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 lawyers 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.
CPD and MEC 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.
Sign up module-by-module, and 50-70% SSG funding is available for all modules (except the Mandatory module) whether you are a self-paying or organisation-sponsoreed. Check out the Course Fees tab for more information.
JLP participants are entitled to free 1:1 career coaching (U.P $199) with SAL’s Panel of Career Coaches.
JLP certifications will be awarded to participants who complete the JLP. To complete the JLP, participants must attend one mandatory module (eg, the 2025 Opening Conference or the Lawyer Up! 2026, 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.
Download the Module Catalogue in PDF (ver 2 Jan 2026) here
Mandatory
Lawyer Up! 2026
Lawyer UP! 2026 is the Singapore Academy of Law’s flagship one-day professional development event designed to power up your legal career. The programme invites you to take ownership of your career growth. Through keynotes, panel discussions and masterclasses, Lawyer UP! 2026 brings together practical insights and introduces SAL’s tools and initiatives to support you in ‘lawyering up’ at different stages of your careers.
- The Honourable Justice Debbie Ong, speaking on SAL’s vision for professional development.
- Deputy Attorney-General Goh Yihan SC, delivering the closing address.
- Professor Andy J. Yap, Associate Professor, INSEAD, speaking on leadership communication.
- Peggy Yee, Director of PY Legal LLC and Singaporean of the Year finalist, reflecting on redefining success in law.
- Yip Pin Xiu, Singaporean Paralympic swimmer and seven-time gold medalist, sharing lessons on resilience and sustaining peak performance under pressure.
- 1 Day
- 399
- 27 April 2026
- 6.0 MEC Points
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
- 20 April 2026
- 7 Public CPD Points (Incl 2.5 MEC)
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
- 3 - 4 August 2026
- 11.5 Public CPD Points (Incl 4 MEC)
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
- 3 September 2026
- 8 Public CPD Points (Incl 7 MEC)
Effective Business Negotiations
Learn to navigate legal, regulatory, and cultural differences, with a focus on cross-cultural communication and negotiation techniques.
- 1 Day
- $800
- 1 October 2026
- TBC
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
- 28-29 May 2026
- 13 Public CPD Points
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
- 19-20 May 2026
- 11 Public CPD Points (Incl 2 MEC)
Discovery and Document Management
Maintain professional ethics, implement strategies for efficient document review and management, leverage technology, and draft discovery plans.
- 1 Day
- $800
- 7 August 2026
- 6 Public CPD Points (Incl 1 MEC)
Application Advocacy
Get equipped with essential skills to effectively prepare for and argue applications in court.
- 2 Days
- $1,600
- 18-19 August 2026
- 14.5 Public CPD Points (Incl 1.5 MEC)
Trials
Gain practical skills in preparing for, dealing with and assisting in trial proceedings.
- 1.5 Days
- $1,200
- 26-27 August 2026
- 14 Public CPD Points (Incl 1.5 MEC)
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.
- 2 Days
- $1,600
- 1-2 September 2026
- 10 Public CPD Points (Incl 2 MEC)
Appeals
Gain essential and practical skills required to prepare for and handle a civil appeal.
- 1 Day
- $800
- 15 September 2026
- 7.5 Public CPD Points (Incl 1 MEC)
Costs and Enforcement
Get equipped with a thorough understanding of P&P and S&C costs, 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
- 8 April 2026
- 5.5 Public CPD Points (Incl 1 MEC)
Fireside Chat: Ethical Best Practices in Dispute Resolution Guide
The Ethical Best Practices in Dispute Resolution Guide, which was launched on 15 October 2025, sets out best practices and ideal standards specific to disputes work. Join us as the authors explain the Guide, with a discussion moderated by the Honourable Justice Valerie Thean.
