Junior Lawyers Professional Certification Programme
Beyond theory, mastering practice
Status
Open for Application
Suitable for
0-5 years PQE
Why JLP ?
Practical Skills-Building
Develop critical problem-solving abilities, infused with ethics training and cutting-edge technology.
Expert Faculty
Hands-On Practice
Guidance for Specialisation
Cross-Border Exposure
Curated Resources
Access specially created and curated resources to support your professional growth.
Announced at the Opening of the Legal Year 2024, the Junior Lawyers Professional Certification Programme (JLP) is designed to equip junior lawyers—those with less than five years of post-qualification experience (PQE)—with essential skills for modern legal practice. The programme offers practical training in disputes and corporate practice, imparts management skills, and reinforces the core principles of professional ethics.
Speaking at the Opening of the Legal Year 2025, The Honourable the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon highlighted the importance of the initiative: "The JLP is designed to help young lawyers develop the practical skills necessary for modern legal practice, and will be launched in May. This is a promising initiative, and I encourage young lawyers to enrol in the JLP, and I ask the law firms to afford their junior colleagues the time and opportunity to fully participate in the programme."
The JLP addresses critical challenges faced by junior lawyers during their formative years, including the impact of AI on the profession and the diminishing opportunities for in-person collegial learning following the pandemic years. As an industry-wide initiative, the JLP supports the growth and development of the next generation of legal professionals.
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.
The seats for the Masterclasses are limited. Registration will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis.
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.
Programme Overview
| Time | Programme | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.00AM-9.30AM | Registration | ||
| 9.30 AM-9.40AM | Welcome Address | ||
| 9.40AM-11.00AM | Opening Lecture by CJ | ||
| Fireside chat with CJ | |||
| 11AM-11.10AM | Announcement of Training Pledge | ||
| 11.10AM-11.40AM | Tea Break | ||
| 11.40AM-12.40PM | Panel with Members of the International Advisory Panel | ||
| 12.40PM-2PM | Lunch | ||
| 2PM-3.30PM | Attendees to choose 1 of the following 3 options | ||
| Masterclass 1 : Ethics of Gen AI | Masterclass 2: Lifelong Learning Agility | Masterclass 3: Crisis Communications |
|
| 3.30PM-3.40PM | Closing Address | ||
| 3.40PM-4.10PM | Closing Tea and Networking Session | ||
Mandatory
JLP Opening Conference
Keynote by 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.
- 3.5 hours
- Complimentary with JLP Opening Conference Registration
- Session 1: Face-to-Face
- 4.30pm - 6pm
- 1.5hrs
- 11 June 2025 or 3 September 2025
- Session 2: Virtual Session
- 4pm - 6pm
- 2hrs
- 2 July 2025 or 24 September 2025
Essential Skills
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.
- 1 Day
- $800
- 22 Oct 2025
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 July 2025
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
- 19 - 20 June 2025 and 3 - 4 November 2025
Client Management
Get equipped with essential client management skills, focusing on practical aspects such as AML/KYC issues, client interviews, and dealing with difficult cliets.
- 1 Day
- $800
- 8 July 2025
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
- 5 - 6 November 2025
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 September 2025
Disputes
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 September 2025
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 October 2025
Application Advocacy
Get equipped with essential skills to effectively prepare for and argue applications in court.
- 2 Days
- $1,600
- 10 - 11 December 2025
Trials
Gain practical skills in preparing for, dealing with and assisting in trial proceedings.
- 2 Days
- $1,600
- 19 - 20 May 2026
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
- 26 August 2026 (1 Day) and 27 August 2026 (0.5 Days)
Appeals
Gain essential and practical skills required to prepare for and handle a civil appeal.
- 1 Day
- $800
- 15 September 2026
Costs and Enforcement
Get equipped with a thorough understanding of P&P and S&C cots, and enforcement of judgements and awards, blending legal theory with practical skills to prepare them for the challenges they may face in their work.
- 1 Day
- $800
- 14 October 2026
Corporate
Translating Corporate Governance Principles into Legal Frameworks
Get equipped with the skills to advise clients on corporate governance issues, and how to balance ethical considerations with the rights of relevant stakeholders, and to comply with the prevailing regulations.
- 1 Day
- $800
- 22 July 2025
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 August 2025
Acquiring Practical Skills in Contract Drafting
Learn ethical considerations, key drafting principles, and te 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
- 26 - 27 August 2025
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
- 27 October 2025
Applying Tech Law in Practice
Learn about ethical issues in tech law, cybersecurity, PDPA, and e-commerce law in Singapore. Explore data protection regulations and notable developments in AI.
- 1 Day
- $800
- 7 November 2025
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
- 12 November 2025 (Day 1) and 13 November 2025 (Day 2)
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
- 14 November 2025
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.
The JLP course fees can be self-funded or funded by a sponsoring law firm.
To better support our members, we hope to obtain Skills Future (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.