Will AI Take Away Your Career Before It Begins?
When I was a junior lawyer, my early years were filled with late nights writing research memos, summarising cases and drafting contract clauses, only to have them returned covered in red ink. I tried, often unsuccessfully, to emulate the style and
The Rise of Agentic Systems and the Strategic Redesign of Legal Work
Introduction In Part 1 of this series, we traced the evolution of legal technology from its mid-20th-century origins through the late 20th century, highlighting how early innovations like word processors, fax machines, and computer-assisted legal research revolutionized law practice, but only
Automating with Purpose: Unlocking Strategic Value in Legal Workflows
This is Part Two of a three-part series on how law firms can unlock strategic value through legal technology. Part One provided historic context to the rise of legal technology, and Part Three will focus on the Rise of Agentic
The Art of Cross-examination
Introduction I have been asked many times to give a talk on the art of cross-examination and have always politely declined. The reason is obvious. You cannot possibly teach an art. You can only acquire it in the course of courtroom
Life Lessons for Lawyers: Guidance for the Mind and Soul – by Ray Steinwall
Blessed is every lawyer who manages to find purpose, joy and fulfilment in his/her work throughout the course of our careers. In Life Lessons for Lawyers, Ray Steinwall delivers something strikingly rare in legal literature: a deeply personal, emotionally intelligent,
The 4R Decision Framework — A Lawyer’s Guide to Deciding When (NOT) to Use AI
The legal profession, long defined by its reliance on human expertise and established precedents, is undergoing a seismic shift with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). AI-powered tools such as Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Harvey, and other advanced platforms are reshaping legal
Technology Basics – Part 4: Connecting with Clarity
Mastering Zoom Like a Pro Welcome to the fourth instalment of the “Technology Basics” series, brought to you by the Law Society’s Representation and Law Reform department. This series aims to offer lawyers practical tips on how to make the most
President’s Message
This was the speech delivered by the President at the mass admission ceremony held on 21 and 22 April 2025.
Reflections
Some Background Like some of the other lawyers who have written for this series, I belong to those who are slightly “longer in the tooth”. I graduated from the then University of Singapore in 1978. I trained as a pupil for a
Laying the Groundwork for Strategic Legal Technology
This is Part One of a three-part series on how law firms can unlock strategic value through legal technology. Part Two will focus on the Strategic Implementation of Workflow Automation, and Part Three will focus on The Rise of Agentic