- Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon addressed new lawyers at Mass Call 2024 on 19 August 2024.
- The speech focused on generative AI in law and the importance of mentorship.
- New initiatives were announced to help lawyers adapt to AI and improve skills.
Singapore’s top judge talks about how AI is changing law and why new lawyers need good teachers.
Key Terms Simplified
- Generative AI is a computer program that can make new text, images, or other content.
- Mass Call is a big event where new lawyers are welcomed into their job.
- Mentorship is when an experienced person helps and guides someone new to a job.
Chief Justice Speaks to New Lawyers
On 19 August 2024, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon spoke at the Supreme Court of Singapore.
He was talking to new lawyers at an event called Mass Call 2024.
This event happens every year to welcome new lawyers to their job.
Chief Justice Menon talked about two main things: how AI is changing law work and why new lawyers need good teachers.
AI in Law: New Tools for Lawyers
Chief Justice Menon said that AI could help lawyers do their work better and faster.
He thinks AI might even do some tasks better than human lawyers.
But he also warned that this could mean fewer jobs for new lawyers in the future.
To help lawyers use AI, two new things will be launched at TechLaw.Fest 2024 :
- An online foundation course about AI for lawyers
- A prompt engineering guide on how to use AI tools better
These new tools are being made by the Singapore Academy of Law and Microsoft together.
Fewer Chances for New Lawyers to Learn from Basic Tasks
AI is expected to replace junior lawyers in basic legal tasks, reducing traditional on-the-job training opportunities.
To fix this, a new program is starting in the second quarter of next year.
It’s called the Junior Lawyers Professional Certificate Programme (JLP).
This program will help lawyers who have been working for less than five years learn more practical skills.
Helping New Lawyers Learn
Chief Justice Menon also talked about how important it is for new lawyers to have good teachers.
He said that right now, not many lawyers have a teacher to help them.
Only 10% of lawyers said they had a formal teacher or mentor.
Quotes from the Chief Justice
According to SG Courts, Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon said, “While there will undoubtedly be challenges, you will be able to draw upon the guidance of your mentors and the support of your wider network.”
He was talking about how new lawyers can get help when they face problems in their job.
He also said, “Achieving mastery in the law will demand hard work, dedication, and resilience over the long haul.”
This means that to be a good lawyer, you need to work hard for a long time.
Doing Good as a Lawyer
Chief Justice Menon also talked about doing free work to help people who can’t afford a lawyer.
This is called “pro bono” work.
He thinks it’s very important for lawyers to do this kind of work.
Pro bono work is a tangible demonstration of our profession’s commitment to serving the public good.
This means that when lawyers do free work, it shows that they care about helping people.
What This Means for Lawyers
The Chief Justice’s speech shows that being a lawyer is changing fast.
New lawyers need to learn about AI and get help from experienced lawyers.
They also need to remember to help people who can’t afford lawyers.
As law and technology change, Singapore is trying to make sure its lawyers are ready for the future.
