Minister of Law Edwin Tong was the guest of honour at SMU’s ceremony welcoming incoming law students on 4 August 2026. In his remarks, Mr Tong said lawyers must be defined by their character, which means being responsible not only to their clients, but also to their obligations to the court and the administration of justice. He added that lawyers are expected to act with integrity even when it is inconvenient, to uphold the rule of law even when it is unpopular, and never to mislead the court, even if doing so might appear to be in the client’s interests. He also urged SMU law students to find a sense of purpose, pursue internships, and to venture abroad.
Source:
The Straits Times
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