“WE DON’T HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL”: TITO ISAAC & CO’s JUSTIN CHAN ON THEIR PLEADINGS SUBSCRIPTION
The senior partner and head of Tito Isaac & Co’s dispute resolution practice shares why ready access to pleadings matters.
Tell us about Tito Isaac & Co and the kind of work it does.
We are a large-ish full-service firm that deals with people from all walks of life. We started life as a litigation driven firm but have grown our other practice areas such as conveyancing, corporate, insurance and criminal to a high level of competence.
Why was it important for the firm to sign up for LawNet’s Pleadings database.
Pleadings are the bedrock of any case. While it is uncommon to find (in existing precedent databases) a pleading which applies directly to your case, it is a common situation where you can find a reported case that’s similar to yours. In that situation, lawyers find ourselves wishing that we had access to those pleadings. That is where I think the utility of the pleading function is most felt. There is then no need to reinvent the wheel; only to add improvements or adjustments.
Tell us about why access to pleadings makes a difference to case outcomes.
Cases are won or lost on a multitude of factors. It would be hard to identify the direct link between access to pleadings and the eventual judgment. I would however say this, the litigator who has a solid pleading supported by provable facts and germane legal authority is poised for success.
What’s on your legal research wishlist and why?
A database of leading academic texts, both local and foreign. They are often the fastest way to perform legal research as the legal issues have already been compartmentalised and dissected for you.
Pleadings is a premium add-on service available to Singapore subscribers of LawNet. It comprises selected pleadings from actual cases reported in the Singapore Law Reports from 2014. All featured pleadings are chosen by sitting judges and selection committee for their language, concision and organisation from writ actions, admiralty suits and appeals to the Court of Appeal (from writ actions). Sealed cases, criminal, family and originating summonses (including arbitration) cases are excluded. Here’s how to sign up.
The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the individual author/interviewee and do not represent the views of SAL Group or its subsidiaries.
