'Muthusamy's bands and wing collars invariably seemed to have been dipped in muddy water and dried out. One day, he appeared before Justice Buttrose, who stated: 'I cannot see you, Mr Muthusamy.' Muthu responded: 'I am here, my Lord.'...Muthu withdrew and reappeared a few minutes later in a borrowed crisp wing collar and bands, whereupon Justice Buttrose beamed: 'Ah! Now, Mr Muthusamy, I can see you!'

SENIOR COUNSEL JOSEPH GRIMBERG on the importance of dressing well

'A trial can be likened to a military campaign. No one would dream of going to war without a battle plan, a contingency plan (or two), ample supplies and extensive preparation.'

SENIOR COUNSEL ALVIN YEO on preparing well for a trial

'Once the witness has been confronted and the inconsistency highlighted, the contradiction should be left there in all its glory. This is not the time to indulge in the exhilaration of having successfully executed a cross-examination as there is nothing to be gained by further confrontation except a dramatic flourish, which only affords the witness another opportunity to argue his way out of the inconsistency.'

SENIOR COUNSEL DAVINDER SINGH on knowing when to stop during cross-examination of a witness

'A counsel cannot appear before the Court of Appeal stuttering and sputtering. That would only ruin or reduce the chances of success...If a counsel normally does not speak well or happens to have a heavy local ethnic accent which prevents him from being easily understood...he should get some lessons from a speech therapist or speech expert and go for some speech training lessons.'

RETIRED HIGH COURT JUDGE L.P. THEAN on the need for lawyers to speak well

This article was first published in The Straits Times on July 26, 2008.