Chief Justice - Designate Sushil Nair: Second Opening Address at the Legal Profession Symposium 2026

Ladies and gentlemen

1. We convene today at this year's Legal Profession Symposium, for the purpose of taking further steps in dealing with the critical issue of sustainability of legal practice in Singapore. 

2. Let me begin by expressing my deep appreciation to Chief Justice Menon for his outstanding leadership and service to the Judiciary, the legal profession and our nation. Under his stewardship, the profession has engaged in a thoughtful and candid examination of its future, its values and its enduring responsibilities.

3. As many of you probably know, until recently, I was a member of the senior management of one of Singapore’s larger law firms. The issue of retention of talent is something that was very real to that team, as it no doubt is to those of you here who are involved in the management of law firms. However, the fact is that the practice of law, especially at the high end, is inevitably demanding. Singapore prides itself in its ability to provide high quality legal service and that is an essential part of the Singapore success story. Meeting the demands of clients, who could look to other jurisdictions, places demands on our professionals at all levels. I do not think that the demands of legal practice will change much. I note that in his speech to freshmen from the NUS Law Faculty on 26 July, Senior Minister K. Shanmugam quite properly made the point that, at the very top, legal practice is a demanding, taxing profession that requires a lot from the lawyers.

4. That having been said, it is incumbent on the leaders of our law firms to properly appreciate the specific issues faced by young lawyers and to carefully consider the manner in which their firms deal with these issues. Harassment and bullying are an unacceptable red line, whether in the context of the work environment or in the way lawyers are treated in Court. That is something all leaders should recognise and they should act accordingly. While the practice of law is demanding, there is a need to recognise the need for proper distribution of work and for a system that alerts leaders to the fact that particular lawyers are being pressed to an unsustainable level.

5. Through my former colleague Senior Counsel Jimmy Yim, who co-chaired the Ethics and Professional Standards Committee and who is now a member of the Future of the Legal Profession Committee, I had been updated about the many surveys, consultations and dialogues that have taken place over the past several years. Through these efforts and past instalments of the Legal Profession Symposium, we have not only gained valuable insights into the root causes that give rise to the pressures faced by our profession; we have also started to take early steps to address them.

6. We articulated the Sustainability Principles to establish a common reference point for reflecting on sustainable ways of working across different practice contexts. Through the Mindful Business Movement, we also convened a coalition of like-minded clients and law firms to pilot these practices and to allow for discourse on their experiences. We developed the SAL leadership playbook and developed leadership courses for lawyers at all levels of seniority. But these are not enough. Today, we build on this foundation.

7. The future of the legal profession is a priority that concerns both the Chief Justice and the Minister of Law, so much so that they are jointly guiding the plans and programmes aimed at enhancing its sustainability. Let me assure you that I too view this a critical area that requires urgent attention. I therefore assure you that this important work, currently ably driven by the Chief Justice, will continue unabated, even with leadership transition.

8. Allow me to share with you why I am committed to ensuring the long-term health, strength and sustainability of the legal profession. The economic success and social safety that we now enjoy in Singapore is supported in no small part by the rule of law. This in turn depends on the strength of our Bench and Bar. The sustainability of the legal profession is therefore of national importance. 

9. I have seen, first hand, the difference that a leader makes to a team of lawyers. There are teams that are regularly under significant work pressure but which manage to retain the bulk of their younger lawyers. There are teams that suffer high turnover.  As the saying goes, people join organisations but leave bosses. The mentoring of juniors is essential to building strong teams and grooming future leaders. Law practice is, ultimately, a business that provides services. If we do not nurture our lawyers, we will be unable to deliver good legal services and we will become less competitive. 

10. We have now arrived at an important juncture in the journey to develop a sustainable and viable ecosystem for young lawyers to flourish. Over the past few years, considerable effort had gone into understanding the many issues relevant to the sustainability question. We gathered evidence, listened carefully to the profession, and identified areas where change is needed. Our task now is to carry this work forward with purpose and determination.

11. An important lesson emerged from our conversations, particularly with younger lawyers. Younger lawyers do not merely wish to be consulted. They wish to contribute to the solutions. They wish to participate in shaping the future of the profession to which they belong. We took this lesson to heart and designed today’s programme with this in mind. Leading up to this Symposium, we conducted a hackathon of ideas, attracting almost 40 teams. This year, we focused on three problem statements: 

(a) first, harnessing AI in the practice of law, 

(b) second, deepening cross-border capabilities and regional presence, and 

(c) third, redesigning workplaces to foster sustainable and rewarding legal practice. 

12. The raw ideas from the hackathon have been further analysed by a group of volunteer lawyers who will present the synthesised proposals. During the course of today, you will participate in shaping this first set of solutions. 

13. I am grateful for the leadership that has been provided by the Chief Justice and the Minister for Law. I am equally grateful for the efforts of the various committees, whose work product have paved the way: Deputy AG Valerie Thean and Senior Counsel Jimmy Yim, who co-chaired the Ethics and Professional Standards Committee; and Justice of Appeal Hri Kumar, Deputy AG Valerie Thean and Permanent Secretary Luke Goh who carry on this important work as co-chairs of the Future of Legal Profession Committee. 

14. Looking ahead, our focus will be directed towards implementation. We must translate insight into action, and action into meaningful improvement. We must be prepared to test solutions, evaluate outcomes and refine our approach where necessary. And we must continue to draw on evidence and feedback to ensure that our efforts remain both practical and effective.

15. I conclude with a reminder from Lord Bingham that the rule of law is one of the greatest unifying factors in society. The rule of law does not sustain itself. It depends on the strength of the Bench and Bar, whose vitality is determined by the members of the legal profession. Let us resolve to take collective action to build an ecosystem that provides a sustainable career for our members.