[h=2]Number of FT lawyers outgrows local lawyers[/h]
January 5th, 2013 |
Author: Editorial
Recent trends show that the number of foreign lawyers is growing faster than that of local lawyers.
Newly-appointed president of the Law Society of Singapore, Lok Vi Ming, made the point at the opening of the new legal year on Friday (4 Jan).
Between 2007 and 2012, the growth in the number of local lawyers was 27% while that of foreign lawyers was 42%
At the Law Society’s Council election in Oct last year, some of the local lawyers have expressed concerns of foreign lawyers slowly making their presence felt in the Singapore marketplace.
Dr Chuang Wei Ping, a local lawyer, said, “Doctors always give the impression they are a united bunch. Doctors treat each other as trusted peers, regardless of seniority, firm, appointment, or specialty. They assist colleagues in trouble, casting stones only in extremis.”
“A united front makes it difficult for their marketplace to be penetrated by foreign doctors. It is time we lawyers took a leaf from the doctors’ book.”
Dr Chuang said that foreign lawyers are gaining back door entry, via local branches of foreign law firms.
He said, “Foreign firms can easily overstep their declared areas of expertise, ultimately leaving local firms, even larger ones, to pick the scraps.”
“Singapore lawyers must be allowed to retain our dignity and our rice-bowl. If we must share our marketplace, there must be an up-side for us, in terms of training, employment, etc. The Law Society must fight for every ‘up-side’”
Another lawyer, Mr Manimaran Arumugam also mentioned that the scope of legal practice may be eroded for local lawyers now that there is the possibility that foreign lawyers may practise Singapore law in the near future.
Looks like the opening of floodgates to foreigners working in Singapore is not only affecting our local managers, executives, engineers and technicians but also our doctors and lawyers too. The only people seem to be immune to foreign competitions are our politicians. Imagine US President Obama willing to work in Singapore as PM of Singapore for USD400,000 only – his current salary as President of US.
.
Newly-appointed president of the Law Society of Singapore, Lok Vi Ming, made the point at the opening of the new legal year on Friday (4 Jan).
Between 2007 and 2012, the growth in the number of local lawyers was 27% while that of foreign lawyers was 42%
At the Law Society’s Council election in Oct last year, some of the local lawyers have expressed concerns of foreign lawyers slowly making their presence felt in the Singapore marketplace.
Dr Chuang Wei Ping, a local lawyer, said, “Doctors always give the impression they are a united bunch. Doctors treat each other as trusted peers, regardless of seniority, firm, appointment, or specialty. They assist colleagues in trouble, casting stones only in extremis.”
“A united front makes it difficult for their marketplace to be penetrated by foreign doctors. It is time we lawyers took a leaf from the doctors’ book.”
Dr Chuang said that foreign lawyers are gaining back door entry, via local branches of foreign law firms.
He said, “Foreign firms can easily overstep their declared areas of expertise, ultimately leaving local firms, even larger ones, to pick the scraps.”
“Singapore lawyers must be allowed to retain our dignity and our rice-bowl. If we must share our marketplace, there must be an up-side for us, in terms of training, employment, etc. The Law Society must fight for every ‘up-side’”
Another lawyer, Mr Manimaran Arumugam also mentioned that the scope of legal practice may be eroded for local lawyers now that there is the possibility that foreign lawyers may practise Singapore law in the near future.
Looks like the opening of floodgates to foreigners working in Singapore is not only affecting our local managers, executives, engineers and technicians but also our doctors and lawyers too. The only people seem to be immune to foreign competitions are our politicians. Imagine US President Obama willing to work in Singapore as PM of Singapore for USD400,000 only – his current salary as President of US.
.
