SUSS School of Law

The Singapore University of Social Sciences School of Law (SUSS School of Law) is an autonomous school of Singapore University of Social Sciences. It was established as Singapore's third law school in 2017 after the NUS Faculty of Law and the SMU School of Law. The school was established to address the shortage of practitioners in family and criminal law.[1] In 2018, it was reported that of the 60 pioneer SUSS law students, seven have dropped out or deferred their studies setting the attrition rate at 10%.[2]

Singapore University of Social Sciences School of Law
Sekolah Undang-undang Universiti Sains Kemasyarakatan Singapura  (Malay)
新跃社科大学法学院 (Chinese)
TypeAutonomous University
EstablishedJanuary 2017
Parent institution
Singapore University of Social Sciences
DeanProfessor Leslie Chew, SC
Location
463 Clementi Road, Singapore 599494

1°19′45″N 103°46′35″E
CampusSuburban
Clementi Campus
Colours 
Websitewww.suss.edu.sg/about-suss/school/SLAW/Pages/introduction.aspx

It offers a four to six years undergraduate Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree programme, and a three to six years graduate Juris Doctor (JD) programme.[3] The school also offers the Master of Taxation (MTax) programme in collaboration with the Tax Academy of Singapore (TA).[4]

History

2013

In June 2013, then Senior Minister of State for Law and Education Indranee Rajah initiated to fill the shortage of family and criminal lawyers from mid-career professionals through the third law school. Then SIM University (UniSIM) before it was restructured into the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) were among the institutions shortlisted to house the third law school. [5]

In October 2013, then Education Minister Heng Swee Keat announced during UniSIM’s convocation that the University was selected to house the third law school due to its track record of offering degree programmes for working adults and current offerings in humanities and the social sciences [6] Subsequently, then Law Minister K. Shanmugam clarified that students in the third law school will be trained holistically and not restricted to family and criminal Law only. Eventually, most of the graduates will pursue family and criminal law. It is also not fair to name the school as second class. [7]

In November 2013, the Ministry of Law (MinLaw) setup the 12-member steering committee to guide the development of the UniSIM law school. The committee was chaired by then Senior Minister of State for Education and Law Indranee Rajah, and composed of legal experts such as criminal lawyer Subhas Anandan, chief prosecutor Tai Wei Shyong, then chief district judge See Kee Oon, and Mr Noor. Other members include Valerie Thean, Cheong Hee Kiat, Raja Kumar s/o Thamny Rajah, Amarjeet Singh, Foo Fiew Fong and Narayanan Sreenivasan. [8]

2016

In February 2016, the MinLaw announced that 50 to 60 places were offered to the law school’s first intake for January 2017. 80 per cent of the intake will be allocated for mature students and the remaining for fresh school leavers. Students have to complete the course curriculum that is modular and credit based. The programme is practice-oriented, multidisciplinary and focus on applied research. Admission into the programme is based on academic credentials, aptitude, attitude and interest to pursue family and criminal law. There will be offerings in Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Juris Doctor (JD) programmes. [9]

The school intends to eventually locate in the State and or Family Justice Courts to conduct practical learning. [9]

Despite previous recommendations from the steering committee to conduct conversion course for law graduates with external law degrees not on the list of approved overseas institutions to become full-fledged lawyers, this concluded with the course not being offered.[10]

In October 2016, UniSIM informed that the law school has filled all 60 places for its two law programmes, from close to 400 applications. The school accepted 27 applicants for its LLB programme, and 33 for the JD programme.[11]

2017

In January 2017, SUSS School of Law started with an initial intake of 60 students.[12]

References
  1. "New school's cohort urged to focus on family, criminal law". The Strait Times. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
  2. "SUSS law school's pioneer batch sees 10% attrition". suss.edu.sg. Retrieved 2018-09-11.
  3. "Law Programmes". suss.edu.sg. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
  4. "Master of Taxation". suss.edu.sg. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
  5. "Hope for new law school: Generalists, specialists" (PDF). straitstimes. Retrieved 2018-09-04.
  6. "UniSIM to house third law school in Singapore". straitstimes. Retrieved 2018-09-04.
  7. "Students from third law school not second class: Shanmugam". Retrieved 2018-09-04.
  8. "Steering committee for UniSIM law school unveiled" (PDF). Retrieved 2018-09-04.
  9. "Singapore's third law school to accept students from Jan 2017". Retrieved 2018-09-04.
  10. "No conversion course for external law degree holders". Retrieved 2018-09-04.
  11. "All 60 places filled in S'pore's third law school". Retrieved 2018-09-04.
  12. "Singapore University of Social Sciences to offer more full-time degree courses, places". The Strait Times. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
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