NUS Law celebrates the establishment of COV-AID

Bottom row (L-R): Ashleigh Gan ’22 (Editor), Mark Tang ’22 (Co-Founder), Anders Seah ’22 (Founder), Ryan Teo ’22 (Editor)
Middle row: Cheyenne Lim ’23 (Designer); Professor Alan Tan ’93 (Faculty Advisor); Alex Chia ’22 (Administrator)
Top row: Cheung Chun Man ’23 (Outreach Head); Bryan Foo ’23 (Publicity Head); Thomas Toh ’23 (Editing Head)

Amidst the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, NUS Law proudly celebrates our students’ efforts to establish a new pro bono project called COV-AID. COV-AID was born out of our students’ desire to play their part in helping the public comprehend the vast array of laws, regulations and legal issues arising from the pandemic. Launched on National Day on 9th August 2020, COV-AID pays tribute to our frontliners who are leading Singapore’s fight against the pandemic.

The COV-AID website serves as a comprehensive one-stop portal presenting explanations on navigating COVID-19-related laws, government grants and relief programmes. Another unique feature is Academics on Pandemics, which showcases thought leadership essays authored by NUS Law academics and guest professors on how COVID-19 has disrupted lives and the economy. Notable essays include contributions by NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye, Ambassador Tommy Koh ’61, NUS Law Dean Simon Chesterman, Professor Iris Chiu ’97 and Assistant Professors Tan Hsien-Li PhD ’09 and Tan Zhong Xing ’12. The third flagship feature is Conversations with Lawyers, presenting interviews with top lawyers on how the pandemic affects their work and the future of legal practice. Speakers include President of the Law Society Gregory Vijayendran ’92, Malathi Das ’92, Connie Heng ’95, Shirin Tang ’00, Daryl Chew ’06, Aidil Zulkifli ’10 and Seow Tzi Yang ’11.

The team behind COV-AID comprises the founder Anders Seah ’22, co-founder Mark Tang ’22 (both Law 3’s) and a core team of dedicated members advised by Professor Alan Tan ’93. The team, in turn, supervises nearly 80 law students involved in a variety of tasks, including researching laws and authoring guides on safe distancing, legal reliefs, Stay-at-Home Notices and the attendant policies on business, religious, construction, wedding, sporting and court activities. An outstanding feature of the project is the valuable experience gleaned by students in interacting with and interviewing nearly 20 leading lawyers on how the pandemic has affected areas of legal practice such as banking, family law, employment, construction, taxation, intellectual property, insolvency, competition and tech innovation.

Professor Alan Tan, in explaining the motivation behind COV-AID, says: “This project harnesses the amazing talent and energy of our NUS Law students, who have in turn tapped on the expertise of our professors, alumni and friends in the legal and academic communities to make an enduring contribution to the national and global fight against this crisis of our times.”

Follow COV-AID on social media for updates:

Website: https://www.nus-covaid.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nus.covaid.sg/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/nus-covaid
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nus.covaid/