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THE AGC-LEGAL SERVICE ACADEMY’S HOLISTIC APPROACH TO L&D

From masterclasses with King’s Counsel to attachments with local firms – they do it all.

BY JOVERN TEO               

With its multiple roles as the government’s legal advisor, drafter of laws and public prosecutor, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) is a complex organisation of more than 600 officers. While the majority are Legal Service Officers (LSOs), there are also executives who support the AGC in everything from finance to communications. The Legal Service comprises both AGC LSOs as well as a further 200 LSOs residing in Government Ministries and Statutory Bodies. 

Training this diverse workforce is the remit of the AGC-Legal Service Academy, which was set up in 2017. Its executive director, Ms Sarah Lam, explains that all new legal officers take a mix of core modules that cut across various legal disciplines. They then enjoy a customised training roadmap that considers their seniority and area of work.

“Through a learning analysis, we identify competency gaps and develop training that caters to these,” she shares. For instance, the Legal Service’s Technology Law Cluster both receives and conducts specialised training for officers to understand the paradigm shift that IT developments bring to issues like IP. New prosecutors also undergo a comprehensive process to get them court-ready. “This highly rigorous training is conducted in three stages: first, a chance to observe their seniors, then conducting matters under supervision and finally, by conducting their own mentions, trials and eventually appeals.”

Such training is facilitated by leaders in the law, among them powerhouse arbitration practitioner, Ms Sapna Jhangiani KC. “She teaches advocacy and is also available for case consultations, ensuring learning is both theoretical and practical.”

And Sapna's not the only legal expert the Academy turns to — other King’s Counsel (KCs), academics and UK judges also regularly feature in its masterclasses and workshops for LSOs. “And we send our officers for attachments, where our panel of advisors consisting of KCs may mentor them directly or by proxy of their chamber.” These are complemented by attachments to commercial entities and local firms, giving our officers exposure to how they work. “It’s all about providing a holistic learning experience,” concludes Sarah.

Sarah spoke at a SAL-organised roundtable on building a learning culture in the workplace. Get in touch with SAL’s team of Learning and Professional Development specialists to better understand how you can champion such a culture in your own organisation, using tools such as LIFTED LinkedIn Learning. Write to [email protected] for more.