Book Review - MODERN ADVOCACY – MORE PERSPECTIVES FROM SINGAPORE

• Author: Siraj OMAR SC LLB (National University of Singapore); Partner, RPC Premier Law.
• Publication year: 2019
• Citation: (2019) 31 SAcLJ 21140
• Published date: 01 December 2019
• Date: 01 December 2019

1 As the title suggests, Modern Advocacy – More Perspectives from Singapore is the follow-up to the extremely successful first volume released in 2008.1 It sets out not merely to update the original edition but also to examine areas of the Singapore litigation process not previously covered.

2 The book is an easy read, covering the different stages of conducting litigation in Singapore from the perspectives of a constellation of leading lawyers and judges. Each topic is helmed by acknowledged leaders in that particular area, making this an invaluable companion for lawyers of all ages.

3 The opening chapter is penned by former Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong, who draws from his unique experiences as a lawyer, judge and Attorney-General to set out 14 “Lessons from the Bar”. This should be required reading for all advocates.

4 The subsequent chapters are masterfully structured. Each deals with the key topics and areas of interest to a practitioner, and provides practical tips on conducting litigation in Singapore. The chapters are also peppered with personal observations and “war stories”, which imbue the book with a personal touch that lifts it from the ranks of ordinary legal text.

5 The book also looks at areas that have not been given much profile in the past. There is a specific chapter on “Prosecution Advocacy”, which offers rare and detailed insight into the advocacy process through the lens of a prosecutor, and a chapter on “Technology

and Advocacy” that provides timely insight into the advent of technology in the advocacy process.

6 The chapter...