If you felt angry at these students who cheated, I ask that you forgive them and give them a second chance. – Ms Luo Ling Ling
“Give them a Second Chance” – Lawyer
The trainee lawyers who cheated in the 2020 Bar examinations should be forgiven and given a second chance, said lawyer Luo Ling Ling in a Facebook status on Wednesday, 11 May 2022.
Ms Luo is acting for 1 of the 11 students, Leon Tay Quan Li. According to her, Leon was the only one who applied to withdraw his admission application. The bar admission application was heard by the Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon.
Her Facebook post dated 11 May 2022, which received more than 70 reactions, was published as Ms Luo wanted readers to remember Leon “as a smart boy who made a mistake.”
Ms Luo said that, at the material time of the examinations, Leon was in ill health, and his parents had serious health issues.
During the first Bar examinations, he was in ill health, and his parents had serious health issues. From what I know, he is the only 1 (out of 11 of them) who applied to withdraw his admission application. This withdrawal application was vigorously opposed by AGC. AGC requested for a dismissal of his admission application.
After the first Judgment in Re CTA, he recognised that he is not good enough to be a lawyer now, but I am sure he will be. All he needs is time and forgiveness.
The public anger had a devastating impact on him, because his application was not heard yet.. The uncertainty was agonising for him and his family.
She felt that it was worth recognising that “there is good in him.” She continued:
What was unbelievable was: he is highly intelligent. In the second Bar examinations, he did well and scored a distinction. It was not as though he needed to cheat to pass these exams. It is not that weaker students have any justification to cheat. There is no justification to cheat for anyone. It was already shocking enough for law students to cheat, but even more unbelievable if these were top law students.
In a short span of a few days, we assisted him with three affidavits and submissions. He drafted two affidavits, and I amended them. This was his first litigation case, and unfortunately, his own. He had zero litigation experience. As with other admission applications I acted in, I ended up guiding a younger professional to prepare his case and documents. I was very demanding, but he took it in his stride. Whatever I taught him, he learnt fast. It was clear to me that he has a gift for the law. I could not understand why someone so intelligent, could have cheated in exams. WHY???
Ms Luo concluded her Facebook status by writing that Leon has unfortunately decided to leave practice before he even started
Unfortunately, he [the client] been so traumatised that he decided to leave practice before he even started. He is leaving to learn to be better before he returns (if he ever does) because he recognises his mistakes. It would be a tremendous waste if he did not come back.
If you felt angry at these students who cheated, I ask that you forgive them and give them a second chance.
Her post, in its entirety, may be read at this link.
Application to withdraw allowed
Ms Luo noted that her client’s application to withdraw with conditions was allowed. However, she did not succeed in the sealing application.
Reactions
In response to Ms Luo’s Facebook post, one Mariah Ma commented to say that everyone deserves a second chance.
However, not everyone was impressed.
The Law Minister’s remarks
In Parliament on Monday. Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said that the trainee lawyers should “face a significant sanction that brings across the seriousness of the conduct.” That being said, the Minister emphasised:
These are young people. … Should they forever be prevented from being lawyers or being called to the Bar? I think most people will think thats probably too harsh.
Luo concluded her Facebook status by writing that her client has unfortunately decided to leave practice
Unfortunately, he [the client] been so traumatised that he decided to leave practice before he even started. He is leaving to learn to be better before he returns (if he ever does) because he recognises his mistakes. It would be a tremendous waste if he did not come back.
If you felt angry at these students who cheated, I ask that you forgive them and give them a second chance.
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