National University of Singapore Faculty of Law
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National University of Singapore Faculty of Law | |
---|---|
Motto | Asia's Global Law School |
Established | 1956 |
School type | National university |
Dean | Simon Chesterman |
Location | Singapore, Singapore |
Enrollment | 1200 |
Faculty | 72 |
Website | http://law.nus.edu.sg |
The National University of Singapore Faculty of Law (NUS Law) is Singapore's oldest and largest law school. The faculty was initially established as a Department of Law in the then University of Malaya in 1956, with its first batch of students matriculating the following year. Subsequently, it served as Singapore's only law school for half a century, until the establishment of the Singapore Management University School of Law in 2007 and subsequently Singapore University of Social Sciences School of Law in 2017. The current dean is Simon Chesterman.[1]
History
Lionel Astor Sheridan, then a law teacher in the United Kingdom, was appointed the first Head of the Law Department of the University of Malaya in July 1956. The department attained faculty status in 1959 and Sheridan was appointed its first dean, while the pioneer batch of 22 law students, featuring the likes of Chan Sek Keong and Tommy Koh, graduated on 10 July 1961.[2]
In its formative years, alumni were frequently called upon to provide leadership and expertise to the law school as it slowly expanded. Grants were also secured to increase the number of books in the law library, and students were sent to international mooting competitions as part of the legal education.[2] By the early 1990s, student exchange programmes with leading schools were established as well.[2] Over the years, with the help of grants, donations, and support from its alumni in both teaching and leadership positions, the law faculty grew from strength to strength, and is today recognised as a respected institution for providing quality legal education.[3]
The Faculty of Law is now staffed by a permanent faculty with law degrees from more than a dozen jurisdictions.[4]
Deans
S/N | Name | Term of office |
---|---|---|
1. | Lionel Astor Sheridan | 1956–1962 |
2. | Chua Boon Lan | 1962–1963 |
3. | Harry E. Groves | 1963–1964 |
4. | Leslie C. Green | 1964–1965 |
5. | James Louis Montrose | 1965–1966 |
6. | Geoffrey W. Bartholomew | 1966–1968 |
7. | Thio Su Mien | 1968–1971 |
8. | Tommy Koh | 1971–1974 |
9. | S. Jayakumar | 1974–1980 |
10. | Tan Sook Yee | 1980–1987 |
11. | Tan Lee Meng | 1987–1992 |
12. | Chin Tet Yung | 1992–2001 |
13. | Tan Cheng Han | 2001–2011 |
14. | Simon Chesterman | 2012– |
Programmes
Degrees offered
Undergraduate students in the four-year LL.B. programme are required to take compulsory subjects such as contract law and tort law in the first two years, and are allowed to take up to 18 elective subjects in the final two years. Law electives include subjects on Asian legal studies and comparative law, commercial law, intellectual property and technology, maritime law, public and private international law, legal skills, and law & society. Students can also take non-law subjects for their electives, such as finance, accounting, international relations, foreign policy, and languages such as Korean, Japanese, French and German. As part of their LL.B., students can choose to take up a minor in another course of study such as economics, management, philosophy, and political science.
Apart from the traditional LL.B., the law school also offers double honours degrees in business administration & law, economics & law, law & life sciences,and a concurrent degree programme in law & public policy. Since 2013, it has also offered a double degree in partnership with the Yale-NUS College.[5]
Students who have a prior degree from another discipline may qualify for the Graduate LL.B. Programme, and will obtain their LL.B. in three years instead of four.[6]
For graduate students, the law school offers seven coursework LL.M. programmes and a research Ph.D. programme.[7] The coursework LL.M. programmes start in August and are completed the following May. Students enrolled in the International Business Law LL.M. spend a semester in Singapore before heading to Shanghai to study on the campus of East China University of Political Science and Law.[8]
Combined LL.B. and LL.M.
