The program is geared towards lawyers whose post-qualification experience is five years or less
The Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) is set to debut the Junior Lawyers Professional Certification Programme (JLP) on May 21.
The program was designed and executed by SAL, collating legal, technological, and professional training. It is geared towards early-career lawyers whose post-qualification experience amounts to five years or less. Twenty modules are being offered under the program, all of which have been accredited with continuing professional development points by the Singapore Institute of Legal Education; relevant parts of qualified modules will also add to mandatory Ethics CPD points.
With JLP certification, participants are well-positioned to specialize in niche practice areas and to apply for SAL Specialist Accreditation in the future, according to the SAL. Training topics that will be covered in the program include generative AI ethics, prompt engineering for legal professionals, drafting for cross-border contracts, oral and written advocacy, and leadership and business development.
“The JLP reflects our continued commitment to strengthening Singapore’s legal ecosystem. With technology reshaping legal practice and clients demanding more complex, high-value work, it’s essential that our junior lawyers are equipped to meet these challenges,” SAL chief executive Yeong Zee Kin said in a statement.
The JLP has been endorsed by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon as a timely and necessary investment into the future of Singapore’s legal profession, according to the SAL. A full-time faculty has been set up; the organization collaborated with judges and senior legal professionals to develop the curriculum and training materials.
An opening conference will be held to officially launch the JLP, where Menon will give the opening lecture and participate in a fireside chat. Panel discussions will also be conducted with international experts and legal educators.
The SAL has opened up registration for the opening conference and the JLP itself, with Singapore-qualified SAL members being prioritized in the enrolment process.
