Singapore and Hong Kong 2021 Opening of the Legal Year
5 February 2021
Due to COVID-19, events to mark the 2021 Opening of the Legal Year (OLY) were convened online.
On 11 January, Law Council President, Dr Jacoba Brasch QC, attended the Presidents’ Roundtable Dialogue convened by the Law Society of Singapore. Dr Brasch QC appeared in the session themed “Bar leadership lessons in managing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic” alongside panellists Salim Bashir Bhaskaran (President of the Malaysian Bar Council) and Chen Fang (Vice President of Guandong Lawyers Association).
The session was opened by the President of Singapore Law Society, Gregory Vijayendran SC, and moderated by Brian Speers, President of Commonwealth Lawyers Association.
Dr Brasch QC spoke about how the legal profession has adapted to the pandemic, and the vital purpose of independent bars to monitor executive and legislative exercises of power, and support the development of ‘good law’. Read speech here.
On 12 January, Law Council President, Dr Jacoba Brasch QC, also appeared in the Presidents’ Roundtable jointly organised by the Law Society of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Bar Association, with the theme “Challenges and opportunities for the legal profession in the midst of COVID-19”. The Roundtable was opened with remarks by Melissa Pang, President of the Law Society, and closed by Philip Dykes SC, outgoing Chair of the Hong Kong Bar Association.
Dr Brasch QC commented upon practical challenges and opportunities arising out of the pandemic, before discussing how independent legal professional bodies balance their roles between engaging constructively with government, and facilitating trust in the rule of law. Read speech here.
Last Updated on 22/08/2024