Singapore Academy of Law (Amendment) Bill

by deleting paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) and substituting the following paragraphs:“(a)to promote and maintain high standards of conduct and learning of the members of the legal profession in Singapore and the standing of the profession in the region and elsewhere;

to promote the advancement and dissemination of knowledge of the laws and the legal system;

by deleting the words “legal training and education for” in subsection (1)(d) and substituting the words “for the training, education and examination by the Academy or by any other body, of ”;

by deleting the word “and” at the end of subsection (1)(f);

by deleting the full-stop at the end of paragraph (g) of subsection (1) and substituting a semi-colon, and by inserting immediately thereafter the following paragraphs:“(h)to appoint persons as notaries public or commissioners for oaths and to authenticate their signatures;

to undertake activities and projects relating to the study, development and operation of laws and legal systems and the facilities, information technology and infrastructure in support thereof;

to provide consultancy and other services relating to the study, development and operation of laws and legal systems and the facilities, information technology and infrastructure in support thereof; and

to exercise the functions and duties conferred on the Academy under any written law.”;

by inserting, immediately after paragraph (a) of subsection (2), the following paragraphs:“(aa)provide training in subjects of study relating to law, the practice of law or the administration of justice;

by deleting paragraph (j) of subsection (2) and substituting the following paragraphs:“(j)invest the moneys and funds of the Academy in such shares, funds, securities, or investments as may be authorised by the Senate;

enter into such arrangements, agreements or joint ventures as are necessary for the attainment of its functions;

form or participate in the formation of any company for the purpose of carrying out all or any of the functions of the Academy;

levy and charge fees;

exercise such powers as may be conferred on the Academy or the Senate under any written law; and”; and

by re-lettering the existing paragraph (k) of subsection (2) as paragraph (o).

The management of the affairs of the Academy and of its properties shall be vested in a Senate which shall consist of —

the Chief Justice;

the judges of the Supreme Court;

the Attorney-General;

the Solicitor-General;

the President of the Law Society;

the Dean of the Faculty;

the Chairman of the Board; and

9 other members who are appointed by the Chief Justice after consultation with the Attorney-General, the President of the Law Society and the Dean of the Faculty.(2) No person shall be appointed as a member of the Senate pursuant to subsection (1)(h) unless he is a member of the Academy and a citizen of Singapore.(3) Any person appointed as a member of the Senate pursuant to subsection (1)(h) shall hold office for a term of one year and shall be eligible for reappointment on the expiration of his term of office.(4) Any person holding office as a nominated member of the Senate immediately before the commencement of section 4 of the Singapore Academy of Law (Amendment) Act 1995 shall be deemed to have been appointed under subsection (3).”.

by deleting the words “the exercise of any functions exercisable by the Senate” in the last line of subsection (1) and substituting the words “any functions or powers that may be performed or exercised by the Senate, other than the power to make rules under section 26”;

by deleting the words “members of the Senate but who shall be” in the second and third lines of subsection (3); and

by inserting, immediately after subsection (4), the following subsection:“(5) Subsection (4) shall not apply if one of the members of the committee or board is a member of the Council of the Law Society.”.

the President and Vice-Presidents of the Academy;

all other members of the Senate except for those appointed under section 5(1)(h);

persons who have since 1st January 1980 held office as Chief Justice, judge of the Supreme Court, Attorney-General or Solicitor-General for not less than 2 years;

honorary or associate members who are elected by the Senate as Fellows for life or for such period as the Senate may in any case consider appropriate; and

members who have been appointed as Senior Counsel under the Legal Profession Act [Cap. 161].”.

by repealing section 2 and substituting the following section:“Interpretation

by inserting, immediately after the words “notaries public” in section 3(1), the words “for a period not exceeding 12 months”;

by deleting the word “Attorney-General” wherever it appears in section 3 and substituting in each case the word “Senate”;

by deleting the word “his” in the last line of section 3(4) and substituting the word “its”;

by deleting the word “Attorney-General” wherever it appears in section 5 and substituting in each case the word “Senate”;

by deleting the words “under his hand” in the eleventh line of section 5;

by deleting the word “Attorney-General” in section 6 and substituting the word “Senate”;

by deleting subsection (1) of section 8 and substituting the following subsection:“(1) The Chief Justice, after consultation with the Senate, may make rules —

for the guidance and control of persons entitled to exercise the functions of a notary public under this Act;

to fix the fees payable to such notaries;

to fix the fees payable to the Singapore Academy of Law by any person on appointment as a notary public, and on renewal of such appointment;

prescribing the powers and functions of notaries public.”; and

by renumbering section 9 as subsection (1) of that section, and by inserting immediately thereafter the following subsection:“(2) Any person who, immediately before the date of commencement of section 11 of the Singapore Academy of Law (Amendment) Act 1995, is a notary public shall continue in office for a period of 3 months from that date and shall thereafter cease to be a notary public unless he is reappointed before the expiry of that period.”.

by deleting the words “Chief Justice” in the first lines of subsections (2) and (3) and substituting in each case the words “Senate of the Singapore Academy of Law”;

by inserting, immediately after the words “charged by,” in the second line of subsection (3), the words “fees payable to the Singapore Academy of Law by,”;

by deleting the word “him” in the last line of subsection (3) and substituting the words “the Senate”; and

by inserting, immediately after subsection (3), the following subsection:“(4) Any person who, immediately before the date of commencement of section 12 of the Singapore Academy of Law (Amendment) Act 1995, is a commissioner for oaths shall continue in office for a period of 3 months from that date and shall thereafter cease to be a commissioner for oaths unless he is reappointed before the expiry of that period.”.