SINGAPORE: Singapore's legal education got another boost on Wednesday. 39 students from 21 countries received their Masters of Law degree awarded by the New York University, but taught here in Singapore.

It is part of a 10-month long global law programme that sees students study subjects like human rights, and corporate law.

The students, who were handpicked from over 200 applications submitted in 2007, come from as far as Kenya and Argentina. Only one graduate was from Singapore. But for the past 10 months, they have been studying in Singapore for their dual Masters in Law degree.

The ceremony's distinguished guest, Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, also hope the students will add to the growing law sector in Singapore.

He said: "We're a place with an expanding legal hub and an expanding legal education. It provides a very useful home for people from all over the world to do their research and add to the body of law as it's emerging."

According to the programme's director, about a third of the graduates will remain in Singapore working in international law firms and contributing to the pool of legal talents here.

60 students are expected for the next term, and the number is expected to increase to 100 within the next two years. - CNA/vm