Veteran litigator R.S. Bajwa’s memoir The Honest Lawyer offers a compelling insider’s look at Singapore’s legal system with its drama, intensity, and humour.
Spanning five decades across civil and criminal litigation, the book deftly weaves landmark cases with lesser-known but equally revealing moments from the courtroom trenches.
A 2021 report by The Straits Times described Mr Bajwa as “the go-to lawyer for lawyers in trouble”. It’s a reputation built on his steady defence of practitioners facing disciplinary proceedings.
His memoir, rich with candour and anecdote, shows precisely how that reputation was earned.
Shedding light on the legal process
For readers curious about what really happens behind courtroom doors, Mr Bajwa provides vivid accounts of trials that have shaped public conversation.
These include the Novena Church exorcism dispute, the tragic Nonoi murder case, and even a custody battle over a dog named Sasha.
There are also frank recollections of mishandled exhibits, lawyers cutting ethical corners, and the mercurial temperament of judges.
These small but telling details effectively illuminate the human machinery behind the justice system.
Mr Bajwa also reflects, with characteristic wit, on Singaporeans’ fascination with the politics of social clubs, musing whether such intensity stems from a cautious distance from national politics.
While the memoir challenges the cliché that “there are no honest lawyers,” Mr Bajwa concedes the profession is not immune to lapses.
He states: “I would like to think that lawyers are honest and fair, although I have on occasions been proven wrong.”
Judge this book by its cover
The title pays homage to Lord Denning’s celebrated address The Honest Lawyer, inspired by the traditional inn sign depicting a lawyer standing with his decapitated head in his hand.
English judge Lord Denning is famous for his controversial yet influential 20th-century career, where he was known for his simple and narrative judgment writing style, his flexible and sometimes precedent-breaking approach to the law, and his focus on fairness and justice for the individual.
It was then a playful reminder of the profession’s age-old struggle with public perception.
Like Lord Denning, Mr Bajwa revisits the foundational virtues of the honourable lawyer: Honesty with client and court, refusal to distort truth, and an unwavering duty to justice above personal or professional convenience.
Courage, he writes, is not optional as it is essential in raising every relevant argument fearlessly, even in the face of public pressure.
Maintaining faith in humanity
Beyond courtroom battles, the memoir also highlights the quiet generosity that has coloured Mr Bajwa’s career.
He recounts, for example, the Pakistani national who unexpectedly stepped forward to bail out three honeymooning Indian couples arrested for shoplifting.
A gesture he describes as “a positive sign that old enmities can be put aside for humanity”.
The July 1, 2025, book launch, coinciding with Mr Bajwa’s 75th birthday, became another moment of giving.
Instead of gifts, he asked guests to donate to Pro Bono SG, to which he also contributed his book proceeds to support its efforts to provide legal aid to the marginalised communities in Singapore.
The total sum raised, S$12,788.88, will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Tote Board.
“The Honest Lawyer reminds us of the best traditions of the Bar,” said Pro Bono SG Chairman Dinesh Dhillon. “Mr Bajwa’s generous gesture perfectly embodies the spirit of giving back to the community.”
A calling shaped by family and sport
Mr Bajwa’s journey began in the staff quarters of Singapore General Hospital, where his father worked as a male nurse.
His father’s late-life decision to study law, but passing away before completing his final examinations, became the son’s motivation.
A government merit scholarship enabled Mr Bajwa to attend university. “I am fortunate to have completed his dream of becoming a lawyer,” he writes.
His early years in hockey and cricket also instilled a lifelong belief in fair play – a value that permeates the memoir.
“While many would slow down at 75, Mr Bajwa chose instead to give back,” said Assistant Dean Nisar Keshvani of Northwestern University in Qatar. “He wrote and published a book – an extraordinary act of generosity to his peers, students and to the legal community at large.”
The Honest Lawyer is more than a chronicle of cases; it is a tribute to the ideals of integrity, service, and courage that define the best of the legal profession.
The stories – humble, humane, and unembellished – offer a rare reassurance: That the pursuit of justice, when practised with heart, still has honest champions.
Published by Marshall Cavendish Editions, The Honest Lawyer is available at major bookshops in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
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25 Nov 2025 16:13
