NUS Law Sheridan Fellowship Programme: Nurturing the next generation of legal scholars in Singapore

NUS Law Sheridan Fellowship Programme: Nurturing the next generation of legal scholars in Singapore

NUS LawAssociate Professor Tan Zhong Xing vividly recalls a particular moment in 2015 when he was delivering a lecture as a young Fellow in the NUS Law Sheridan Fellowship (SF) Programme, juggling teaching duties with his role as a research scholar. It wasn't the case law material he was presenting that stood out, but the response he received from a mentor afterwards that proved memorable.

"I made a couple of verbal slips such as mixing up the names of parties in the case law material I was presenting," Assoc Prof Tan explained. "What struck me was that one of my mentors who was present did not immediately point out these mistakes, but later encouraged me to reflect on what had gone well and what could have gone better."

Now Director of the SF Programme, which has produced many promising legal academics over the years, he cites his mentor's approach of sharing his insecurities and past teaching experiences, as well as tips on better communication as an example of the quality mentorship he received through the Programme.

"This and other mentoring experiences impressed on me the importance of providing constant encouragement and reassurance for those starting on a similar journey," he said.

Launched in 2014 and named after NUS Law's Founding Dean Professor Lionel Astor Sheridan, the SF Programme aims to nurture future legal academics in Singapore by serving as a bridge between undergraduate study or work in the legal profession and a tenure-track academic position with a strong foundation in Singapore law.

At the time, there was no formal programme in Singapore to attract young practising lawyers or even fresh law graduates into academia, Assoc Prof Tan noted. "Those keen on an academic career would typically apply for teaching assistant positions, or had to obtain postgraduate degrees to be considered for tenure-track appointments. The Programme was quite unique as it offered individuals who had no prior academic experience but were passionate about research, a foothold in legal academe."

For the NUS Law alumnus, it was his love for research that drew him to the Programme after a brief career as a litigation lawyer. "My passion was always in research and writing and it was something I discovered as an undergraduate in NUS Law. After gaining some practical experience in commercial litigation, I decided the time was ripe for me to join academia."

Sowing the seeds of an academic career

Assoc Prof Tan was part of the inaugural batch of six Sheridan Fellows and served a two-year appointment, which gave him exposure to the world of legal research and teaching.

He said, "The Programme is distinctive in giving candidates a high degree of autonomy in crafting their research direction and projects. As a Sheridan Fellow, I had the chance to explore research interests in corporate law, contract law, private law theory and jurisprudence."

"There is a wonderful intellectual community at NUS Law including researchers at similar career stages and senior colleagues to learn from. The environment is both collegial and stimulating, as we challenge and provide perspectives on each other's ideas and arguments - 'iron sharpening iron'," he added.

His areas of research dovetailed nicely with his teaching focus during those two years. Describing teaching as "a great pleasure and a privilege", Assoc Prof Tan found fulfilment in being able to help students make connections between different areas of study and gain a deeper appreciation of those areas of law, which has led to him obtaining a number of teaching excellence awards.

Making an impact in academia and society

After completing his two-year appointment, Assoc Prof Tan went on to pursue a Master of Laws and subsequently a Doctor of Juridical Science at Harvard Law School, thanks to a sponsorship by the SF Programme.

He also won the distinguished Hart Publishing Prize for the best paper by an early career scholar for his paper "Contract Law in an Emerging Age of Proportionality: From Form to Substance and Beyond" in 2018, when he was appointed on the tenure-track as an Assistant Professor.

Fast-forward six years later and with a growing number of publications to his name, Assoc Prof Tan has become a recognised expert on Singapore contract law with his published works being referred to by apex courts including the Singapore Court of Appeal.

Internationally, his work has been published in some of the world's leading law reviews such as the Modern Law Reviewand Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, and specialist journals like the Journal of Business Lawand Journal of Contract Law. Locally, he serves as an editor of prominent publications in Singapore such as theSingapore Journal of Legal Studies and Singapore Academy of Law Annual Review of Singapore Cases, and is also Secretary-General of the Asian Law Schools Association. Outside of his academic responsibilities, Assoc Prof Tan also helps out as a volunteer legal counsel at various legal clinics in Singapore.

Reflecting on his academic journey, Assoc Prof Tan said, "I have come full circle in my experience. I started at NUS Law in 2014 as a member of the inaugural batch of Sheridan Fellows, and since last year I have been assisting our Dean, Professor Andrew Simester, and his leadership team as Director of the SF Programme. Looking back, the Programme was a boon as it offered a great opportunity for young Singaporeans like me to come on board and get the mentorship and support for a career in academia."

The Sheridan Fellowship 10 years on: A focus on diversity to keep pace with contemporary developments in legal research

A decade later, the SF Programme has seen more than 20 Sheridan Fellows pass through its doors; its impact evidenced by the many like Assoc Prof Tan who have successfully transitioned to lectureships and tenure track positions in NUS Law and other leading institutions. They have become specialists in a great variety of legal fields, publishing significant work in internationally-recognised law journals and book presses.

While the SF Programme has grown organically in the past, Assoc Prof Tan sees the importance of actively steering it to promote diversity in terms of the background and experiences of chosen applicants, as well as intellectual diversity based on research interests.

Earlier batches of Sheridan Fellows had concentrated their study on established and core fields such as tort, contract law and commercial law. Its recent cohorts have ventured into emerging areas such as environmental law, artificial intelligence and technology, disability law, medical law and neuroscience, to name a few. "We are constantly on the lookout for would-be researchers who can develop a cutting-edge research agenda with future velocity," he noted.

This evolution, he pointed out, is healthy and necessary to keep pace with changes in the landscape of legal academia and the legal industry more generally. Additionally, he sees the SF Programme playing an important role in nurturing future generations of legal academics in the University and beyond.

"As our older NUS Law colleagues transition towards retirement and leave their legacies for us to emulate, the SF Programme will help maintain a pipeline of young legal researchers who will not only enrich the intellectual life of the NUS Law community, but also take on the responsibility of thought leadership at both the local and international levels of legal research."

Thankful for the opportunity given to him years before, Assoc Prof Tan is paying it forward. "I want to contribute to the Sheridan Fellowship community by offering advice from my experiences, sharing both my successes and failures, and acting as a bridge between the Sheridan Fellows and faculty leadership. As the community grows over time, I see it as a virtuous cycle where those who have started their academic journeys earlier are able to support newer members that come in."

The next call for applications for the SF Programme will open in October this year. Visit the NUS Law Careers pagefor more information on the Programme.