{
  "id": 13318998,
  "title": "S’porean lawyer wins global award for parliamentary work, advocacy for groups like migrant workers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/sporean-lawyer-wins-global-award-for-parliamentary-work-advocacy-for",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-10T04:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Straits Times",
    "slug": "straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/sporean-lawyer-wins-global-award-for-parliamentary-work-advocacy-for-groups-like-migrant-workers"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Singaporean lawyer Charmaine Yap has been awarded the International Bar Association's Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year for her parliamentary work and advocacy for vulnerable groups. Yap spent much of her birthdays working on the Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, which protects donors from certain liabilities. She served as legislative assistant to former MP Louis Ng, who introduced the Bill in Parliament in 2020. Ng and Yap worked to draft the legislation for years, consulting with various stakeholders, including public consultations and discussions with civil servants. Yap took a 20% pay cut to devote more time to the project, sacrificing her usual work weeks. Former deputy speaker Charles Chong praised Yap's efforts, noting that she has gone beyond her conventional career for public interest work. Yap's recognition highlights the potential for young Singaporean lawyers to make meaningful contributions to the legal profession and community.",
  "summary": "After nine years as a legislative assistant to an MP, she hopes to find her own voice.",
  "key_points": [
    "Singaporean lawyer Charmaine Yap wins International Bar Association award",
    "Award for her parliamentary work and advocacy for vulnerable groups",
    "Yap cut pay by 20% to focus on Good Samaritan Food Donation Act"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Charmaine Yap's award shows that taking an unconventional path in a legal career to focus on public interest work can lead to recognition and meaningful contributions to the community.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}