Law students in Singapore take pledge for first time to uphold professional values

SINGAPORE – Students from all three law schools in Singapore have taken a pledge for the first time to uphold the values of the legal profession. 

About 500 law freshmen from the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), Singapore Management University’s (SMU) Yong Pung How School of Law, and the National University of Singapore (NUS) took the pledge.

Each school held its formal ceremony this week that saw students reciting the pledge, following Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon’s acceptance of recommendations by the Ethics and Professional Standards Committee in January.

Co-chaired by Justice Valerie Thean and senior counsel Jimmy Yim, the committee recommended “building a shared vision for the legal profession as a community”, which included introducing a pledge for university students. 

The committee was formed by the Chief Justice in 2023, following a rise in breaches of ethics and professional standards by lawyers. 

It was reported in 2022 that

11 aspiring lawyers cheated in the Part B 2020 Bar examinations that law graduates must pass in order to practise law.

The exams were held online in 2020.  

Mr Yim, who attended SUSS’ ceremony on Aug 2, said: “The pledge is meant to cultivate and instil in the students the core values that represent the legal profession.” 

These values are integrity, professionalism and justice, he added. 

The pledge, outlined in the Interim Report of the Ethics and Professional Standards Committee in December 2023, is as follows: “I, (name), recognising the privilege and responsibility of being a law student, do sincerely pledge that I will strive to act with integrity, honesty, fairness and civility in all that I do; I will strive to understand and hold to the values of the legal profession; I will respect the rule of law, promote the ends of justice and seek to serve the public good, sincerely and to the best of my ability.”

Mr Yim said all students across the three schools will be reciting the same pledge. 

The dean of SUSS Law, Professor Leslie Chew, said while these values have always been part of the profession, it is important to strengthen them.

“For students, the best way to strengthen these values is to start when they are just beginning their law journey,” he added.

“We want to impress upon the students that their obligation of honesty, integrity and dedication is to be taken seriously,” Prof Chew said. 

Year 1 law student Felix Loke expressed pride in being part of the first batch to take the pledge.

“It serves as a timely opportunity for incoming law students to learn and cultivate values that will put them in good stead regardless of whether they will be called to the Bar,” the 24-year-old said. He was among 60 students at the SUSS ceremony.

The event was attended by faculty, legal professionals and Ministry of Law representatives.

SMU law freshmen also had their pledge ceremony on Aug 2 and took part in a panel session with the university’s law dean, among others, to discuss values related to the profession. 

There were 225 Bachelor of Laws and Juris Doctor students at the ceremony. 

SMU incoming freshman Julia Lim said that it was inspiring to take the pledge with her batch mates.

“There was a profound sense of unity,” the 20-year-old said. “It wasn’t just me saying these words but the people around me who are friends I’ve made during orientation camps, and it was nice to have that moment together.”

Students reciting the pledge together also contributes to the culture of enabling people to do the right thing, said Associate Professor of Law at SMU Michelle Lim, who led the pledge at the ceremony.

“Now you have the support of your batch mates, the university and the profession to encourage you to act in a particular way,” she added, noting that allowing the students to recite the pledge is a good starting point for them as they begin their journey.

Prof Lim said the panel also served to provide the context of why students are taking the pledge.

“The discussion will help students internalise the pledge with their own personal values and think about how their personal values align with that of the profession,” she added.

About 220 NUS law freshmen had their ceremony on July 27. The dean, Professor Andrew Simester, said the ceremony is in line with the law school’s mission to “educate ethical lawyers of the highest distinction, lawyers who represent their clients with excellence and integrity”. 

All three universities will continue to hold this ceremony for their law students annually. 

Correction note: This story has been updated to reflect the number of NUS students.