Improving Work Conditions for Legal Professionals

82 Ms Hany Soh asked the Minister for Law with respect to reports that one in three newly admitted lawyers is likely to leave the profession within three years, how has the Ministry been working to improve conditions in the industry especially reported key factors such as excessive workload, poor workplace culture and lack of mentorship.

Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: This statistic to which the Member refers was derived from media reports following a survey conducted by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) before this year's mass admission ceremony. The survey asked the respondents, all of whom were about to be newly qualified lawyers, whether they were likely to remain in the current organisation or move to a new law firm; judicial service/legal service/public defender's office; in-house role/academia; alternate legal service provider, or move out of the profession entirely in the next three years. Respondents could select more than one option.

Eighty-five of the 289 respondents, or 29%, in employment selected the option that they would move out of the profession entirely. However, of these 85, only eight, or under 3%, of them selected that option as their sole option whilst the rest selected another option as well to stay within the profession. The survey findings have to be considered in the context of this information as well.

It is also important to consider survey findings within the broader context of other data. For instance, based on our data: (a) the attrition of lawyers from legal practice has remained stable in the last decade. Over the period 2015 to 2024, about six in 10 of the lawyers remained in practice in law firms after five years, and four in 10 after 10 years; (b) in addition, the number of Singapore lawyers in practice in the same period has grown by 26%; and (c) in the same decade, the number of Singapore-qualified in-house counsel has also more than doubled, to support the multinational corporations in Singapore, which has also grown to over 7,000 today.

I have previously shared these data in several of my speeches this year. The analysis of the legal profession and the demand for legal talent also has to be considered in this context. We will thoroughly review all relevant data in considering questions as to attrition from the profession and whether any, and if so what, steps need to be taken to address these issues.

We value each lawyer who enters the profession and endeavour for them to remain in practice or be in the legal industry with purpose and value which they can find fulfilling. Lawyers leave the profession for a variety of reasons, not all of which can be addressed systemically. We will consider the sustainability of legal practice, particularly through the lens of the young legal practitioner. The Honourable Chief Justice and the Minister for Law have therefore set up the Future of the Legal Profession Committee in December 2025 to address these issues, and others, in a comprehensive and holistic manner, and we will share our recommendations when they are ready.

In the meantime, some steps are being taken to address the sustainability of legal practice. For instance, the SAL has launched the Mindful Business Movement to promote mental well-being and sustainable practices within the legal profession. Similarly, the Law Society of Singapore has introduced mentorship and other support schemes to connect young lawyers with experienced mentors, fostering career development, mental well-being and professional growth.

Ensuring that legal practice remains sustainable is important, and it requires the collective effort of all stakeholders from across the profession, including the judiciary, Attorney-General's Chambers, law firms, practitioners and academia.