- 2 hours
- $80
- 8 Jan 2026
- 1.5 Public MEC Points
Fireside Chat with the Chief Justice: The Art of Appellate Advocacy
At the Legal Profession Symposium, the Chief Justice stated that amendments would be introduced to the Supreme Court Practice Directions 2021 to provide junior litigators with a greater role in oral advocacy: “Among other things, for appeals in the General Division of the High Court (or "General Division") and all hearings before the Appellate Division, the Court of Appeal and the Court of Three Judges, junior assisting counsel will now be “ordinarily expected” to make part of the oral submissions.”
Join us for an exclusive 2-hour conversation with Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon as he shares unique insights into the craft of appellate advocacy — from persuasive written submissions to impactful courtroom delivery. Whether you’re an aspiring junior counsel, a seasoned litigator, or simply passionate about the art of persuasion, this is your chance to hear first-hand from the Chief Justice on what truly makes an advocate effective at the appellate level.
- 2 hours
- $80
- 15 April 2026
- 1.5 Public CPD Points (Incl 1 MEC)
Corporate
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
- 24 July 2026
- 6.5 Public CPD Points
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
- 20 - 21 July 2026
- 10 Public CPD Points (Incl 1 MEC)
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
- 23 July 2026
- 6 Public CPD Points
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
- 27 July 2026
- 6.5 Public CPD Points
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.
- 1 Day
- $800
- 10 November 2026
- 6.5 Public CPD Points (Incl 0.5 MEC)
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
- 22 July 2026
- 6 Public CPD Points (incl 0.5 MEC)
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
- 3 August 2026
- 6 Public CPD Points (Incl 1 MEC)
To better support our members, we have obtained SkillsFuture (SSG) Course Fee Funding for the JLP Elective modules, which would allow eligible participants or sponsoring law firms to enjoy subsidies of up to 70%.
For sponsoring organisations that fall within the definition of a Small Medium Enterprise (SME), please ensure that you 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 https://skillsfuture.gobusiness.gov.sg for further information on the SME criteria.
If you have any questions or require assistance in respect of registrations, please email [email protected].
SAL Legal Faculty
Trainers, Guest Speakers & Panellists
International Advisory Panel
Fiireside Chat with The Honourable the Chief Justice
We were honoured to host an enlightening Fireside Chat with The Honourable the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon — The Art of Appellate Advocacy on 15 April 2026.
Moderated by Leow Jiamin, SAL Deputy Director, the session offered an in-depth, behind-the-bench exploration of the principles of appellate advocacy and how these differ from trial advocacy.
The Honourable the Chief Justice shared valuable insights into how the best advocates move beyond mere legal technicalities to master the nuances of persuasion at the highest levels of the judiciary, alongside personal anecdotes from his long and distinguished legal career.
Some of the key takeaways included:
- The power of the brief: why written submissions are the foundation of any successful appeal.
- The “Conversation” with the Bench: shifting from a prepared speech to a dynamic dialogue during oral arguments.
- Precision and ethics: the duty of an advocate to assist the court in reaching the correct legal conclusion.
We are deeply grateful to the Chief Justice for taking the time to interact with, and share his professional expertise with, the current generation of legal practitioners. We are certain that many of the attendees came away from the session with greater clarity about what it takes to excel and succeed in appellate advocacy.
JLP Participant / Registrant Perks!
Are you a JLP Participant or Registrant?
You are invited to join us for the following Fireside Chat for free! Sign up here.
[Run over, watch this space for the next seminar!] You are invited to join us for the following Fireside Chat for free! Sign up here.
[Run over, watch this space for the next seminar!] You are invited to join us for the following LinkedIn & Beyond seminar for free! Sign up at https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/MB4mAKdQkR
The JLP was launched on 21 May 2025 at the ParkRoyal Collection Marina Bay.
Among the highlights of the conference were an Opening Lecture delivered by the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, as well as an inspiring fireside chat with the Chief Justice moderated by our Chief Executive Yeong Zee Kin. That was followed by an engaging panel discussion with members of the International Advisory Panel on Reflective Practice.
We also launched the SAL Training Pledge, an invitation to firms and legal organisations to affirm their commitment to investing in the next generation. For more information on this, please click here.
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