NUS Law formalises Clinical Clerkship Programme with State Courts

On 14 November 2019, NUS Law signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the State Courts of Singapore to formalise the Clinical Clerkship Programme. The MOU signing was witnessed by The Honourable the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon ’86.

The Clinical Clerkship Programme was piloted two years ago with NUS Law and extended to SMU Law School this year to give law students the opportunity to experience judicial work and gain a practical insight into the operation of the judicial system.

Students are supervised by two senior judges of the State Courts – the Deputy Presiding Judge and the Senior District Judge. At the end of the programme, the students would have acquired a different perspective of legal work and their legal studies, through personalised interaction with judges, working on actual cases and experiencing them through the eyes of a sitting judge. They would also have gained a deeper understanding of the criminal justice process, which would help them in deciding if they wish to pursue a career in criminal litigation.

Professor Simon Chesterman (Dean, NUS Law) said, “Clinics are an increasingly important part of legal education, giving students the chance to see law in action as well as law in the books. The State Courts Clerkship programme will offer invaluable insights into judicial work that will make them better advocates and practitioners. I also hope that they will make substantive contributions to the work of the Courts. My colleagues and I are deeply grateful for the hard work and dedication that has gone into developing this programme, and the trust that it demonstrates in the quality of our students.”