SINGAPORE \u2013 An online post in September 2025, which made allegations of workplace bullying at the Law Society of Singapore, has sparked an ongoing probe at the organisation. <\/p>\n
The Straits Times understands the allegations come in the wake of a spate of resignations at the Law Society in 2025, with about a third of more than 70 full-time employees leaving their jobs.<\/p>\n
A chief executive had quit less than four months into the job. Separately, the departure of a long-time senior executive spurred further resignations. <\/p>\n
At one point in time, the human resources department was unstaffed.<\/p>\n
The investigation, which is being conducted by TSMP Law Corporation, was commissioned by the Law Society\u2019s audit committee in September.<\/p>\n
When asked about the probe, TSMP\u2019s joint managing partner, Senior Counsel Thio Shen Yi, said a progress report has been submitted to the audit committee. <\/p>\n
He declined to give further details.<\/p>\n
ST understands a number of former and current employees were interviewed between October and December.<\/p>\n
A number of other issues were highlighted during the probe.<\/p>\n
They include allegations of excessive spending during overseas trips, which had prompted several council members of the Law Society to raise concerns about the financial claims.<\/p>\n
Under the organisation\u2019s protocol, expenses below $50,000 do not have to be authorised by the council, which has 21 members. <\/p>\n
Such claims need to be approved only by the executive committee, or Exco, a subgroup of the council comprising eight members.<\/p>\n
The writer of the online post had also complained about how an allegation of sexual harassment was handled. <\/p>\n
ST spoke to a number of former and current employees who said they were familiar with the issues raised in the online post.<\/p>\n
One of them even prepared a statutory declaration before a Commissioner for Oaths to confirm the information that was provided to the TSMP team.<\/p>\n
Several employees who spoke to ST asked to remain anonymous because they feared reprisal. <\/p>\n
They described a work culture where they were expected to be available 24\/7.<\/p>\n
They said they were inundated with incessant text messages at all times of the day, including weekends and while they were on leave.<\/p>\n
One showed ST a stack of printed-out WhatsApp chat messages. <\/p>\n
Staff were also told to perform tasks outside their job scope, such as parking cars and dealing with flight bookings.<\/p>\n
They said they were spoken to in condescending tones in front of other staff. <\/p>\n
They said employees feared being sacked for not carrying out tasks swiftly or satisfactorily.<\/p>\n
ST has contacted the Law Society for comment.<\/p>\n
The professional body for lawyers was in the news recently following the <\/p>\n appointment of Mr Dinesh Singh Dhillon, a ministerial appointee, <\/p>\n