Justice Goh Yihan: Speech at SAL IMPRINTS 2024

Supreme Court of Singapore

Resilience

3.          In the way of resilience, Academy Publishing, like the Vanda Miss Joaquim, has demonstrated this characteristic throughout the decades through an unwavering commitment, regardless of the challenges, to serve the legal community in the form of authors, academics, lawyers, students, judges and many more. It has done this through its vibrant and expansive offering of more than 100 books, close to 1,500 journal articles, and more than 80,000 pages of law reports. As impressive as those figures are, I am sure these achievements are just the beginning of what Academy Publishing has in store for us all.

4.          Academy Publishing has no doubt withstood the test of time and weather, be it a global pandemic or the rapidity of technology advancement. It has continued to resiliently grow alongside such changes, expanding its offerings along the way in the form of online platforms such as Journals Online, LawNet, Singapore Law Watch, LawNet Asian Insights and the unique Academy Library, all of which have become staples for the legal community. Evidently, like Vanda Miss Joaquim, Academy Publishing will without doubt continue to bloom always; today, tomorrow and for decades to come.

Strength

5.          Just as our national orchid has become an iconic symbol of Singapore’s strength, one that is familiar and recognised all around the world, Academy Publishing too has not only grown strong unwavering roots at home but is vining and blooming beyond the Straits and sharing its beauty through knowledge with our ASEAN neighbours. Singapore law continues to gain influence, prominence and respect across Southeast Asia, a fact and accomplishment that would not have been reachable without Academy Publishing’s books, multi-jurisdictional journal articles and the breadth and insight offered by platforms such as Legal Research and LawNet Asian Insights. Despite the aforementioned achievements, Academy Publishing has not rested on its laurels.

6.          In 2023, the team at Academy Publishing began an in-depth review of all its products commencing with a vast and far-reaching Journals Review. This project entailed a thorough and comprehensive evaluation of each SAL journal and the collation of both quantitative and qualitative feedback from you, in your capacity as readers, users, authors and contributors, to ultimately ensure optimum strength in service and the dissemination of legal knowledge. This commendable endeavour did not cease with journals; Academy Publishing’s dedication to excellence means the team is currently assessing and reviewing its current and future book offering, LawNet Asian Insight’s reach, as well as working on enhancing the extensiveness of the Legal Research database.

7.          To give you an exclusive glimpse into what is to come, the LawNet we all know is about to grow even stronger through the inclusion of revamped precedents and a collection of comprehensive practice notes and guides. The platform will expand and extend its content offering to provide knowledge, insight, and resources to in-house counsel in Singapore and beyond. The “beyond” in this case includes both local and regional corporate lawyers and others seeking ASEAN compliance and regulatory guidance and support in the form of concise, refined, and technical primers. I will not give too much away, but I can assure you there is much exciting change and growth to come as Academy Publishing continues on its upward trajectory towards brilliance, going from strength to strength.

Vibrancy