal profession, in the discharge of their duties.”

It added that the election of office bearer was “solely within the purview of the Law Society council”.