Building on its many exchange programmes, NUS Law enables selected students to combine completion of their LL.B. with an LL.M. from a partner institution in just four years. This is presently possible with New York University, Boston University, Erasmus University, King's College London, University of Melbourne, and University of Toronto.[9]
Exchange programme
The student exchange programme was initiated in the early 1990s. NUS Law now has an extensive exchange programme with dozens of law schools all over the world, such as Bocconi University, New York University, Duke University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Washington University, Georgetown University, Boston University, University College London, University of Durham, University of Bristol, University of Nottingham, University of Southampton, University of Manchester, University of Glasgow, University of Edinburgh, University of British Columbia, McGill University, Queen's University at Kingston, University of Toronto, University of Victoria, University of Western Ontario, University of Hong Kong, Beijing University, Tsinghua University, Fudan University, National Law School of India University, Kyushu University, Australian National University, University of Queensland, University of Auckland, University of Copenhagen, Tilburg University, Stockholm University, Bucerius Law School and more.[10]
Students usually go on the exchange programme in their third year of studies in the 4-year LL.B. Students on the exchange programme pay only tuition fees at the NUS Law rate, thus avoiding paying the often higher fees of the host institutions.[11]
Fellowships
NUS Law has also concluded agreements with the International Court of Justice, the World Bank and the Permanent Court of Arbitration to offer fellowships for graduates to work at each institution. Students selected for the fellowship will work at the ICJ in The Hague, Netherlands, and the World Bank, United States.[12]
International rankings
NUS Law has been ranked among the top twenty law schools in the world by the QS World University Rankings by Subject. It was ranked 19th in 2014,[13] 14th in 2015,[14] 15th in 2016,[15] 15th in 2017,[16] and 15th in 2018.[17] It is currently ranked by QS as the top law school in Asia.[17]
Moot court competitions
NUS Law has emerged champions in moot court competitions such as the Philip C. Jessup Cup, the Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot,[18] the Oxford International Intellectual Property Mooting Competition,[19] the International Maritime Law Arbitration Moot Competition,[20] the Asia Cup International Law Moot Competition,[21] the ICRC IHL Moot, and the Manfred Lachs space law Moot Competition.[22]
Moot | Debut | Champion/Finalist | Advanced rounds | Oralist prizes | Memorial prizes | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition[23] | 1973 | Champion: 2001, 1994, 1985,1982
Finalist: 2004, 1996, 1992, 1988, 1986, 1983, 1980 |
Semi-finals: 2011, 2007, 1998, 1993, 1990
Quarter-finals: 2008, 2003, 2002, 1999 Octo-finals: 2016, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2006, 2000 |
Best Oralist (Prelims): 2016, 1989, 1988, 1976
Best Oralist (Finals): 2004, 2001, 1996, 1985, 1982, 1980 Top 10 Oralists: 2016 (2), 2011, 2010 (2), 2002 (2), 2001 (2), 1998, 1993 (2), 1992, 1991 National round: 2017, 2016, 2012, 2011 |
Best Memo: 2010, 1996, 1987 (2), 1985, 1983, 1982 (2)
National round: 2018, 2016, 2014 |
National round champion:
2016, 2012, 2011 Did not participate: 1997 |
Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot[24] | 2002 | Champion: 2002 | Quarter-finals: 2017, 2016, 2013 | Best Oralist: 2015
HM: 2018, 2017, 2016 (3), 2014 (2), 2013, 2012, 2009 (2), 2008, 2007, 2004, 2003, 2002 |
Best Memo: 2013, 2004
HM: 2018(2), 2017(2), 2014, 2013, 2011(2), 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006(2), 2005, 2003 |
|
Willem C. Vis East International Commercial Arbitration Moot[25] | 2008 | - | Semi-finals: 2016
Quarter-finals: 2015 |
Best Oralist: 2018
HM: 2018, 2017, 2016 (3), 2015 (3) |
HM: 2018, 2017(2), 2016 (2), 2015 (2) | |
Vis Pre-Moots | 2008 | Champion: 2016 (Shanghai), 2017 (ICC)
Finalist: 2018 (PCA) |
Semi-finals: 2018 (Shanghai) | Best Oralist: 2018 (PCA)
HM: 2018 (2) (Shanghai) |
||
