SAL
Annual Lecture
The Singapore Academy of Law Annual Lecture is one of the Academy’s most distinguished traditions, serving as a platform for leading judicial figures to reflect on the evolving significance of law in society.
Inaugurated in 1994 with a landmark address by the late Lord Taylor of Gosforth (England and Wales), the Lecture has become a key event for members of the Academy. Each year, it features a distinguished jurist—often a sitting Chief Justice or President of a Supreme Court—who shares insights from the highest levels of judicial leadership.
Over more than three decades, the Lecture has addressed important issues such as judicial independence, the development of the common law, the impact of technology on legal systems, and the role of courts in upholding the rule of law.
Today, the Singapore Academy of Law Annual Lecture continues to bring together leaders of the judiciary and the legal profession, offering valuable perspectives on the ideas and responsibilities that shape justice in the modern era.
Annual Lectures from the Past Decade
2025
Judicial Independence in the Federalist System: Constitutional Judicial Review on the Powers of Federal Parliament and State Legislatures
by The Right Honourable Tun Tengku Maimun binti Tuan Mat (Malaysia)
2024
Oceans Apart? New Zealand’s Place in the Common Law Family
by The Right Honourable Dame Helen Winkelmann (New Zealand)
2023
Seven decades of the Indian Constitution: The Life of a Nation
by The Honourable Chief Justice Dr. D. Y. Chandrachud (India)
2022
Judicial Independence and the Modern World: A Canadian Perspective
by The Right Honourable Richard Wagner, P.C. (Canada)
2019
Judicial Review in Australia: The Protection and Power of Courts under the Australian Constitution
by The Honourable Chief Justice Susan Mary Kiefel AC, LLM (Australia)
2018
The Singapore Academy of Law: An Essential Dedication to Honour and Service
by The Honourable the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon
2017
Lawyers and the Public Interest: Is there still Honour in the Profession?
by The Honourable Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma Tao-li, GBM (Hong Kong)
2016
Cutting the Cloth to Fit the Dispute: Steps Towards Better Procedures Across the Jurisdictions
by The Right Honourable The Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd (England and Wales)