SILE United Kingdom Working Trip 2025: Building Bridges and Laying Pathways

 

Introduction

The Singapore Institute of Legal Education (“SILE”)’s United Kingdom Working Trip 2025 (the “Working Trip”) spanned from 16 to 23 October 2025. This marked the SILE’s first overseas engagement trip in almost a decade. Accompanied by representatives from the Singapore Academy of Law (“SAL”) and the Ministry of Law, the SILE delegation engaged with students, universities, and institutions in the United Kingdom alike, to share recent developments in Singapore’s legal education and practice training landscape.  The Working Trip also sought to strengthen partnerships and foster pathways for students and professionals who are interested in practising law in Singapore, reaffirming Singapore’s role as a hub for legal education and practice.

Over eight days, the SILE delegation met with students and faculty members from various universities, namely, the Queen Mary University of London; University College London; the London School of Economics and Political Science; King’s College London; University of Bristol; University of Birmingham; and Durham University. On top of these visits, the SILE delegation also held sharing sessions at the University of Bristol, the University of Birmingham and Durham University.  Our flagship event – “No Holds Barred: In Conversation with Singapore-Called Lawyers in the UK” –  was held at King’s College London.

Across all its engagements, the delegation met with over 40 faculty and staff members, and interacted with more than 170 law students. The sessions provided valuable and insightful opportunities in understanding the students’ interests and concerns, as well as in addressing questions regarding the legal admissions process and professional pathways in Singapore.

Flagship Event at KCL – “No Holds Barred”

SILE’s flagship event, “No Holds Barred: In Conversation with Singapore-Called Lawyers in the UK” (“No Holds Barred”), was held at King’s College London. This comprised comprehensive briefings from both Ms. Rachel Tan, Executive Director of SILE, as well as Ms. Delphine Loo, Chief Legal Officer of SAL. These briefings not only covered the legal admissions process (including the Part A and Part B Bar Examinations), but also professional programmes and support, such as the Junior Lawyers Professional Certification Programme (JLP), SAL associate student memberships, and LIFTED.

No Holds Barred culminated in a rousing panel discussion, moderated by Associate Professor Eleanor Wong, Dean of SILE. The panel featured speakers Ms. Zeslene Mao (Counsel, WilmerHale), Mr. Ephraim Tan (Legal Associate, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank; Consultant, Santy Saptari Art Consulting), Mr. George Ge (Associate, Carey Olsen), and Mr. Darryl Chew (Senior Associate, Gateley PLC) – all Singapore-qualified lawyers, now based internationally. The panel reflected on their unique journeys to the Singapore Bar and beyond, while also delving into the intersections of love, meanders, and meaning as motivations for their careers. The event also drew a full house, with some attendees even travelling from as far as Nottingham and Durham to attend. The conversations enlivened the evening atmosphere, as the SILE delegation, panelists and attendees continued to exchange stories and advice.

No Holds Barred was truly a spirited day that brought together people from various parts of the Singapore-UK legal community. No Holds Barred also saw the strong presence and support of the UK Singapore Law Students’ Society (“UKSLSS”), as well as the Singapore High Commission in the UK.

SILE would like to acknowledge and express their gratitude to the KCL team, especially Ms. Shauna Creamer, as well as the UKSLSS team, for meeting with us and helping to organise No Holds Barred.

Queen Mary University of London (QMUL)

Some images are official event photos © QMUL School of Law (official); all rights reserved.

SILE visited the Queen Mary University of London, where the delegation gained insights into the role of pro bono work within QMUL. Discussions focused on the importance of experiential learning through university-linked legal aid centres, where students assist the community and handle live cases under supervision. The SILE delegation also had the honour of attending the QMUL Law School’s 60th Anniversary, where Lord Reed of Allermuir, President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, delivered a speech on the development and importance of law universities.

SILE extends its appreciation to Professor Alan Dignam KC (Professor of Corporate Law) and Professor Frances Ridout (Director of the Legal Advice Centre (Clinical Legal Education), Barrister & Professor of Clinical Legal Education and Pro Bono) for their time and hospitality. 

King’s College London (KCL)

The SILE delegation kickstarted its slate of formal meetings with an afternoon meeting, held with faculty members from King’s College London, including Professor Dan Hunter (Executive Dean, The Dickson Poon School of Law), Professor James Lee (Professor of English Law), Mr. Michael Butler (Director of the Professional Law Institute (PLI) and Senior Lecturer in Law), Dr. Darren Harvey (Senior Lecturer in Law and Director of Undergraduate Studies), and Dr. Fa Chen (Director of English Law & Hong Kong Law LLB and JD Programme, Lecturer in Corporate and Commercial Law). Discussions focused on areas such as the structure of KCL’s law curriculum, student demographics, as well as pedagogical approaches. The exchange also allowed the delegation to discuss the academic experiences of Singaporean students at KCL, explore potential areas of collaboration, and better understand how KCL supports students pursuing international legal pathways.

University College London (UCL)

The SILE delegation also had meetings with the faculty of University College London, namely, Professor Eloise Scotford (Professor of Environmental Law and Dean of the Faculty of Laws), Professor Matt Fisher (Professor of Industrial and Intellectual Property Law and Academic Director of Education) and Professor Olga Thomas (Vice-Dean, Education; Director of Education). The meeting covered areas such as the academic progress and integration of Singaporean students at UCL, as well as the university’s pedagogy, admissions processes, and student support systems. The delegation also gained a deeper insight into the pedagogy and admissions process at UCL, as well as how Singaporean law students may be supported during their time at UCL.

