On advocacy training.

Last weekend, the season re-started.

But no, I'm not talking about the EPL. I'm talking about the Part B Advocacy Workshops, which will be conducted from August to October, and for which I've served as a trainer for some years now.

The workshops are conducted for Singapore bar candidates, who argue applications and conduct aspects of trial. The trainers apply the NITA method¹ and give each candidate at least 5 sets of personalised feedback.

The workshops require significant commitment from trainers, who are encouraged to teach at least 5 Saturdays this year - and I know trainers who regularly teach more. Trainers do receive an honorarium, but it is less than the usual commercial rate, and most trainers waive a significant portion to fund Law Society activities.

So why do we do it?

Speaking only for myself:

a) "By teaching, we learn."² The method does not allow trainers to get away with waffly war stories. Immediately after the candidate concludes, trainers identify a specific teaching point, the precise rationale, and how to improve. Every workshop is an opportunity for trainers to further internalise the rules of advocacy and develop muscle memory. Trainers also give a live demonstration of how to do better. This keeps us on our toes, and we too improve through practice.

b) Giving back. As a law student, I was an enthusiastic but unimpressive mooter, and was disappointed to not be selected for the international moots programme. From then, I assumed that I could only, at best, aspire to be a barely-competent advocate.

Then I attended the workshops as a candidate. I was struck by how practical and useable the training was. I was challenged to incrementally hone my craft, and it opened my eyes to advocacy as a trainable skill - and not just the domain of the naturally gifted.

More than a decade later, I do not profess to be a great advocate. But I am a better advocate, compared to when I first began. I owe a debt to the workshops and trainers for starting me on that journey. Serving as a trainer is a small way to give back.

c) The candidates. Look, not every candidate is enthused about the workshops. Some are uninterested in litigation. And that's fine. We just ask that they put in the work to demonstrate that they won't be a menace to society.

But often, candidates are genuinely interested in getting better, in improving by just 1% after each attempt. When I see candidates facing some of the precise issues I used to face, I can suggest an unintuitive fix that worked for me. I see them trying the fix, a little doubtfully, the dawning realisation on their faces that - this works! - and their eagerness to put it into practice.

I see a little of myself in such candidates, and if I can help just 1 or 2 students in every session to improve by just that bit, then the time is well spent.

So - here's to the rest of the season, and to many more seasons to come.