The Harry Elias Partnership LLP National Law Debates 2012

The Grand Finals of Singapore's only law debate Competition for Junior Colleges at the National level were held on Saturday, 9th June, at The Arts House on Old Parliament Lane.

This Competition which recreates real-life scenarios faced by litigation lawyers in our Courtrooms came to a climax before a Panel of Distinguished Judges, who are leading litigators in their own right and Partners of the Firm, namely: Mr Michael Palmer (who is also the Speaker of Parliament), Mr S Suressh and Mr Andy Lem.

The Harry Elias Partnership LLP National Law Debates, now in its Second Year, is one of the most rigorous debating tournaments on the local debate circuit in Singapore today. This is because participants from the Junior Colleges not only have to excel in terms of oratorical and argumentative skills but also have to integrate these skills with freshly acquired legal knowledge and principles, and apply them to a real legal issue relevant to Singapore today.

Philip Fong, Managing Partner says, "Harry Elias Partnership is pleased to be the Prime Mover in this initiative to equip Junior College students with legal argumentation skills and knowhow at an early age. While other law firms have focused on collaborating exclusively with universities and tertiary institutions to organize such mooting competitions and debates, we believe that there is a place for our younger generation to gain awareness of the legal landscape and present ideas and solutions of their own. Indeed, the National Law Debates is and has been another notable and worthy First by HEP. Apart from providing an interesting and challenging medium for our young boys and girls to train their mooting skills, the Competition also allows them to appreciate what it takes to be a good litigator and helps them make an informed decision in choosing to pursue a legal career."

In this Competition, teams from participating Junior College teams are first required to prepare written submissions supported by substantive research. Only a few teams get to advance to the next round which comprises oral submissions and arguments before sub-judging panels. Only the best two teams get to advance to the Grand Finals, where they not only have to argue against each other on the same motion but have to engage the Panel of Judges in answering their tough probing and insightful questions.

"Through this Tournament, we hope to generate in students not only an awareness and understanding of legal issues, but also the importance of thorough research, so as to make persuasive and compelling arguments backed by relevant evidence," said Jonathan Yuen, the Partner of the Firm who is driving the program.

The motion for this year's National Law Debates was: "Detention of persons without trial in Singapore is justified." The two Junior Colleges which had made it to the grand finals were Raffles Institution and Anglo-Chinese Junior College.

The event was a collaboration between Harry Elias Partnership LLP and junior colleges/Integrated Programme/International Baccalaureate schools in Singapore.