The Singapore Academy of Law Legal Systems 10 Singapore Law Review 1989

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10 Sing. L. Rev. 156 (1989)
The Singapore Academy of Law

handle is hein.journals/singlrev10 and id is 163 raw text is: The Singapore Academy of Law

I. INTRODUCTION
IN 1986, Professor RH Hickling delivered the Third Singapore Law
Review Lecture, 'Breaking Apron Strings', in which he advocated a
shift away from the English common law tradition with a view towards
developing a Singaporean legal culture.' The Singapore Legislature,
however, appears to be moving in the converse direction with the
establishment, under the Singapore Academy of Law Act (SAOLA),
of an institution of the same and which is unabashedly expressed to be
'similar to the Inns of Court in the United Kingdom' It is not
proposed to re-examine the merits - or otherwise - of a Singaporean
jurisprudence here. Rather, the functions and purposes of the
Academy are to be scrutinized, with a comparative study vis-a-vis the
Inns of Court to be made.
It. SINGAPORE ACADEMY OF LAW
A. Functions and Purposes of the Academy
The Singapore Academy of Law CSAOL') is a corporate body4
established with the purpose of providing a venue and the opportunity
for members of the legal fraternity to interact.' In so doing, it is the
aim of the Academy to foster a collegiate spirit which, it is hoped, will
1 (1987) 8 Sing LR 78-95.
2 Cap 294A Singapore Statutes Rev Edn 1988.
3 Prof S Jayakumar, Singapore Parliamentary Debates Official Reports, Vol 51,
11 Aug 1988, ol 506.
4 s 3 SAOLA, Cap 294A Singapore Statutes Rev Edn 1988.
5 s 4(1)(g) SAOLA.