Speech by Senior Minister of State Law and Transport Mr Murali Pillai SC at Pro Bono SG's Engagement Lunch

Ms Vivienne Lim, Deputy Chairman of Pro Bono SG,

Mr Thio Shen Yi SC and Ms Rebecca Chew, Co-Chairpersons of Pro Bono SG’s Fundraising Committee,

My Parliamentary colleague, Mr Lee Hong Chuang, who is here as Advisor of Tian De Temple,

Mr Richard Siaw, Managing Director, R S Solomon LLC,

Mr Tanguy Lim, CEO, Pro Bono SG,

Distinguished donors, supporters, and friends of Pro Bono SG,

Ladies and gentlemen,

1. A very good afternoon! It is an honour to be among you and the organisations that you represent, and all of you who believe that access to justice is not merely a legal principle, but a shared responsibility.

2. Let me begin with a personal reflection. Most of you would be aware that I have been in practice for some time. From the outset, I was fortunate to be involved in pro bono practice. I was involved in community legal clinics, assignments under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme, and other pro bono initiatives organised by the Law Society. Those experiences were not incidental to my professional life. They actually shaped my professional life.

3. Early in my practice at a legal clinic, I met a widow. She has five children. Her husband had recently passed away due to cancer. When he was alive, they ran a successful business and were doing well. After his passing, unfortunately, the business collapsed and debts accumulated. The utilities company decided to combine the utilities account at her shop with the utilities account of their residence. In one fell swoop, what was just a hundred dollars plus owed in the residential account became more than a thousand dollars owed in the residential account. Obviously it was a heavy burden for someone already struggling.

4. She asked me this question: “If I were to die, would my debts be passed on to my children?” The legal answer to this question was straightforward. But that was not the real question she was asking or the real concern she was expressing. She was actually thinking of committing suicide but the experience she went through made her think that it is possible, should she die, that her debts would become her children’s debts and that made her pause and therefore she sought legal advice. So then we did more than provide legal advice. We brought in counsellors. We activated a help group. She and her children received help. Thankfully the immediate crisis passed and through tremendous effort and courage on her part, she overcame her struggles and focused on bringing up her children.

5. That encounter left me with a very lasting impression. It reminded me that the practice of law is not only about rules, remedies, or transactions. It is about understanding the human reality behind the question. Community legal work kept me grounded. It deepened my sense of empathy – and made me, I believe, a more complete lawyer.

6. That, to me, is part of what defines a profession. Society grants lawyers the privilege to practise law. In return, our lawyers have a responsibility to serve our community — particularly those who cannot afford access to legal services. Pro bono work has long been part of that understanding.

7. But lawyers cannot do this alone. Access to justice, if it is to be meaningful and sustainable, depends on partnership:

i. Volunteer lawyers contribute time and expertise.

ii. Community partners and social service agencies provide trust and familiarity.

iii. Government strengthens the ecosystem through institutions such as the Legal Aid Bureau and the Public Defender’s Office and provision of grants to stakeholders.

iv. And donors provide the financial foundation that allows structured, quality services to operate.

8. Each plays a distinct role. Together, we make access to justice real.

9. With the support of R. S. Solomon Foundation, Ms Milona Xia, Singapore Teo Chew Foundation, Singapore Kwangtung Hui Kuan, Tian De Temple and many others, Pro Bono SG piloted the first Community Law Centre @ Tian De Temple. Their contributions helped lay the foundation for this initiative: appointing community lawyers and centre managers, and providing the operational support needed, such as community outreach, volunteer engagement and impact evaluation. These investments made it possible to bring access to justice closer to where people live — within the community itself.

10. In the past financial year alone, Pro Bono SG supported community organisations and over 16,000 individuals, including 1,752 individuals assisted through the Community Law Centres. It’s a big number. This demonstrates the growing role these centres play in bringing legal help directly into the community.

11. Behind each number is a person at a critical juncture.

i. A family dispute resolved before it deepens.

ii. A worker recovering unpaid wages.

iii. A senior navigating estate matters or protecting himself against scams.

12. In one case, a family approached the Community Law Centre seeking advice as they were worried about their elderly father who had dementia and was being screened by their brother. They noticed he no longer spoke much with them and suspected that he had been pressured into changing his will and financial arrangements just to benefit that one child. The community lawyer did not just explain legal options like the Vulnerable Adults Act, deputyship, and Lasting Power of Attorney. The lawyer connected them with social service agencies for mediation between the family members. Through this, they were able to focus on something deeper – protecting their father’s emotional wellbeing and self-esteem while helping them navigate a difficult family situation.

13. These outcomes may not be visible to many. But they are significant to those whose lives are affected. And they matter to the integrity of our system.

14. Today, as we witness the renewal of the 10-year MOU for the Community Law Centre at Tian De Temple, we see what sustained partnership looks like.

15. A decade-long commitment reflects confidence in the model. It recognises that access to justice is not a short-term initiative, but an ongoing responsibility. When legal assistance is embedded in trusted community spaces, people seek help earlier. Problems are addressed before they escalate, fester and create deeper wounds. The law becomes a shield, not a barrier.

16. Ultimately, access to justice strengthens trust — trust that our system is fair, and that its protections are not reserved for those with means.

17. To those who have supported Pro Bono SG, thank you very much. Your contributions have translated into real protection for real people who, if not for your intervention, would have been likely to be helpless. We, through your actions, are able to uphold a fundamental principle that justice does not depend on one’s bank balance.

18. Thank you.