Legal professionals to get more career guidance with new skills framework

SINGAPORE – Legal professionals, including in-house counsel and paralegals, will get more guidance in developing their careers under a new skills framework.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah announced the new Skills Framework for Legal Services at the Asia-Pacific Legal Congress on April 3.

She said the Government recognises the increasingly strategic role of in-house counsel in today’s complex business and legal landscape.

Of such lawyers, who work for companies instead of practising at law firms, the minister said: “You are on the forefront of navigating legal complexity and shaping business resilience.

“We are committed to supporting your continued growth and leadership. Together with our partners, we are shaping an environment where in-house counsel do not just thrive, but lead.”

The Asia-Pacific Legal Congress is a two-day conference which gathers experts from across the region to discuss the latest trends and developments in the legal industry.

It was organised by national in-house counsel association Singapore Corporate Counsel Association (SCCA) and is held at One Farrer Hotel in Little India.

The new skills framework was developed by SCCA and the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL).

SAL said the framework will support skills development, professional growth and career advancement within the legal industry.

It would provide a reference for talent development, enabling firms to identify competencies and design targeted training programmes, added SAL.

The initiative will first focus on disputes and corporate lawyers, before expanding over the next few years to include in-house counsel and allied legal professionals such as paralegals.

SAL and SCCA are also developing a training road map, with a dedicated track for in-house counsel to be launched in 2026.

Ms Indranee, who is also Second Minister for Finance and National Development, said in her speech at the conference that Singapore is experiencing a period of profound global transition.

She attributed this to three major forces: geopolitical tensions, economic headwinds such as rising tariffs and trade wars, and technology disrupting industries including the legal practice.

Though these forces have significant implications for Singapore, Ms Indranee said the Republic has “good reasons to remain cautiously optimistic”.

She said this is because of Singapore’s role as a trusted hub in the region, which allows it to attract investments and serve as a springboard for companies looking to expand across Asia.

The nation can also capitalise on new areas of growth created by emerging technologies and sustainability, and ongoing shifts in global production and supply chains.

In this complex environment, companies increasingly rely on an integrated ecosystem of professional services, including lawyers, said Ms Indranee.

Pointing out the evolving role of in-house counsel, she said: “You must do more than just ensure compliance. You have to become the strategic advisers for your companies.”

This may mean identifying supply chain vulnerabilities and designing flexible agreements, or turning legal insights into competitive advantages, she added.

Ms Indranee called for legal teams to evolve and adapt the way they operate.

Examples include embedding themselves deeper within the business, leveraging technology and data analytics, and proactively managing risks for their companies.

“This is not a nice-to-have, it’s a competitive advantage, and a right to exist. Legal departments that evolve in step will be the ones that can drive impact, command influence and help their businesses lead from the front,” said the minister.

She added that the Government has invested in SCCA’s capabilities and that it must take the lead for the in-house counsel community in Singapore.

At the event, SCCA also signed memorandums of understanding with three regional counterparts.

The partnerships with the Indonesian Corporate Counsel Association and Thai Corporate Counsel Association aim to promote mentorship and internship opportunities, among other goals.

Meanwhile, the collaboration with the Japan In-House Lawyers Association includes providing educational opportunities for members, and access to resources and training programmes.