Raised voices at LawSoc meeting; members call for release of full report on leadership failings

At a closed-door Law Society of Singapore (LawSoc) meeting on August 13, 2025, lawyers raised their voices amid allegations of workplace bullying and leadership failings. Approximately 200 lawyers attended the meeting, which began at 5:30pm and concluded at 9:30pm. Several lawyers demanded the full report be released to members, threatening to call for an extraordinary general meeting if their demand was not met.

Any 25 members can request an extraordinary general meeting. The inquiry stemmed from an anonymous email sent to the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Manpower on September 13, 2025, alleging serious and widespread misconduct within LawSoc from 2022 to 2025. This included inappropriate workplace conduct, weak governance, flawed grievance handling, and shortcomings in internal controls.

Additionally, an online post that month alleged workplace bullying at LawSoc. About a third of the organization's 70 full-time employees had resigned in 2025, according to former and current staff. Law Minister Edwin Tong stated that the investigation found significant leadership, workplace culture, and governance failings. However, no evidence of intentional financial impropriety or cover-up was uncovered.

The full report was not revealed to members but was submitted to the LawSoc council, which instructed the society's finance department to review travel protocols. On August 7, a petition was launched, urging LawSoc to share the findings to enable members to form their own opinions. LawSoc's chairman and the audit committee, comprising both members and non-members, conducted an independent investigation, which was submitted to the council on June 5 and forwarded to the Ministry of Law on July 1. The council acknowledged the report's findings and started implementing its recommendations.