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The Singapore Law Gazette

Vice-President’s Message

The end of 2022 is right around the corner. We will all have our own reflections on a year that has been filled with changes and challenges. For now, I would like to focus on a recent event: the Law Society’s Annual Dinner 2022, which was held on 18 November 2022.

This was the first Annual Dinner that the Law Society was able to hold in-person since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. President Adrian set the tone for the entire night as he welcomed everyone and delivered (occasionally sly) comments with his signature wit. Guests abandoned their seats and flitted from table to table, catching up with friends and colleagues alike. The queue at the bar was matched by the queue of revellers at the photo booth.

The night was one of constant celebration. We celebrated the conferment of the Law Society’s Honorary Membership upon Justice Chao Hick Tin. We celebrated not one but two C C Tan Award winners. We celebrated our Pro Bono Ambassador and Sports Personality Award winners. For those who won prizes during the games that night, we celebrated with them as well.

Ultimately, the Annual Dinner was a celebration of the camaraderie that we share as members of our profession. Throughout the night, we exchanged warm greetings with friends and opposing counsel, who were often the same person. We griped about the pressures of our chosen career, while at the same time recharging our batteries to confront another year of the same or greater pressures. The message was the same in every smile and laugh that night: It is great to see you, I am so glad to see that you are well.

The Law Society is already preparing for the challenges that our members are likely to face in 2023 and beyond. One area of focus is how we can help our members to continue to connect with networks in both Singapore and overseas. We are also looking at how we can best harness the experience and expertise in our various committees, especially in emerging areas of practice.

As always, the Law Society depends on our members who generously volunteer their time and talent to further the interests of our legal fraternity. As this year draws to a close, we hope that you will consider signing up as a committee volunteer next year. Let’s work towards having even more to celebrate with each other at the Annual Dinner of 2023.

President
The Law Society of Singapore