Junior Lawyers Professional Certification Programme

About the JLP

Announced by the Chief Justice of Singapore at the Opening of the Legal Year 2024, the Junior Lawyers Professional Certification Programme (JLP) will equip lawyers of less than 5 years of post-qualification experience (PQE) with practical skills for disputes or corporate practice, impart management skills, and reinforce principles of professional ethics.  

As an industry-wide learning and development programme, the JLP will address issues affecting the development of forensic and legal skills during the formative years of junior legal professionals, such as the impact of AI and the lack of in-person collegial learning coming out of the pandemic years.  

Who Can Apply? 

The JLP is open to lawyers and in-house counsel who have been called to the Singapore Bar, with 0-5 years PQE. 

JLP Opening Conference 

We are thrilled to announce the opening conference and launch of the JLP, set to take place on 21 May 2025.  

This landmark event will bring together legal professionals, thought leaders, and advocates from around the globe to foster collaboration and enhance the education and professional journey of junior lawyers.  

Key highlights of this event include a keynote address delivered by the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, and an inspiring fireside chat with him on exploring sustainability in legal practice.  

Conference participants will also be able to attend one of the three legal masterclasses led by renowned practitioners. These interactive sessions will provide hands-on experience and an in-depth exploration of essential topics.  

Masterclass Topic 1 – Ethics of Gen AI  
Masterclass Topic 2 – Lifelong Learning Agility 
Masterclass Topic 3 – Crisis Communications  

Registrants will also attend the 'Self-Leadership for Young Lawyers' session, which will be held on a separate day. Additional information will be provided separately. 

*Participants who wish to register for the full JLP course must register for and attend the JLP Conference.  

 

Hallmarks of JLP 

Hallmarks of JLP

JLP Curriculum Details

JLP modules will progressively open for registration on the LawNet website from 15 November 2024 onwards. 

Note: Where the exact date is not stated, the module is tentatively scheduled for that month and will be confirmed in due course. 

 

S.No

Module and Outline 

Duration Course Fee Module Date
Mandatory
1
 

JLP Opening Conference – Keynote by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon and Panel Discussion with JLP International Advisory Panel members, Masterclasses. 

1 Day  $800 
 

21 May 2025 

Register!

JLP - Self-Leadership for Young Lawyers: Taking Charge of your Work Life   

This programme aims to help young lawyers to develop their self-leadership and confidence to support a more enjoyable, effective, and sustainable career in the legal profession. The sessions will be interactive and include a practical exercise or discussion to help participants learn how to apply the principles of the module

1.5hrs x 2 sessions 

Session 1: Face-to-Face session (choose 1 only) 

  • 11 Jun 2025
  • 3 Sep 2025 

Session 2:  Virtual session (choose 1 only) 

  • 18 Jun 2025
  • 24 Sep 2025 
Essential Skills
2

JLP - Legal Innovation 

Understand legal innovation, map your organisation's tech footprint, and apply legal tech tools and generative AI in practice. Maintain ethical standards, optimize legal processes, and use legal design thinking to solve problems.

1 Day $800

22 Oct 2025 

Learn More

3

JLP - Understanding the Business of Law 

Learn how to position law firms and practice areas effectively, understand the fundamentals of the business of law, develop skills to become a trusted adviser, and master client pitch techniques.  

2 Days  $1,600 

28-29 Jul 2025 

Learn More

4

JLP - Negotiations and Conflict Management 

Learn to navigate legal, regulatory, and cultural differences, with a focus on cross-cultural communication and negotiation techniques. Review contracts for legal coherence and manage cross-border agreements and transactions.

2 Days  $1,600  6-7 May 2026 
5

JLP - Client Management 

Get equipped with essential client management skills, focusing on practical aspects such as AML/KYC issues, client interviews, and dealing with difficult clients.

1 Day $800 4 Jun 2025 
6

JLP - Understanding Financial Statements 

Gain a practical, hands-on approach to understanding financial statements, tailored specifically to the needs of young corporate and litigation lawyers. 

2 Days $1,600 4-5 Nov 2025 
7

JLP - Matter Management 

Learn how to coordinate legal matters, understand Singapore's legal processes, matter management tools, and document systems, while applying best practices in workflow, collaboration and ethics.

1 Day $800 30 Sep 2025
Disputes
8

JLP - Starting an Action  

Get equipped with essential and practical skills required to advise and assist clients dealing with the onset of a dispute.  

2 Days $1,600 17-18 Sep 2025 
9

JLP - Discovery and Document Management 

Maintain professional ethics, implement strategies for efficient document review and management, leverage technology, and draft discovery plans. 

1 Day $800 8 Oct 2025 
10

JLP - Application Advocacy 

Get equipped with essential skills to effectively prepare for and argue applications in court.   

2 Days $1,600 10 - 11 Dec 2025
11

JLP - Trials 

Gain practical skills in preparing for, dealing with and assisting in trial proceedings.

2 Days $1,600 19-20 May 2026
12

JLP - Cross-Examination and Experts 

Develop essential and practical skills required to cross-examine witnesses in court proceedings, and how to deal with experts and use expert evidence in the course of a dispute.  

