Law Ministry to undertake broader review of legal education: Edwin Tong

“Are they pursuing different aspirations and opportunities, or are they pushed away because legal practice has become intolerable and unsustainable when otherwise they would like to be in practice? And I think that distinction matters a lot.” 

Around the world, law schools are rethinking how to prepare the next generation of lawyers, and Singapore should study how these developments apply to it, said Mr Tong.

This is why the law ministry will undertake a broader review of legal education, he added.

“But no matter how well we prepare our students, the most important learning still begins after they enter practice, just as it did for my generation.”

Workplace culture, good supervision, mentorship and respect matter at the workplace, said Mr Tong.

“At the same time, I do not believe the experiences described in the report is the majority of our profession. They don’t define our profession,” said the minister, referencing the Law Society’s findings that were released in June. 

The four-year study found that lawyers are leaving private practice amid toxic workplace cultures, bullying, unreasonable workloads and a profession that intrudes into their personal lives. 

Those experiences probably reflect the actions of a small minority, he added. “Unfortunately, it only takes a few individuals to cast a shadow over a profession that is overwhelmingly made up of decent, committed people who want to see their juniors succeed and will mentor them well.”

Mr Tong stressed that nothing excuses poor supervision, inadequate training, harassment, bullying or unreasonable treatment.

For example, being screamed at, ridiculed, or expected to work unreasonably is not acceptable, he added.