TAN Seow Hon

Associate Professor TAN Seow Hon is a legal philosopher affiliated with the Yong Pung How School of Law at Singapore Management University (SMU), where he has held his current position since January 2010. He previously served as Associate Dean (Student, Alumni & Staff Affairs) and Associate Dean (Research) at SMU. With a strong academic background, including an SJD from Harvard Law School (2004), he specializes in jurisprudence, legal theory, and legal education. His research explores conceptual debates in law, bioethics, constitutional law, and moral philosophy. He has received numerous teaching awards, including the SMU Excellent Teacher Award and the SMU Innovative Teacher Award, reflecting his dedication to pedagogy. His work often bridges legal theory with practical issues like surrogacy, euthanasia, and abortion law. He has conducted empirical studies on legal education and internships, contributing to understanding lawyer development.

Education:

• SJD, Harvard Law School, 2004
• LLM, Harvard Law School, 1999
• LLB (First Class Honours), National University of Singapore, 1997

Research Interests: TAN’s research focuses on jurisprudence, legal theory, legal education, bioethics (surrogacy, euthanasia), constitutional law, and natural law theory. He examines topics such as the legitimacy of law, moral subjectivism, and the role of religion in lawmaking. His work often intersects with public policy and ethical dilemmas in legal frameworks.

Publications: His articles address timely issues like the legal implications of surrogacy, euthanasia, and unjust laws. Notable works include Justice As Friendship: A Theory of Law (2016) and Radbruch’s Formula Revisited (2021). His writing spans academic journals, op-eds, and empirical studies on legal education.

Awards:

• SMU School of Law Teaching Award (multiple years)
• SMU Most Outstanding Teacher Award (2017-2018, 2014-2015)
• NUS Annual Teaching Excellence Awards (2005-2009)
• SMU Student Life Award

Grants & Research: He has led studies funded by the Ministry of Education, including projects on law firm internships and the impact of legal education on students’ professional identity. His work emphasizes empirical approaches to understanding legal practice and ethics.

Labs/Teams: While no specific labs are mentioned, his research involves collaborations on legal education and bioethics, often involving empirical methodologies and interdisciplinary teams.