Mr Vijayendran, 48, is the first non-senior counsel to be elected to them helm of the Law Society of Singapore in over a decade. A partner at Rajah & Tann, Mr Vijayendran earned the Law Society’s inaugural Pro Bono Ambassador award in 2009 and was chosen as the recipient of Washington-based Advocates International’s Good Samaritan award in 2008. Commitment to pro bono work was the cornerstone of his bid to secure the Society’s presidency: ‘We will not lose the heart of pro bono services. That is the jewel in our crown. Our pro bono – including Criminal Legal Aid Scheme – champions improved access to justice by touching one life at a time’ he said last month during his campaign.

Other appointments

Several other positions were filled by the Society’s 21-member council this week. Legal Clinic LLC director Kuah Boon Teng and Morgan Lewis Stamford partner Adrian Tan have been elected as vice presidents, while Allen & Gledhill partner Dhillon Dinesh Singh has been named treasurer. Current president Senior Counsel Thio Shen Yi will remain with the Law Society next year as the immediate past president.

Sources: The Straits Times; Asian Legal Business