Developing the Inner Art of Lawyering
By the time you read this article, the law practice that you are or will be practising in would have received a complimentary copy of the Professional Ethics Digest 2019 (the Digest), published by the Law Society. The Digest compiles
Group Witness Preparation – Psychology Matters
Introduction Improper witness preparation for the purposes of trial (referred to as “witness preparation” in this article) has been a highly controversial issue in adversarial legal systems. Different common law countries have adopted different approaches in drawing the line between permissible
Future-proofing for Lawyers 101
The Future of Law The future of law is not a subject that lawyers were taught at law school. Neither would it seem to be a priority for the busy practising lawyer, who has to contend with the overwhelming challenges of
Lawyers’ Duties to Prospective Clients
A Clearer Definition of “Prospective Client” is Needed Introduction Lawyers owe ethical duties to prospective clients, such as the duty of confidentiality and the duty to avoid conflicts of interests,[ref] See e.g. Ethics in Practice column, “Duties to Prospective Clients: Ethical
Disclosing Client Confidences to Your Spouse or Significant Other
Introduction In a recent Ohio lawyer disciplinary case, two lawyers from different law firms, who were involved in a personal relationship but not married to each other, were sanctioned for disclosing confidential client information to each other on multiple occasions
Risk Factors in Interviewing and Advising Elderly Clients – The 5Cs
Introduction With Singapore’s rapidly ageing population, a significant segment of Singapore law practices’ clientele in the future will likely comprise elderly persons. At the Second Reading of the Vulnerable Adults Bill in May 2018, it was noted that by 2030,
Three Big Ideas About AI for Lawyers
Introduction In the late Professor Stephen Hawking’s final book, Brief Answers to the Big Questions, the eminent physicist provided his personal take on some of the biggest questions in science. On the question “Will artificial intelligence outsmart us?”, Professor Hawking
Lawyer + Machine = ?
Introduction - The Cyborg Lawyer Man-machine hybrids such as cyborgs have long been a staple of science fiction stories and movies. Typically, fictional cyborgs emanate both foreboding (think Darth Vader of Star Wars) and invincibility (think the Borg of Star Trek –
Make Transparency Clear
How to Fight Bribery and Corruption in Your Law Firm This article discusses some of the key measures for law firms to combat bribery and corruption, including a written anti-bribery and corruption policy and internal controls. Introduction The risks of bribery and
Beware of Vague Drafting!
Introduction In everyday legal drafting, lawyers commonly use “elastic” expressions such as “reasonable”, “as soon as practicable”, “material” and “satisfactory”.[ref] Peter Butt, Legal Usage: A Modern Style Guide (Australia: LexisNexis Butterworths, 2018) at p 664 (“Legal Usage”).[/ref] While precise word