The Singapore Law Gazette

Heart of Law, Soul of Justice

A Conversation with Professor Tan Cheng Han, SC

Coming Full Circle

Several years after I first stepped into his classroom as an eager-eyed law student, I had the rare privilege of sitting across from Professor Tan Cheng Han, SC once more – this time as a fellow lawyer and colleague.¹This article was written in December 2024. His tall frame radiated a quiet authority, yet the warmth in his familiar smile instantly bridged the years between us. Our conversation flowed effortlessly through stories of law and life, gradually deepening from a casual exchange into a profound reflection on purpose, integrity and the deeper calling of the legal profession.

Sowing the Seeds of Justice

Professor Tan shared with me that he was drawn to law from a very young age, as he was captivated by the idea of justice and fairness. As a child, weekends were spent listening intently to his father, a disputes lawyer in Malaysia, as the elder Tan recounted riveting tales of the courtroom. For the young Professor Tan, these stories were windows into the passion, dedication, compassion and moral fortitude that defined lawyers and the legal profession. They instilled in the young Professor Tan a deep reverence for the law, and he soon came to see law not just as a career, but as a noble calling – a path that he could embark on to do good in the world and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

This sense of purpose was the compass that guided him throughout his career and remains his enduring inspiration as both a lawyer and a law professor to this day.

The Most Meaningful Moment of His Career

Professor Tan’s career, which has spanned more than three decades and has seen him rise to become one of the most prominent legal luminaries in Singapore, has been nothing short of remarkable. He became the Dean of the National University of Singapore Faculty of Law (Singapore’s only law school at that time) at the tender age of 36. Three years later, he made history in Singapore as the first academic with an active counsel practice to be appointed Senior Counsel. Beyond academia and practice, he has also served, amongst other notable appointments, as a Judge of the Military Court of Appeal, a Specialist Judge at the former Subordinate Courts of Singapore,²Now renamed as the State Courts. a member of the Disciplinary Tribunal and an arbitrator at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre.

Of his many achievements, Professor Tan reflects that the most meaningful moment in his legal career was receiving the C. C. Tan Award in 2024, which is the Law Society of Singapore’s annual award recognising members who exemplify the highest values of the legal profession – honesty, fair play and personal integrity. “Ours is a noble profession,” he reflects, “and this means our values and culture must revolve around integrity, fairness, and professionalism. To be recognised by my peers as someone who exemplifies the DNA of the community is a great honour indeed.”

Professor Tan Cheng Han, S.C. and the Law Society of Singapore’s President, Lisa Sam, at the Law Society of Singapore’s Annual Dinner 2024, where Professor Tan was conferred the C. C. Tan Award

Building Blocks of a Noble Profession

Professor Tan believes that legal expertise alone does not define an exceptional lawyer. An exceptional lawyer must have the ability to uphold ethical values, even when the path is fraught with challenges.

Ethical conduct is not confined to a single part of a lawyer’s professional life — it permeates through every interaction with clients, colleagues and opposing counsel, and even a lawyer’s conduct in court proceedings. Good ethical conduct is not merely about following the rules set out in the Legal Profession Act and Legal Profession (Professional Conduct) Rules; rather, it forms the foundational building blocks of a profession that is noble, honourable and respected.

Dealings with Clients — Standing Firm with Moral Fortitude

In the course of a lawyer’s career, there may be times when clients — or even senior lawyers — attempt to push the lawyer to the edge of ethical boundaries. Professor Tan acknowledged that for young lawyers, standing firm in such situations can be daunting, especially when the pressure comes from bosses or senior colleagues.

“Sometimes, the client may be a very important one and the desire to obtain a favourable outcome may tempt [lawyers] to sail close to the wind and beyond,” Professor Tan said. While empathy towards clients is important, Professor Tan offers a gentle but firm reminder that “we should also be mindful of identifying so much with our clients’ causes that we are tempted to do more than is proper.” While lawyers should act in the best interests of their clients, they must not lose sight of their overriding duty as officers of the court. Lawyers should, for instance, ensure that they adhere to ethical duties in relation to document disclosure and that they do not advance baseless or untenable arguments.

Ultimately, lawyers must “be clear-sighted about what the right paths are and never deviate from them,” he says. “This is what the oaths we took demand of us … when what you are asked to do is clearly unethical such as to put forward a point to the court that you know is misleading, you have to refuse. It may give rise to short-term pain, you may even feel you need to look elsewhere, but it will not bring your legal career to a grinding halt. I have seen younger lawyers with bright futures ahead of them be derailed in their careers because they made the wrong choices.”

Lawyers must therefore ask themselves: What kind of lawyer — and person — do they want to be? For Professor Tan, the answer is always clear: a lawyer who never compromises on his ethics and integrity, no matter the cost.

Make Learned Friends, not Learned Foes

Beyond dealings with clients, Professor Tan believes that the heart of ethical lawyering is also rooted in treating fellow legal professionals (both colleagues and opposing counsel) with empathy and respect, even if the sentiment is not always returned. “Everyone has their own perspectives and necessities”, he reflects.

However, “abuse is never acceptable”, he said firmly, as we reflected on accounts of shouting, book throwing and physical violence. Such misconduct should never be condoned in any workplace, much less in a profession that is regarded as noble.

While Professor Tan lauded the increased focus on mental health in recent years, he expressed concern that there remains a culture of silence that often prevents lawyers from speaking out about toxic work environments. His advice for lawyers in such situations is to speak up and seek support. For lawyers working under abusive bosses, he encourages them to start considering alternatives — such bosses are “not… worthy of working for because [they are] not… good mentor[s]. When [lawyers] make mistakes, [a boss may] rebuke [them], but [a good boss] should build [them] up and tell [them] where to improve.”

Professor Tan adds that it is similarly important to treat opposing counsel with decency and respect. Over the years, he has cultivated good relationships with many lawyers who once stood across from him as opposing counsel. He recounts one instance from a partnership dispute that he handled as counsel several years back. Although the opposing counsel seemed unyielding and the matter proceeded to trial, a mutual respect emerged between the two counsel and eventually resulted in a lasting friendship. To this day, the two still meet regularly – a testament to his belief that the adversarial nature of law need not extinguish the potential for camaraderie.

Tact Over Tactics

This basic level of respect and professional courtesy should also extend to non-practitioners, including witnesses in the courtroom. Professor Tan rejects the notion that effective cross-examination must come at the cost of dignity. “That doesn’t mean I’m not firm where necessary, but there is no need to belittle or disparage,” he says.

Leaving a Mark of Meaning

As the interview drew to a close, I asked Professor Tan what legacy he hoped to leave behind, and he answered with characteristic humility. “I hope there will be people who think I’ve done some good or feel they’ve learnt something meaningful from me that’s helped them in life.”

What strikes me most about Professor Tan isn’t just his intellect or accomplishments — it’s his humility and authenticity. Beneath his accolades and titles is a man who genuinely cares: about the law, about his students, and about making the world and the legal profession a little more human.