The programme offers a holistic training approach, covering essential skills, dispute resolution and corporate law.
This article was first published on 16 February 2025 in the Singapore Mandarin broadsheet, Lianhe Zaobao.
SLW obtained permission to reproduce the article to give the legal community a broader view of legal reports for various news syndicates.
The Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) will introduce the Junior Lawyers Professional Certification Programme (JLP) in May 2025, setting industry standards for the holistic development of young lawyers. Employers can look to the certification as a trust mark of quality training.
JLP offers a holistic training approach, covering essential skills, dispute resolution and corporate law. The curriculum includes key areas such as client and matter management, financial statements, legal innovation, litigation advocacy, trial procedures, cross-border drafting, corporate governance, tech law, and [environmental], social and governance (ESG).
Established in 1988, SAL currently has around 13,500 members, including lawyers, university lecturers, judges, prosecutors, and law students. SAL is committed to driving legal innovation, enhancing lawyers’ professional skills, and supporting law firms in digital transformation.
According to the Law Society of Singapore, as of 2024, there are 1,814 lawyers with less than five years of practice in Singapore.
Mrs Delphine Loo, Senior Director of Learning and Professional Development of SAL, highlighted the lack of comprehensive and structured training programs tailored specifically for junior lawyers with under five years of experience.
“There was a white space in the market for a programme such as the JLP, which infuses practical skills-building with ethics, technology, and commercial savviness,” she said.
SAL will closely monitor the response and feedback to the JLP, and will review and make changes on an ongoing basis, in order to meet the evolving demands of the legal profession.
To obtain JLP certification, participants must complete 12 modules within two years. Depending on the modules taken, the certification may be either for JLP (Disputes), JLP (Corporate) or JLP (General).
Each module lasts between one to two days, with fees ranging from $800 to $1,600. The program fees can be self-funded or sponsored by law firms.
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