Law Minister Edwin Tong on Friday (Aug 14) called on the Law Society of Singapore to release to its members the full report by the audit committee, which had looked into workplace complaints at the organisation.
A Law Society of Singapore (LawSoc) closed-door meeting at Maxwell Chambers yesterday (Aug 13) saw heated debate as several lawyers called for the full report on the findings of an inquiry into workplace practices at the organisation, including allegations of workplace bullying, to be released.
About 200 lawyers attended the meeting, which started at 5.30pm on Aug 13. The meeting, which was scheduled to finish at 7pm, ended only at 9.30pm.
Several lawyers said they would demand an extraordinary general meeting if the full report was not released.
Any 25 members of the society can request that an extraordinary general meeting be held.
According to sources who attended the session, questions were also raised about the lack of disciplinary action against a former senior employee for alleged inappropriate conduct.
The inquiry came in the wake of an anonymous e-mail sent to the Ministry of Law (MinLaw) and the Ministry of Manpower on Sept 13, 2025, that contained serious and wide-ranging allegations and complaints against certain persons and practices within LawSoc.
It covered matters from 2022 to 2025, and included inappropriate workplace conduct, weaknesses in governance and oversight, deficiencies in grievance handling and whistle-blowing processes, and shortcomings in internal controls over certain administrative and financial practices.
In the same month that the anonymous e-mail was sent, an online post made allegations of workplace bullying at LawSoc.
About a third of more than 70 full-time employees had resigned in 2025, former and current staff told The Straits Times in December.
In a written reply to a parliamentary question on Aug 5, Law Minister Mr. Tong said the probe had identified significant failings in leadership, workplace culture and governance from 2022 to 2025.
He said the investigation did not find evidence of deliberate financial impropriety or an intentional cover-up, but added that the failings undermined confidence within LawSoc, and trust in the legal profession.
The report was not released to members, but they were told on July 23 that it had been submitted to the LawSoc council, which is the governing and management body of the organisation.
Members were also told via e-mail that the current council had instructed the society’s finance department to conduct a comprehensive review of current travel protocol.
A petition was started on Aug 7 ahead of the Aug 13 meeting, with calls for LawSoc to release the findings to members so they can form their own views and have a fuller understanding.
“It bears emphasising that these allegations reported have been by far the most serious the society has faced in its entire history,” read the petition.
“It will be unfair to members of the society that they be denied the opportunity to read the full investigation report and its recommendations.”
Independent probe
Mr. Tong said MinLaw had sent the anonymous e-mail to the then LawSoc council, which subsequently appointed the society’s audit committee to investigate.
The committee, which comprised both LawSoc members and non-members, conducted the investigation independently of the council. The committee sent its report to the council on June 5, and the council sent a copy of the report to MinLaw on July 1.
Mr. Tong said the LawSoc council has acknowledged the findings and has begun to implement its recommendations. THE STRAITS TIMES
