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Singapore needs to make legal profession sustainable, not easier, says Edwin Tong

Published July 9, 2026 at 8:12 AM UTC

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Singapore's Minister for Law, Edwin Tong, emphasized the importance of making the legal profession sustainable rather than easier. Addressing Members of Parliament (MPs) on July 7, 2026, he acknowledged the demanding nature of legal practice but highlighted its deeper purpose. Tong stated that while pressures such as tight timelines and client demands are common across professions, the privilege of advocating for another person distinguishes the legal field. He noted that many lawyers are drawn to the profession for its meaningful work and are willing to accept the associated responsibilities and stresses. The focus, according to Tong, should be on sustaining the profession to ensure that those attracted to it for the right reasons are not driven away by adverse factors. This perspective responds to concerns raised by a Law Society of Singapore (LawSoc) study, which found that lawyers were leaving private practice due to toxic workplace cultures, bullying, unreasonable workloads, and a profession that intrudes into their personal lives. Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon had previously noted that one in three new lawyers might quit within three years due to workload and poor culture. Tong acknowledged these findings, stating that they must be taken seriously, with decisive changes made where appropriate. In response, LawSoc has convened a task force to examine the study’s findings and implications, aiming to make recommendations for improvement. Tong also addressed the issue of workplace culture, noting that toxic patterns, including incivility and bullying, were reported across all levels of the legal profession, from trainees to senior lawyers. He emphasized that personal health and mental well-being were among the strongest factors associated with lawyers leaving the profession. Existing protections, such as the Tripartite Advisory on Managing Workplace Harassment, are applied with equal rigor in the legal sector as in other fields. However, Tong recognized that formal frameworks alone may be insufficient, as many lawyers may feel unable to raise concerns about harmful conduct without jeopardizing their careers. The conduct, expectations, and culture set by industry leaders play a decisive role in how lawyers experience practice and whether they remain in the profession. Regarding the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the legal profession, Tong acknowledged that AI is here to stay and that the profession needs to adopt it. While AI has the potential to reduce the burden of routine, time-consuming tasks, it also raises client expectations, compresses timelines, and creates anxiety about the future shape of legal careers. Without thoughtful management, any efficiency AI produces could be overridden by increased demands, nullifying any potential benefit it brings to legal work’s sustainability. Tong emphasized that how well the transition and adoption of AI are managed will dictate how the legal industry progresses. The Ministry of Law is looking into AI adoption on a more fundamental level, such as whether the structure of legal training from law school through practice needs to evolve to prepare lawyers for the changing landscape. Tong also discussed the traditional billable-hour model, noting that it is already being challenged. The LawSoc study had raised flaws in the model, highlighting how it can create unhealthy competition among colleagues, with senior lawyers keeping lucrative cases for themselves. Tong acknowledged that intensifying competition places greater demands on lawyers and emphasized the need to reaffirm the deeper purpose and enduring values of the legal profession. A strong legal profession underpins a strong economy and a cohesive society. The goal is not to lower standards but to sustain excellence in a way that allows lawyers to build long and fulfilling careers and enables the legal sector to continue to flourish.