Oxford Intellectual Property Moot[26] | 2006 | Champion: 2008, 2006 | Semi-finals: 2015, 2013, 2012, 2011,
Quarter-finals: 2018, 2016 |
Best Oralist: 2012 | Best Written Submissions: 2017, 2016, 2007 | |
Frankfurt Investment Arbitration Moot[27] | 2015 | Champion: 2018
Runner-up: 2016 |
Semi-finals: 2015 | - | - | Did not participate:
2017 |
Price Media Law Moot Court Competition[28] | 2011 | - | Quarter-finals: 2016
Octo-finals: 2018, 2017 |
- | - | |
International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition | 2009 | - | Semi-finals: 2016, 2015 | Best Victims Rep: 2016 | - | |
Manfred Lachs Space Moot[29] | 2000 | World Champion: 2001
Asia-Pac Champion: 2011, 2010, 2005, 2000 World Runner-Up: 2011, 2010, 2005 Asia-Pac Runner-Up: 2015, 2008, 2004, 2002, 2001 |
Asia-Pacific Semi-finals: 2009 | World Finals: 2011, 2005
Asia-Pacific finals: 2011, 2010, 2008 Asia-Pacific: 2015, 2010, 2008 |
World Finals: 2011, 2005
Asia-Pacific: 2007, 2004, 2001, 2000 |
Did not participate: 2006 |
Asia Cup[30] | 2001 | Champion: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2005, 2004, 2001 | - | Best Oralist: 2017 (2), 2016, 2007
Top 10 Ranked: 2017 (2), 2007, 2006, 2005 |
Best Memo: 2016, 2005
Memo Prize: 2017 |
National round champion:
2018, 2017, 2016 Did not participate: 2013–2015 |
International Maritime Law Arbitration Moot[31] | 2001 | Champion: 2017, 2015, 2010, 2001, 2000
Runner-Up: 2013, 2004 |
Quarter-Finals: 2016, 2018 | Best Oralist: 2017 | ||
IASLA Space Moot | 2015 | World Champion: 2017, 2016, 2015
Asia-Pac Champion: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 |
Best Oralist: 2015 | |||
Jean-Pictet Competition[32] | 2005 | Champion: 2015 | Semi-Finals: 2009, 2007, 2006 | 2010, 2007, 2005 | ||
ICRC Red Cross IHL | 2004 | Champion: 2008, 2004 | Semi-Finals: 2014, 2013, 2011 | 2014, 2012 | A joint team with Singapore Management University was sent between 2011–2014 | |
Private Law[33] | 2016 | Champion: 2017 | Semi-Finals: 2017, 2015 | Best Oralist (Finals): 2017 | ||
Nuremberg Moot Court | 2015 | Champion: 2016 | Quarter-Finals: 2018, 2017, 2015 | Best Oralist: 2016 | ||
Herbert Smith Freehills Competition Law Moot[34] | 2015 | Champion: 2015
Runner-Up: 2017 |
- | Best Oralist: 2017, 2015
HM: 2017 (2) |
2017 | |
Fletcher International Insolvency Law Moot | 2017 | Runner-Up: 2017 | Semi-Finals: 2018 | |||
Stetson International Environmental Law Moot | 2013 | - | SEARR Semi-Finals: 2013, 2014, 2018
International Quarter-Finals: 2013, 2014, 2018 |
SEARR Best Oralist: 2018 | ||
Pan-Asian Human Rights Moot Court[35] | 2017 | Runner-Up: 2017 | ||||
Asian Law Students Association (ALSA) International Moot Court Competition[36] | 2009 | Champion: 2018
Runner-Up: 2018, 2016 |
- | Best Oralist: 2016 | Best Respondent Memo: 2016 | Did not participate: |
The faculty has also enjoyed success in domestic mooting competitions organised by law firms for students in Singapore. These competitions are platforms for students to hone their mooting skills before going on to take part in larger international mooting competitions.
Moot | Subject | Since | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bashir Ahmad Mallal Moot | General | 1964 | W | W | W | W | W | W | F | W |
Advocacy Cup | Trial Advocacy | 1988 | W | W | W | W | W | F | W | W |
WongPartnership International Commercial Arbitration Moot | Contract | 2008 | W | W | F | W | W | W | F | W |
Attorney-General's Cup | Criminal Law | 2011 | W | W | W | W | F | F | SF | W |
Harry Elias | General | 2011 | - | - | - | - | F | F | F | F |
Stamford Corporate Law Moot | Corporate Law | 2012 | - | - | - | - | W | F | W | - |
Rodyk Challenge | General | 2012 | - | - | - | - | F | W | F | - |
Gowling WLG IP Moot | Intellectual Property | 2017 | W | W | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Research and publications
NUS Law publishes Singapore's leading scholarly publication on law and one of the oldest law journals in the Commonwealth, the Singapore Journal of Legal Studies.[37] It also produces the Asian Journal of International Law (which is published by Cambridge University Press and succeeds the Singapore Year Book of International Law),[38] and the Asian Journal of Comparative Law.[39] Additionally, the Singapore Law Review,[40] which is Asia's oldest student-run legal publication, is managed exclusively by the students of NUS Law.
