Singapore’s legal profession faces challenges including high attrition rates and the impact of artificial intelligence, prompting the Chief Justice and Law Minister to co-lead a committee to address these issues.
Lawyer Attrition Concerns
Surveys conducted in 2024 and 2025 indicate that approximately 60 percent of newly qualified lawyers in Singapore are likely to leave legal practice within the next five years. Commonly cited reasons for considering leaving include excessive workloads, poor work-life balance, higher compensation opportunities elsewhere, concerns about mental well-being, lack of flexibility, and negative workplace culture.
New Committee to Address Challenges
Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon announced on Jan. 12 that he and Law Minister Edwin Tong will jointly lead a committee to tackle these challenges, as well as the evolving impact of AI on legal work. “The Minister for Law and I have discussed this issue on a number of occasions, and we are very much aligned in our view that we must help our profession to meet these challenges,” Chief Justice Menon said.
The committee will include representatives from the judiciary, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the Ministry of Law, the Singapore Academy of Law, the Law Society of Singapore, the Singapore Corporate Counsel Association, and academia.
Bicentennial and Future Outlook
2026 marks the 200th anniversary of Singapore’s legal system, established in 1826 with the Second Charter of Justice. Chief Justice Menon unveiled initiatives to commemorate the bicentennial, including a commemorative medallion and a year-long exhibition at the Supreme Court building.
A new judicial precinct, encompassing the Octagon, State Courts Towers, and the former Family Justice Courts building—which will house the Syariah Court and other related judicial institutions—was also announced.
Impact of Artificial Intelligence
The digital age has increased the pace of legal work and client expectations, demanding higher quality and more responsive service. Generative AI presents a further challenge, requiring a re-evaluation of the role and function of lawyers.
While AI tools can assist lawyers, there is concern that reliance on them may hinder the development of fundamental skills like legal research, analysis, drafting, and reasoning. Chief Justice Menon warned that skills degradation could impact the ability to verify the accuracy of AI-generated work.
Attorney-General Lucien Wong noted that officers in the Attorney-General’s Chambers have access to commercial AI tools, but their specific needs require in-house development due to national security concerns and the unique nature of their work. The AGC has developed tools including a judgment summarizer, a criminal law chatbot, and a treaty analyzer.
However, Wong emphasized that core values like fairness and honor, and uniquely human skills such as witness interviewing and negotiation, cannot be replaced by AI. “AI may be able to answer your questions, but it cannot tell you when you are asking the wrong question,” he said.
Law Society President Tan Cheng Han expressed concern that technology may reduce the demand for work traditionally performed by junior lawyers, and that access to technology is crucial for ensuring equal access to justice for all clients.
Law Society Developments
Speeches at the annual opening of the legal year did not address recent controversies surrounding the Law Society, including an extraordinary general meeting prompted by concerns over the election of ministerial appointee Dinesh Singh Dhillon as president. A resolution was passed for Professor Tan Cheng Han to lead the society, with Mr. Dhillon serving as vice-president. An investigation into allegations of workplace bullying at the Law Society is also underway.
Tan Cheng Han paid tribute to past president Lisa Sam for strengthening connections with Asian bar associations and to Dinesh Singh Dhillon for his work with ProBono SG, the Law Society’s charity arm.
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