1.5 Days $1,200

26 Aug 2026 (1 Day)

and 

27 Aug 2026 (0.5 Days)

13

JLP - Appeals 

Gain essential and practical skills required to prepare for and handle a civil appeal. 

1 Day $800 15 Sep 2026
14

JLP - Costs and Enforcement 

Get equipped with a thorough understanding of P&P and S&C costs, and enforcement of judgments and awards, blending legal theory with practical skills to prepare them for the challenges they may face in their work.  

1 Day $800  14 Oct 2026
Corporate
15

JLP - Dealing with Practical Issues in Due Diligence 

Learn the legal due diligence process, manage risks, avoid common pitfalls, and prepare comprehensive reports with risk management recommendations.  

1 Day $800 23 Jun 2025
16

JLP - Advising Clients on Deal Structures 

Explore ethical issues, basic deal design structures, and factors influencing deal structure. Examine contractual and cross-border issues and understand the role of deal lawyers in managing these elements.

2 Days $1,600 6-7 Aug 2025
17

JLP - Acquiring Practical Skills in Contract Drafting 

Learn ethical considerations, key drafting principles, and the use of commercial precedents and boilerplate clauses. Focus on enhancing clarity, avoiding pitfalls, and structuring contracts for better enforceability and value.  

1.5 Days $1,200

27 Aug 2025 (1 day)  

and 

2 Sep 2025 (0.5 days) 

18

JLP - Cross-border Contract Drafting and Negotiation 

Get introduced to cross-border contracts and civil law concepts, with a focus on cross-cultural communication and negotiation. Learn to review contracts for legal coherence and gain practical advice on managing cross-border agreements.

1 Day $800 25 Aug 2025 
19

JLP - Translating Corporate Governance Principles into Legal Frameworks 

Explore ethical dilemmas faced by directors, navigate shareholder rights and corporate governance regulations, and learn to set up compliance programs. Advise clients on regulatory enforcement and penalties, with case studies on governance issues

1 Day $800 17 Jul 2025
20

JLP - Applying Tech Law in Practice 

Learn about ethical issues in tech law, cybersecurity, PDPA, and e-commerce law in Singapore. Explore data protection regulations and notable developments in AI.  

1 Day $800 8 Oct 2026
21

JLP - An Introduction to Navigating ESG 

Get a comprehensive understanding of ESG issues and the legal frameworks surrounding them, with a focus on practical applications and the challenges they may encounter in their legal practice. 

1 Day $800  14 Jul 2026

 

 JLP Certification

JLP certifications will be awarded to participants who complete the JLP. To complete the JLP, participants must attend the JLP Opening Conference (including one of the Masterclasses), plus any other 11 modules, within a 2-year period

A JLP (Disputes) certification will be awarded to participants who complete the JLP and have attended at least 4 disputes modules. Likewise, a JLP (Corporate) certification will be awarded to participants who complete the JLP and have attended at least 4 corporate modules. All other participants who complete the JLP will obtain a general JLP certification. 

 Course Fees

The JLP course fees can be self-funded or funded by sponsoring law firm. 

To better support our members, we hope to obtain SkillsFuture (SSG) Course Fee Funding for the JLP modules, which would allow eligible participants or sponsoring law firms to enjoy subsidies of up to 70%.  

Law firms which fall within the definition of a Small Medium Enterprise (SME) and intend to sponsor their junior lawyers for the JLP should ensure that they have completed the SME Declaration in the Enterprise Portal for Jobs and Skills (EPJS) in order to enjoy the maximum SSG funding

Please refer to the SkillsFuture website for further information on the SME criteria: https://skillsfuture.gobusiness.gov.sg 

Please stay tuned for further updates.  

CPD Points

It is intended that all JLP modules be accredited with CPD points. For relevant portions of the modules, CPD Mandatory Ethics points will be awarded. More information will be shared later once approval has been obtained from SILE. 

JLP Taster Modules

The JLP Taster Modules aims to provide participants a taste of the various modules. Through this preview, participants are expected to gain a broad overview of the key concepts and practical knowledge which they can apply in their work and beyond.

The Business of Lawyering 

 Completed 

Contract Drafting (Two Days) 

 Completed

Starting An Action (Two Days)  

 Completed 

Appeals (Two Days) 

 Completed 

Deal Structuring (Two Days)  

 Completed 

Financial Accounting for Junior Lawyers 

 Completed 

Legal Perspectives on ESG in Singapore 

 Completed 

Diversity and Inclusive Leadership in Practice  

 Completed 

Negotiating Your Way to Success 

 Completed 

Contract Drafting - An Overview 

 Completed 

 

Module dates and outline are tentative and subject to changes.

jlp-hallmark


Join Our Upcoming Sessions

Register your interest to our upcoming sessions.

 

Contribute to Our Programme

Register your interest to contribute to our programme. Opportunities include:

  • Provide ideas, inputs and feedback on curriculum.  
  • Be an adjunct faculty (trainer or facilitator). 

 


For more information, contact [email protected]