Institutes and centres
Institute/Centre | Established | Director |
---|---|---|
Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law (APCEL) | 1996 | Lye Lin Heng |
Centre for International Law (CIL) | 2009 | Lucy Reed |
Centre for Asian Legal Studies (CALS) | 2012 | Dan Puchniak |
Centre for Law & Business (CLB) | 2013 | Tan Cheng Han |
Centre for Banking & Finance Law (CBFL) | 2014 | Dora Neo |
Centre for Legal Theory (CLT) | 2015 | Andrew Halpin |
Centre for Maritime Law (CML) | 2015 | Stephen Girvin |
There is also a legal theory group at NUS Law known as "Jurisprudence@NUS", which organises the Singapore Symposium in Legal Theory. Notable past speakers include Joseph Raz.[41]
NUS Law also serves as the Secretariat for the Asian Law Institute, which was established in 2003, and the Asian Society of International Law (AsianSIL), of which Dean Simon Chesterman is Secretary-General.[42]
Admissions
The grade profile of the 10th percentile of 'A'-Level applicants offered places in its LL.B. programme in 2010 was AAA/A.[43] Other than obtaining good grades, applicants are required to sit for a selection test and attend a formal interview to assess their suitability for the study of law.[44]
Admissions for postgraduate studies generally require a good bachelor's degree in law.[45]
Assessments and examinations
Students are assessed in a variety of methods, including final examinations at the end of the semester (both closed- and open-book), research papers, assignments and class participation.
The top 10% of students in each academic year are placed on the Dean's List. The top 10% of the graduating cohort, taking into account performance over 4 years in the LL.B. programme, is placed on the Overall Final Year Dean’s List.[46]
A student's class of honours for the Bachelor of Laws degree is determined by taking into account the results obtained in all subjects that the student has taken over the course of study.
Prior to Academic Year 2015/2016, only students who graduated in the top 5% of their class and obtained at least 40% As were awarded First Class Honours.[47] Students who graduate in the top 55% of their class, and who do not qualify for First Class Honours, are awarded Second Class (Upper Division) Honours.[48]
From Academic Year 2015/2016 onwards, the school announced that the top 10% of each graduating class will receive First Class Honours. More students - between 65% to 68% of each cohort - will also be awarded the Second Class (Upper Division) Honours degree.[49][50][51]
Notable alumni
- Andrew Ang – Supreme Court Judge
- Andrew Phang – Senior Counsel and Judge of Appeal
- Chan Sek Keong – Senior Counsel and former Attorney-General and former Chief Justice
- Steven Chong – Senior Counsel and Judge of Appeal; former Managing Partner of Rajah & Tann and former Attorney-General
- Davinder Singh – Senior Counsel and CEO of Drew & Napier
- Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee – former Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Home Affairs
- Hri Kumar – Senior Counsel and Deputy Attorney-General; former Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC
- Professor S Jayakumar – former Senior Minister, Prime Minister's Office and former Dean[2]
- Kan Ting Chiu – Supreme Court Judge
- Karpal Singh – Prominent Malaysian lawyer and Member of the Malaysian Parliament
- Professor Tommy Koh – Ambassador-At-Large for Singapore and former Dean[2]
- Lai Siu Chiu – Supreme Court Judge
- Lim Swee Lian Sylvia – Chairman of the Workers' Party of Singapore
- Sundaresh Menon – Senior Counsel and Chief Justice of Singapore; former Judicial Commissioner and Attorney-General
- Ong Keng Yong – Director, Institute of Policy Studies and former Secretary-General of ASEAN
- Judith Prakash – Judge of Appeal
- Indranee Rajah – Senior Counsel and Minister in Prime Minister's Office
- V K Rajah – Senior Counsel and former Judge of Appeal and former Attorney-General
- K Shanmugam – Senior Counsel and Minister for Law and Minister for Home Affairs
- Sin Boon Ann – former Member of Parliament for Tampines GRC
- Professor Tan Cheng Han – Senior Counsel and former Dean
- Tan Lee Meng – Supreme Court Judge and former Dean[2]
- Eleanor Wong – playwright and current director of legal writing at the faculty
- Woo Bih Li – Senior Counsel and Supreme Court Judge
- Professor Walter Woon – Senior Counsel and former Attorney-General
- Min-Liang Tan – co-founder, CEO and Creative Director of Razer Inc
References
- ^ [1] Archived February 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d e f "NUS - Faculty of Law : Asia's Global Law School | History & Milestones". Law.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ^ Priyia Paramajothi, "Asia boom sparks demand for S'pore lawyers" Archived 2007-02-11 at the Wayback Machine, Today, 15 January 2007.
