Harry Elias Partnership LLP successfully concluded the inaugural Harry Elias Partnership LLP National Law Debates 2011 that saw the participation of 14 teams from Singapore’s Junior Colleges and Integrated Programme Institutions. In the eagerly anticipated and closely contested final, team Raffles Institution (Junior College) narrowly edged out the team from Anglo-Chinese Junior College who emerged as Runners-Up in the Tournament. The prize of Best Speaker of the Finals went to RI(JC) while the prize for the Tournament’s overall Best Written Submissions was won by Temasek Junior College.
Mr. Dhillon Poh, team member, Catholic Junior College felt that he had benefitted greatly from participating in the HEP National Law Debates as it was “a refreshing and intellectually stimulating experience” and a “a close simulation of actual court proceedings”. Mrs Geetha Creffield, Head of Department Arts, ACJC, agrees, remarking that: “Harry Elias Partnership has added considerable muscle to the debating landscape in Singapore… Harry Elias Partnership will influence the way debaters see the meaning of their art.”
Managing Partner, Philip Fong said “In a first for the Singapore debating scene, HEP’s National Law Debates incorporated gruelling segments where participants not only had to engage with and respond to arguments and rebuttals from their opponents, but also had to answer questions from the judging panel, which comprised the partners of the Firm from the civil and commercial practice group. This Law Debate Tournament underscores the Firm’s commitment to promoting the understanding of law, raising the general awareness of how legal issues can impact on our everyday lives; and providing a window for students to experience the challenges and rigours of legal practice. We believe that through engaging students, the Law Debates will generate in students an interest in the law that will in time, grow and encourage a new generation of lawyers to answer the noble calling of the law. The Firm congratulates all the winners of the National Law Debates.”