Adrian Tan (1966-2023)

Mr Adrian Tan passed away at the start of July at the age of 57. He was known for being an author of teenage fiction, a great lawyer, and a president of the Law Society of Singapore. Many know him for his viral posts on Linkedin and his occasional works in the press.

I can't say I knew him well personally, aside from a few emails introducing me to the relevant Law Society team. But it was clear to me that he was a maverick who sought to better the world around him.

Lawyers are busy people, and it is easy to just focus on work and family and lead a comfortable life. Adrian was not such a person. He threw himself into the broader community. Capable of discussing legal matters in the same humorous style that he wrote his novels, he did so in a public manner. Not for him the one-line comment in the Straits Times. Instead, he analysed, reasoned, and gave us his witty professional opinion on a wide range of matters of public interest, from having cats in HDB to the presidential elections.

In his world, the law is accessible, interesting, and deeply relevant to our lives. And he personified it! In his own way, he brought the public and the law closer together. Which is probably why, when the chance came, he took on the mantle of the president of the Law Society.

Unfortunately, he has left us too soon and will be sorely missed. Amidst the loss, it is important to celebrate the life of someone who rose above to strive for a greater good. Hopefully, the spirit lives on in each of us.