About the Programme

The Junior Lawyers Professional Certification Programme (JLP) was announced by the Chief Justice at the Opening of the Legal Year 2024. It aims to equip lawyers of less than 5 years PQE with practical skills for disputes or corporate practice, as well as impart management skills and reinforce principles of professional ethics. This industry-wide learning and development programme will also address issues affecting the development of forensic and legal skills during the formative years of young legal professionals, such as the impact of AI and the lack of in-person collegial learning coming out of the pandemic years.

JLP is expected to launch in the second quarter of 2025. Watch this space for more details in the coming months.

"Our goal is to offer a programme that will set the industry standard for the holistic development of young lawyers, and which will be seen as a trust mark of quality by employers and clients." - CJ Sundaresh Menon, OLY 2024

Hallmarks of JLP

What's Coming Up?

JLP Taster Modules (CPD points to be confirmed)

The JLP Taster Modules aims to provide participants a taste of the various modules in two main tracks - Disputes and Corporate tracks. Through this preview, participants are expected to gain a broad overview of the key concepts and practical knowledge which they can apply in their work and beyond.

Taster Modules

Disputes Module

Disputes Module 1: Starting and Responding to an Action

This module is designed to equip participants with an understanding of the steps involved in commencing an action. The course will cover the following topics:

Developing a preliminary case theory
Letters before the commencement of litigation
Offers of amicable resolution
Originating claims vs. originating applications
Pleadings
Service of process in Singapore and outside Singapore
Challenging jurisdiction

Participants will have the opportunity to engage in the following hands-on activities, with feedback given by trainers:

Case theory and strategy
Pleadings
Mock jurisdiction challenge

23 and 24 Jul 2024

[Completed]

Disputes Module 2: Appeals

This module is designed to familiarise participants with the procedural, written, oral, ethical, substantive and advocacy aspects of appeals. The course will cover the following topics:

Starting an appeal
Applications for permission and other procedural steps
Appeals to the Appellate Division vs. appeals to the Court of Appeal
Ethical issues
Adducing fresh evidence
Standards of review
Appellate remedies
Preparation and delivery of oral submissions

Participants will also have the opportunity to engage in the following hands-on activities, with feedback given by trainers:

Written appeal advocacy
Mock appeal oral submissions

25 and 26 Jul 2024

[Completed]

Corporate Module

Corporate Module 1: Deal Structuring

This module is designed for junior lawyers to be able to understand the fundamentals of deal structuring legal transactions; develop skills to analyse the features, merits, and drawbacks of common deal structures in various practice areas and to advise clients on deal structures confidently. Participants will be able to:

Distinguish between deal types, such as asset sale and share sale transactions, and grasp the unique provisions needed for each
Address cross-border complexities, encompassing governing law, jurisdictional considerations, and contractual provisions like warranties and indemnities
Explore the various stages of deal progression, incorporating preliminary agreements to facilitate negotiation and due diligence processes effectively
Examine different business frameworks, including the function of holding companies, and consider the contribution of transactional lawyers in facilitating deals

7 and 8 Aug 2024

[Completed]

Corporate Module 2: Contract Drafting

This course equips participants with vital contract drafting skills, drafting precise provisions while navigating legal nuances. The course explores template selection, Generative AI, and prompt engineering for efficiency. It hones risk management in commercial contracts and tackles cross-border civil law complexities. Participants will be able to:

Develop a comprehensive understanding of the various risks inherent in commercial transactions and contracts, along with strategies to effectively manage and mitigate these risks
Gain insight into the comprehensive structure of contract drafting, encompassing both broad frameworks and specific details and learn to navigate complex contractual elements with precision
Understand the categories of language e.g. the language of obligation, including the appropriate use of legal words and phrases such as ‘shall’ and ‘may’
Examine how the choice of governing law impacts contract drafting, and understand the importance of selecting the appropriate governing law based on jurisdictional context and involved parties

14 and 15 Nov 2024

Click here to register

[Fully Subscribed]

Non-Technical Module

Legal Innovation

This programme aims to expose junior lawyers to the latest trends and best practices in legal innovation and to equip them with the skills to identify, implement, and measure the effectiveness of innovation projects in their own practice.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

Understand the fundamentals of legal innovation
Apply legal innovation in practice
Apply legal process mapping framework and legal lean six sigma concepts
Understand legal design thinking concepts
Explain the state of Legal Tech landscape, their capabilities and limitations
Understand Legal GenAI as well as their capabilities and limitations
Understand the professional and ethical considerations in legal practice in the context of legal innovation, Legal Tech, and Legal GenA
Evaluate and communicate the feasibility, suitability, and acceptability of their proposed solutions using appropriate criteria and method
Understand best practice legal innovation roadmap for lawyers

10 and 13 Sep 2024

[Completed]

Complimentary Mini Taster Sessions

Financial Accounting for Junior Lawyers	24 September: 12.00pm - 1.30pm [Completed]
Legal Perspectives on ESG in Singapore	2 October: 5.30pm - 7.00pm [Completed]
Diversity and Inclusive Leadership in Practice	16 October: 12.00pm - 2.00pm [Completed]
Negotiating Your Way to Success	5 November: 12.30 pm -2.00 pm Click here to register!
Contract Drafting - An Overview	11 November: 5.30 pm - 7.00 pm Click here to register!
The Business of Lawyering: How to Leverage Teamwork for Success	27 November: 12.00 - 1.30 pm Click here to register!

Module dates and outline are tentative and subject to changes.

Join Our Upcoming Sessions

Register your interest to our upcoming sessions.

Contribute to Our Programme

Register your interest to contribute to our programme. Opportunities include:

Provide ideas, inputs and feedback on curriculum.
Be an adjunct faculty (trainer or facilitator).

For more information, contact [email protected].