London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Beyond meeting with KCL and UCL, the SILE delegation also met with the team at the London School of Economics and Political Science, namely Professor Andrew Murray (Dean of LSE Law School, Professor of Law), Professor Veerle Heyvaert (Associate Dean of LSE Law School, Professor of Law), Professor Niamh Dunne (Director, Undergraduate Programmes, and Professor of Law), Ms. Elizabeth Holden (Careers Consultant, LSE Law School) and Ms. Fiona Thomas (Service Delivery Manager, Undergraduate Programmes). The meeting provided a comprehensive overview of various topics, including law student demographics and curriculum design, offering useful insights into trends in legal education and career pathways among LSE students.

University of Bristol

The SILE delegation visited the University of Bristol, for the event “From Bristol to the Bar: Practising Law in Singapore”. Despite taking place over a rainy Sunday evening, the delegation was heartened to see a huge turnout of eager law students. Mr. Valen Lim and Ms. Delphine Loo presented on behalf of the SILE and SAL respectively, speaking on the legal admissions process and also professional programmes and support available for students. The SILE delegation also took the opportunity to connect with the attendees on a one-to-one basis, providing advice and answering any queries. Bristol to the Bar was also strongly supported by the Bristol Malaysian and Singaporean Students Association (“Bristol MSSA”), whose assistance was invaluable in outreach and logistics.

The delegation also met with the Bristol faculty, including but not limited to Professor Catherine Kelly (Professor of Law and History, and Head of School), Professor Emma Hitchings (Professor of Family Law, and Deputy Head of School), Professor Ken Oliphant (Professor of Tort Law, and Emeritus Head of School), Professor Judy Laing (Professor of Mental Health Law, Rights and Policy and School International Director), Dr. Liang-Fong Wong (Professor of Regenerative Medicine and APVC Internationalisation), Professor Oliver Quick (Professor of Health Law and Policy and APVC International Partnerships & Reputation) and Ms. Susana Baez Devia (Law School International Officer). Discussions centred on areas such as developments in legal education, as well as the impact of technological innovation, including artificial intelligence, on legal training and professional standards. 

SILE extends its appreciation to the University of Bristol team, and especially Professor Oliver Quick and Ms. Susana Baez Devia, as well as the Bristol MSSA, for meeting with us and helping to organise Bristol to the Bar.

University of Birmingham Law School

The SILE delegation visited the University of Birmingham Law School for the event “Bridging Borders: Your Legal Career in Singapore”. Ms. Rachel Tan and Ms. Delphine Loo presented on behalf of the SILE and SAL respectively, regarding the legal admissions process, and also professional programmes and support. Students engaged actively, raising pertinent questions about qualification and practice, reflecting their strong interest in contributing to Singapore’s legal landscape. 

The delegation also met with the Birmingham faculty, including Professor Rilka Dragneva-Lewers (Dean of Birmingham Law School), Professor Lisa Webley (Law Commissioner for Property, Family & Trusts Law, and former Head of Birmingham Law School), Professor Helen Abbott (Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Head of the College of Arts & Law), Professor Aleksandra Cavoski (Professor of Environmental Law and Director of Global Engagement, College of Arts & Law), Professor Fiona de Londras (Director of Research, College of Arts & Law and Barber Professor of Jurisprudence), Professor Nelson Enonchong (Barber Professor of Law), and Professor Paul McConnell (Professor of Global Legal Education and Head of Global Engagement).

The discussions were constructive and wide-ranging, touching on developments in legal pedagogy, the preparation of returning Singaporean graduates for Bar admission, as well as the increasingly international nature of legal education. The delegation and the University also exchanged views on the evolving demands of the profession and the role of global legal education in nurturing adaptable, ethically grounded practitioners.

SILE would like to acknowledge and express their gratitude to the Birmingham law faculty, especially Professor Paul McConnell, for meeting with us and their invaluable support in organising Bridging Borders.

Durham University

Finally, on the final speaking engagement of the Working Trip, and upon receiving feedback from the UKSLSS, the SILE delegation made a trip up to Durham University to better meet the needs of our Singaporean law students based there, for the event, “Your Path to Practice in Singapore: Insights for Law Students. Held at the Palatine Centre, the venue was filled to the brim with students, leaving barely standing room for the delegation. Mr. Valen Lim and Ms. Delphine Loo presented on behalf of the SILE and SAL respectively, regarding each person’s unique legal journeys, the legal admissions process, and also professional programmes and support. It was encouraging for the SILE delegation to share with and listen to students regarding their law career journeys – it will always be heartening to see students indicate their strong desire to return to Singapore to practice.

SILE also met with the university faculty, including Professor Volkner Roeben (Dean), Professor Shaun Pattinson (Deputy Dean), Dr. Yili Dautaj, and Dr. Charles Chao Wang, where we discussed the unique LLB structure at Durham University, how students are prepared for practice, as well as the pedagogical and academic focus of the University.  SILE extends its thanks to the Durham team, including Professor Lei Chen (Deputy Dean for Strategic Development and Internationalisation) for meeting with us and/or helping to organise Your Path to Practice.

Engaging with Stakeholders

Beyond the speaking engagements with various universities, the SILE delegation also made it a priority to engage with members of the wider legal community and key stakeholders in the United Kingdom. On 18 October 2025, the delegation met with several Singaporean barristers based in London during a warm breakfast gathering hosted by the Ministry of Law. The event provided an excellent opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces, share professional updates, and strengthen ties within the Singapore Bar community abroad.

Last but not least, the SILE delegation also had an insightful visit to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Law Society of England and Wales, where they discussed topics such as recent regulatory developments, the evolution of professional assessment frameworks, and opportunities for mutual learning and collaboration. The meeting also served as a reaffirmation that, while the practice of law may be shaped by different jurisdictions, its spirit remains global and deeply interconnected.

Conclusion

Written by:

Valen Lim (Senior Assistant Director)

With assistance from our interns, Marcio Sandy Moniaga and Philemon Goh