Singapore
Lawyers, volunteer mediators
recognised for role in society
taNya FoNG
tanyafong@mediacorp.com.sg
SINGAPORE — Even in the middle of
the night, matrimonial lawyer Wong
Chai Kin, 47, frequently receives calls
and SMS-es from “clients” who are
anxious about their court cases, and
she responds to each and every one
of them, no matter how late.
These clients are referred to her
from the Legal Aid Bureau (LAB), a
Ministry of Law agency dedicated
to providing pro bono legal advice
and help to those unable to afford it.
Each year, Ms Wong, who runs
her own law firm, takes on an aver-
age of 25 cases, hitting a record of
21-23OCT 2011
11AM - 9PM
32 last year. At times, she would
SINGAPORE EXPO HALL 4
receive emergency calls from the
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LAB to attend court the very next From left: dr Kadariah Maunah, Mr terence Lim and Ms Wong chai Kin.
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Photo by Wee tecK hiaN
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day on behalf of these clients.
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Yesterday, Ms Wong, who has 73 volunteers who are community Centre cases reach settlement.
been helping the LAB for the past mediators with the Community Debt counsellor and alterna-
2000 ELECTRONICS AND FOOD ITEMS PER DAY @ JUST $5 All pictures for illustration only.
1 item per customer.
15 years, received one of the two Mediation Unit, as well as lawyers tive doctor, Dr Kadariah Maunah,
LAB Distinguished Service Awards who contributed to the LAB, the In- 51, who received a Community Me-
DSLR KIT at the annual Ministry of Law ap- solvency and Public Trustee’s Office diation Unit award, said the most
preciation dinner for her outstand- and the Singapore Land Authority. fulfilling part of being a community
$599
ing contribution. Reiterating the important roles mediator was being able to help
Said Ms Wong, who has two played by community mediators in people in disputes “to resolve their
children, aged 15 and 17: “From society, Mr Shanmugam said: “Our issues amicably rather than resort
taking Legal Aid cases, you can see mediators should be proud of the to legal measures”.
without legal aid, they’ll truly be role that they play. It makes the Added 60-year-old grassroots
5.1 HOME THEATRE SYSTEM at a disadvantage. My satisfaction resolution of conflicts much easier, leader Terence Lim: “As community
comes from being able to help particularly those that really should mediators, we are trained to see the
where I truly can. The cases have not be seeing the light of day in root cause of the dispute. But we
$49
also helped me to gain a lot of ex- court ... our mediators play a fun- don’t provide solutions, but help the
posure to different aspects of my damental role in helping achieve a parties to come together and come
work as a matrimonial lawyer.” more harmonious society.” to an agreement. It’s very meaning-
Law Minister K Shanmugam Currently, an average of 70 per ful and helps improve my communi-
Limited stocks only. While stocks last. All pictures for illustration only. 1 set per customer. Price inclusive of GST. also awarded five law firms and cent of Community Mediation cation skills as a grassroots leader.”