About the JLP
Announced by the Chief Justice of Singapore at the Opening of the Legal Year 2024, the Junior Lawyers Professional Certification Programme (JLP) will equip lawyers of less than 5 years of post-qualification experience (PQE) with practical skills for disputes or corporate practice, impart management skills, and reinforce principles of professional ethics.
As an industry-wide learning and development programme, the JLP will address issues affecting the development of forensic and legal skills during the formative years of junior legal professionals, such as the impact of AI and the lack of in-person collegial learning coming out of the pandemic years.
Who Can Apply?
The JLP is open to lawyers and in-house counsel who have been called to the Singapore Bar, with 0-5 years PQE.
JLP Opening Conference
We are thrilled to announce the opening conference and launch of the JLP, set to take place on 21 May 2025.
This landmark event will bring together legal professionals, thought leaders, and advocates from around the globe to foster collaboration and enhance the education and professional journey of junior lawyers.
Key highlights of this event include a keynote address delivered by the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, and an inspiring fireside chat with him on exploring sustainability in legal practice.
Conference participants will also be able to attend one of the three legal masterclasses led by renowned practitioners. These interactive sessions will provide hands-on experience and an in-depth exploration of essential topics.
Masterclass Topic 1 – Ethics of Gen AI
Masterclass Topic 2 – Lifelong Learning Agility
Masterclass Topic 3 – Crisis Communications
Registrants will also attend the 'Self-Leadership for Young Lawyers' session, which will be held on a separate day. Additional information will be provided separately.
*Participants who wish to register for the full JLP course must register for and attend the JLP Conference.
Hallmarks of JLP
JLP Curriculum Details
JLP modules will progressively open for registration on the LawNet website from 15 November 2024 onwards.
Note: Where the exact date is not stated, the module is tentatively scheduled for that month and will be confirmed in due course.
|
S.No |
Module and Outline |
Duration | Course Fee | Module Date |
| 1 |
[Mandatory] JLP Opening Conference – Keynote by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon and Panel Discussion with JLP International Advisory Panel members, Masterclasses. |
1 Day | $800 |
21 May 2025 |
|
Self-Leadership for Young Lawyers: Taking Charge of your Work Life This programme aims to help young lawyers to develop their self-leadership and confidence to support a more enjoyable, effective, and sustainable career in the legal profession. The sessions will be interactive and include a practical exercise or discussion to help participants learn how to apply the principles of the module |
1.5hrs x 2 sessions |
Session 1 (choose 1 only): 11 Jun 2025 or 3 Sep 2025 and Session 2 (choose 1 only): 18 Jun 2025 or 24 Sep 2025 |
||
| Essential Skills | ||||
| 2 |
Legal Innovation Understand legal innovation, map your organisation's tech footprint, and apply legal tech tools and generative AI in practice. Maintain ethical standards, optimize legal processes, and use legal design thinking to solve problems. (PwC) |
1 Day | $800 | 22 Oct 2025 |
| 3 |
Understanding the Business of Law Learn how to position law firms and practice areas effectively, understand the fundamentals of the business of law, develop skills to become a trusted adviser, and master client pitch techniques. |
2 Days | $1,600 | 28-29 Jul 2025 |
| 4 |
Negotiations and Conflict Management Learn to navigate legal, regulatory, and cultural differences, with a focus on cross-cultural communication and negotiation techniques. Review contracts for legal coherence and manage cross-border agreements and transactions. |
2 Days | $1,600 | May 2026 |
| 5 |
Client Management Get equipped with essential client management skills, focusing on practical aspects such as AML/KYC issues, client interviews, and dealing with difficult clients. |
1 Day | $800 | 4 Jun 2025 |
| 6 |
Understanding Financial Statements Gain a practical, hands-on approach to understanding financial statements, tailored specifically to the needs of young corporate and litigation lawyers. |
2 Days | $1,600 | 4-5 Nov 2025 |
| 7 |
Matter Management Learn how to coordinate legal matters, understand Singapore's legal processes, matter management tools, and document systems, while applying best practices in workflow, collaboration and ethics. |
1 Day | $800 | 30 Sep 2025 |
| Disputes | ||||
| 8 |
Starting an Action Get equipped with essential and practical skills required to advise and assist clients dealing with the onset of a dispute. |
2 Days | $1,600 | 17-18 Sep 2025 |
| 9 |
Discovery and Document Management Maintain professional ethics, implement strategies for efficient document review and management, leverage technology, and draft discovery plans. |
1 Day | $800 | 8 Oct 2025 |
| 10 |
Application Advocacy Get equipped with essential skills to effectively prepare for and argue applications in court. |
2 Days | $1,600 | 10 - 11 Dec 2025 |
| 11 |
Trials Gain practical skills in preparing for, dealing with and assisting in trial proceedings. |
2 Days | $1,600 | May 2026 |
| 12 |