- ^ "NUS - Faculty of Law : Asia's Global Law School | Academic Profiles". Law.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ^ "NUS - Faculty of Law : Asia's Global Law School". Law.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ^ "NUS - Faculty of Law : Asia's Global Law School". Law.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ^ "Graduate Programmes". National University of Singapore. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
- ^ "Course Programmes: Master of Laws (International Business Law)". National University of Singapore. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
- ^ "NUS - Faculty of Law : Asia's Global Law School". Law.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ^ "NUS - Faculty of Law : Asia's Global Law School". Law.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ^ "NUS - Faculty of Law : Asia's Global Law School". Law.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ^ [2][dead link]
- ^ "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2014 - Law". Top Universities. 2014-02-20. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
- ^ "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2015 - Law". Top Universities. 2015-04-22. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
- ^ "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2016 - Law". Top Universities. 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
- ^ "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2017 - Law". Top Universities. Retrieved 2018-06-13.
- ^ a b "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2018 - Law". Top Universities. Retrieved 2018-06-13.
- ^ "Ninth Annual Willem C". Cisg.law.pace.edu. 2002-06-05. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ^ [3] Archived December 19, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [4] Archived November 2, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [5] Archived May 23, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [6] Archived August 19, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Patterson, Will. "International Law Students Association - the future of international law - Jessup Archives". www.ilsa.org.
- ^ "Home - Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot". vismoot.pace.edu.
- ^ "Vis East Moot Foundation Ltd". Cisgmoot.org. 2018-05-15. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
- ^ "NUS - Faculty of Law : Asia's Global Law School". law.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
- ^ "NUS - Faculty of Law : Asia's Global Law School". law.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
- ^ "Competitions – Price Media Law Moot Court Programme". pricemootcourt.socleg.ox.ac.uk.
- ^ "NUS Law Students Continue Winning Streak" (PDF).
- ^ "NUS - Faculty of Law : Asia's Global Law School". law.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
- ^ "NUS - Faculty of Law : Asia's Global Law School". law.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-03-03. Retrieved 2018-03-22.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "NUS - Faculty of Law : Asia's Global Law School". law.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
- ^ hermesauto (2015-06-23). "NUS Law students triumphs in inaugural international moot court competition". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
- ^ "NUS - Faculty of Law : Asia's Global Law School". law.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
- ^ "Archive". ALSA International Moot Court Competition. Retrieved 2018-09-29.
- ^ "Faculty of Law, NUS - Singapore Journal of Legal Studies". Law.nus.edu.sg. 2015-03-18. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ^ SYBIL (2008) Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine, preface.
- ^ "NUS - Faculty of Law : Asia's Global Law School". nus.edu.sg.
- ^ "Home". The Singapore Law Review. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
- ^ [7] Archived October 12, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Governing Bodies". Asiansil.org. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ^ "Office of Admissions : Indicative Grade Profile (IGP)". NUS. 2015-08-03. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ^ "NUS - Faculty of Law : Asia's Global Law School". Law.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ^ "NUS - Faculty of Law : Asia's Global Law School". Law.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ^ "NUS - Faculty of Law : Asia's Global Law School". Law.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ^ "Regulations on Class of Honours" (PDF). Law.nus.edu.sg. Retrieved 2015-08-11.
- ^ "NUS Law Grading and Class of Honours". NUS Faculty of Law. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- ^ "NUS Law School to give out more first class honours to reflect rising quality of students". The Straits Times. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ^ "NUS Law School to give out more first class honours". Singapore Law Watch. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
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