THE ROLE OF WOMEN LAWYERS IN THE 1990s

• Citation: (1990) 2 SAcLJ 205
• Date: 01 December 1990
• Author: ANAMAH TAN
• Published date: 01 December 1990

It is not everyday that I have the honour and pleasure of addressing so distinguished a gathering as today and as President of the Singapore Association of Woman Lawyers, thank you Mr Chairman for giving me this opportunity.

It is only in the 1980s that the number of woman lawyers increased tremendously. This was due to a combination of factors. The National Service is one but it appears also that the males seem to have a grave problem in the second language which was a requirement for entrance into the University. At one stage there were 4 female law students to 1 male. Now the ratio is about 50—50. Hence the female ration at the Bar is quite illuminating:—

It is about equal for those in the 1—3 years experience bracket — 264 women lawyers and 267 male lawyers.

Between 4—7 years experience there are 40% more male lawyers — 159 women lawyers and 227 males.

Between 8—12 years experience there are 70% more male than women lawyers — 142 women lawyers and 235 males. And the most telling is in the above 12 years experiences — males outnumber the females by 320% — 133 women lawyers and 424 male lawyers.

Of the women lawyers currently in practice, the earliest admitted is Madam Kwa Geok Choo of Messrs Lee and Lee. She was admitted on the 7th day of August 1951. The first woman lawyer to be admitted to the Bar was Miss Lim Beng Hong — 4th July 1927.

To-day, there is one woman lawyer for every two males. There will be more new extrants into the profession and in the light of this and the ever changing social environment, the question arises as to the role that women lawyers shoud play in the years ahead, precisely in the 1990s. As at July 1990 there are 686 practising women lawyers — 38% of the legal profession practising at the bar.

The traditional Asian society has been male dominant. The man of the family, while immersing himself in his occupation (and sometimes in quasi-occupational activities), has always left it to his wife or the other females in his family to tend to the family chores. With women pursuing the goal of equality, entering into every profession previously thought to be exclusively a male domain, and with the men considerably more than just

reluctant to share in the household work, family life in many cases is not exactly a holiday cruise. As busy professionals with families of their own, women lawyers would be in the best position to offer sound advice on how to apportion work and play to keep family units intact.

The Social...