SINGAPORE — Law Society of Singapore (LawSoc) president Adrian Tan revealed on Thursday (July 28) that he was diagnosed with cancer in March, two months after being elected to the top role.

In a post on professional networking site LinkedIn, where the 55-year-old remains vocal about issues of public interest and litigation, he said that “disaster struck” after he “planned to have the busiest year of my life”.

He told TODAY that he is carrying on with his duties as LawSoc president and will not step down, and that he has continued working from home

He did not elaborate on how severe his condition is or what kind of cancer he has.

Mr Tan, a partner and head of intellectual property and technology at TSMP Law, began his tenure as LawSoc president on Jan 1.

In an interview with TODAY at the time, he vowed to continue sharing his views on social media and using it to pivot from the traditional means that LawSoc has used to communicate with lawyers.

The LawSoc represents lawyers and maintains standards of the profession here.

Aside from his accomplishments in the legal field over 30 years, Mr Tan was also the author of bestselling novels — The Teenage Textbook and The Teenage Workbook —  in the late 1980s. 

Mr Tan wrote in his LinkedIn post that he began to feel ill in February but brushed it off. He then “felt so bad” that he saw a doctor in March and was later diagnosed with cancer.

“He started me immediately on an aggressive treatment regime involving chemotherapy, immunotherapy and hormone therapy. As my immune system was compromised, I had to avoid people and stress,” Mr Tan said.

He then spoke about two issues — whether he should stop working and whom he should tell about his diagnosis.

He wrote that for him, “life is a contact sport” and he needed to work with his team towards a common goal.

“That was the path I chose. I would fight cancer, fight my cases in court and fight for lawyers as their president, until the clock runs out,” he added.

Mr Tan also said that he told the LawSoc Council, his colleagues at TSMP Law Corporation and his closest friends about his illness.

While he did not plan to tell anyone else, he said that he changed his mind after having to turn down “countless invitations to give speeches, attend events or meet in person”.

“Many concerned people have asked about me. Some have heard inaccurate accounts of my condition. Under such circumstances, and given my position, it's best for me to be open.”

Mr Tan has remained active online, writing about topics such as the recent Tuas Second Link road rage case and global airport snarls.

He also delivered a commencement address at the National University of Singapore’s 2022 Law and Music faculties graduation ceremony on July 7, where he spoke about the mistakes he made in his life.

In April, he hit out at those who criticised LawSoc for turning a blind eye to exam cheating, after it emerged that several trainee lawyers had cheated in the Bar exams.

When he took up the LawSoc presidency in January, he had also expressed his desire to stem the so-called "great resignation" and use technology to improve lawyers’ lives.

There were about 6,300 registered legal practitioners in Singapore last year, the highest in the last five years. However, a record 538 — most with under five years’ experience — also left the profession last year and a record low number of new lawyers were called to the Bar.

Ms Stefanie Yuen Thio, TSMP Law Corporation's joint managing partner, told TODAY that Mr Tan has been working and having meetings from home until his doctor allows him to return to the office.

She said: "He has been undergoing therapy and has maintained his upbeat and humorous nature through it all. His brain is as active as ever, as you can tell from his continued Linkedin posts."

The firm and his team, in particular, have been very supportive, including "being an added pair of hands" for him at work, she said. They have also been "rallying around the lawyers to ensure that they continue to receive guidance and mentorship, everyone has chipped in."

Ms Yuen Thio said that several of the firm's partners "got together and had a good cry" upon hearing the news but have gone back to joking with Mr Tan over Zoom meetings.

"We are all rooting for Adrian and grateful that whenever we meet a fellow member of the Bar, they invariably ask about him. We appreciate the outpouring of care from the legal fraternity," she added.

Mr Tan's LinkedIn post had about 3,000 reactions and 400 comments as of 5pm on Thursday, with many expressing support and good wishes.

Mr Tan succeeded Senior Counsel Gregory Vijayendran, who is a commercial litigation partner at law firm Rajah & Tann and was the longest-serving LawSoc president, having served for five years.