1954                Singapore Government Scholarship to read for the Bar in the Honorable Society of Lincoln’s Inn

1956                 Returned to Singapore from London after successfully completing the Law Exams and Admission to the English Bar followed by one year’s pupilage in the Chambers of Treasury Solicitors, UK

Singapore Legal Service

January 1957            Magistrate & District Judge
          to                     (Civil and Criminal)
December 1961         DPP & Crown Counsel/State Counsel

Spend three out of five years in the then State Advocate General’s Chambers – advising on, and handling, inter alia, criminal and civil cases, advising Police and other government department, conducting prosecutions in the High Court, arguing magistrates’ appeals, assisting the Solicitor-General (late Mr. Justice Winslow) and the then State Advocate-General (Ahmad Bin Ibrahim) in drafting and amending legislation etc.  During the two years or so in the Magistrates and District Court (Civil and Criminal Courts) heard criminal and civil cases.

Private Practice (since Jan 1962)

1962 - 1963                 Legal Assistant
                                     Rodyk & Davidson

Jan 1964 -                   Partner
Jun 1977                     Rodyk & Davidson
(with responsibility for managing the firm)

Jul 1977 -                     Senior & Founding Partner
Jan 1991                      Cooma Lau & Loh

Oct 1991 -                   Senior Partner
Mar 1996                     Robert W H Wang & Woo

Apr 1996 -                   Consultant
May 1998                    Robert W H Wang & Woo 

Jul 1998                       Partner
                                    Cooma & Rai

 Some Celebrated Cases

In the early days of private practice, argued successfully, on the instruction of the government a 2-week hearing and obtained a declaration that the election of office bearers for the PSA Workers’ Union was null and void.  Handled common law and professional negligence cases (for several insurance companies) and defended contested cases in the courts in Singapore (and extensively in Malaysia during Malaysia days), the cases involving disputes among beneficiaries in estate matters, landlord and tenant cases in tenancy disputes, etc; Screened a video in the High Court before Mr. Justice Choor Singh exposing a “fortune cookie”. 

Positions Held

 (Appointments made by relevant government ministries unless otherwise stated)

1973 – 1995              Chairman
                                  National Maritime Board 

1973 – 1990               Member
                                   Military of Court Appeal

1982 -                         Member
Nov 1986                    Inquiry Committee of the Law Society
                                   Appointed by the Chief Justice

 Dec 1986 -                 Chairman/Member
         1991                   Enquiry Committees
(Appointed by the Chief Justice pursuant to the provisions of the Legal Profession Act) 

1965 – 1971                Member
                                    University Court
                                    Ministry of Education

1967 – 1970                Alternate Chairman
                                    Criminal Law Advisory Committee

1966 – 1969                Member
                                    Housing & Development Board

1969 – 1975                Deputy Chairman
                                    Housing & Development Board

1970 -                          Acting Chairman
Mar 1971                     Housing & Development Board 

1969 – 1970                Chairman
                                    Committee on Medical Specialisation,
                                    Ministry of Health

 1971 – 1973               Deputy Chairman
                                    Acting Committee on Hospital Development
                                    (with the Minister of Health as Chairman)

 1970 – 1971                Deputy Chairman
Committee to Review Condition of Service of Non-Commissioned Officers of the Singapore Police Force 

Jan 1973 -                    Member
Dec 1989                      Military Court of Appeal 

1965 – 1970                 Elected Member
                                     Council of the Singapore Advocates & Solicitors 

1966 – 1968                 Vice-President
                                     Singapore Association for the Blind 

1994                              Director
                                      American Eagle Tankers Co Ltd                                   

Honours and Awards 

Government Scholarship awarded in 1954 to read for the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn, London 

Awarded BBM on the occasion of 1996 National Day 

Language written          English, Tamil
Language spoken          English, Tamil, Malay 

Mr. Cooma died in a freak accident at the age of 74.