Cross-Examination and Experts Develop essential and practical skills required to cross-examine witnesses in court proceedings, and how to deal with experts and use expert evidence in the course of a dispute. |
1.5 Days | $1,200 | Aug 2026 |
| 13 |
Appeals Gain essential and practical skills required to prepare for and handle a civil appeal. |
1 Day | $800 | Sep 2026 |
| 14 |
Costs and Enforcement Get equipped with a thorough understanding of P&P and S&C costs, and enforcement of judgments and awards, blending legal theory with practical skills to prepare them for the challenges they may face in their work. |
1 Day | $800 | Oct 2026 |
| Corporate | ||||
| 15 |
Dealing with Practical Issues in Due Diligence Learn the legal due diligence process, manage risks, avoid common pitfalls, and prepare comprehensive reports with risk management recommendations. |
1 Day | $800 | 23 Jun 2025 |
| 16 |
Advising Clients on Deal Structures Explore ethical issues, basic deal design structures, and factors influencing deal structure. Examine contractual and cross-border issues and understand the role of deal lawyers in managing these elements. |
2 Days | $1,600 | 6-7 Aug 2026 |
| 17 |
Acquiring Practical Skills in Contract Drafting Learn ethical considerations, key drafting principles, and the use of commercial precedents and boilerplate clauses. Focus on enhancing clarity, avoiding pitfalls, and structuring contracts for better enforceability and value. |
1.5 Days | $1,200 |
27 Aug 2026 (1 day) and 2 Sep 2026 (0.5 days) |
| 18 |
Cross-border Contract Drafting and Negotiation Get introduced to cross-border contracts and civil law concepts, with a focus on cross-cultural communication and negotiation. Learn to review contracts for legal coherence and gain practical advice on managing cross-border agreements. |
1 Day | $800 | 25 Aug 2025 |
| 19 |
Translating Corporate Governance Principles into Legal Frameworks Explore ethical dilemmas faced by directors, navigate shareholder rights and corporate governance regulations, and learn to set up compliance programs. Advise clients on regulatory enforcement and penalties, with case studies on governance issues |
1 Day | $800 | Jun 2026 |
| 20 |
Applying Tech Law in Practice Learn about ethical issues in tech law, cybersecurity, PDPA, digital assets, and e-commerce law in Singapore. Explore payment systems, consumer protection, and digital payment regulations, with case studies on digital assets and e-commerce disputes. |
1 Day | $800 | Oct 2026 |
| 21 |
An Introduction to Navigating ESG Get a comprehensive understanding of ESG issues and the legal frameworks surrounding them, with a focus on practical applications and the challenges they may encounter in their legal practice. |
1 Day | $800 | Jul 2026 |
JLP Certification
JLP certifications will be awarded to participants who complete the JLP. To complete the JLP, participants must attend the JLP Opening Conference (including one of the Masterclasses), plus any other 11 modules, within a 2-year period.
A JLP (Disputes) certification will be awarded to participants who complete the JLP and have attended at least 4 disputes modules. Likewise, a JLP (Corporate) certification will be awarded to participants who complete the JLP and have attended at least 4 corporate modules. All other participants who complete the JLP will obtain a general JLP certification.
Course Fees
The JLP course fees can be self-funded or funded by sponsoring law firm.
To better support our members, we hope to obtain SkillsFuture (SSG) Course Fee Funding for the JLP modules, which would allow eligible participants or sponsoring law firms to enjoy subsidies of up to 70%.
Law firms which fall within the definition of a Small Medium Enterprise (SME) and intend to sponsor their junior lawyers for the JLP should ensure that they have completed the SME Declaration in the Enterprise Portal for Jobs and Skills (EPJS) in order to enjoy the maximum SSG funding.
Please refer to the SkillsFuture website for further information on the SME criteria: https://skillsfuture.gobusiness.gov.sg
Please stay tuned for further updates.
CPD Points
It is intended that all JLP modules be accredited with CPD points. For relevant portions of the modules, CPD Mandatory Ethics points will be awarded. More information will be shared later once approval has been obtained from SILE.
JLP Taster Modules
The JLP Taster Modules aims to provide participants a taste of the various modules. Through this preview, participants are expected to gain a broad overview of the key concepts and practical knowledge which they can apply in their work and beyond.
|
The Business of Lawyering |
27 November: 12.00 - 1.30 pm |
|
Contract Drafting (Two Days) |
Completed |
|
Starting An Action (Two Days) |
Completed |
|
Appeals (Two Days) |
Completed |
|
Deal Structuring (Two Days) |
Completed |
|
Financial Accounting for Junior Lawyers |
Completed |
|
Legal Perspectives on ESG in Singapore |
Completed |
|
Diversity and Inclusive Leadership in Practice |
Completed |
|
Negotiating Your Way to Success |
Completed |
|
Contract Drafting - An Overview |
Completed |
Module dates and outline are tentative and subject to changes.
Join Our Upcoming Sessions
Register your interest to our upcoming sessions.
Contribute to Our Programme
Register your interest to contribute to our programme. Opportunities include:
- Provide ideas, inputs and feedback on curriculum.
- Be an adjunct faculty (trainer or facilitator).
For more information, contact [email protected].
