Future SMU law students will be able to prepare for law competitions in a moot court, named after the late criminal lawyer and Singapore's first chief minister David Marshall. On Monday, a ground-breaking ceremony was held for the new School of Law building, where it will be located, between Armenian Street and Canning Rise The building is due to be ready by 2017. The law school will take in 180 students from this year, up from the 150 admitted to the course last year. SMU President Professor Arnoud De Meyer said that the building, when completed, will "foster closer ties among SMU's law students, alumni and the legal fraternity". SMU is about 1km from the Supreme Court and various law firms, and is "an ideal environment in a convenient location for students, alumni and fraternity to meet and interact", said Professor De Meyer.