Justice Judith Prakash is the legal titan who has paved the way for women's success in law

A flurry of activity has disrupted the staid silence of the Supreme Court Library. Standing between shelves of law volumes, Singapore's first female Judge of Appeal, Justice Judith Prakash, smiles for the camera during a photo shoot for this story.

"You look great, very endearing," says the photographer. To this, Judith responds as she chuckles with amusement: "It's not a term I'm usually associated with." The petite 72-year-old strikes a strong presence. She speaks with a gentle eloquence, underlined by conviction. Judith is measured and thoughtful in her answers, but every so often, a witty quip surfaces.

For the attorneys who have presented their cases before her, she cuts a no-nonsense figure, known to admonish those who do not adhere to the strict dress code of the Supreme Court. One oftenshared anecdote tells of how male lawyers would keep a "Justice Prakash tie" in their wardrobes - in solid black, no less - for when their paths should cross.

Judith may be more stern than endearing in the courtroom, but to many women lawyers here - whether they are seasoned professionals or aspiring rookies - she is an inspiration; an example that they, too, could one day make the Bench like her.

Widely respected for her expertise in commercial law, and for being one of the first women in Singapore on the Supreme Court (the first being Justice Lai Siu Chiu in 1991) in 1992, Judith was named Judicial Commissioner, and became a Supreme Court Judge three years later. During her 31 years on the Bench, she has also served as a High Court Judge, and Justice of Appeal.

Throughout her career, Judith authored approximately 645 judgments, with over 50 per cent of them selected by a panel for inclusion in law reports. In 1991, she was part of the sub-committee that reviewed arbitration laws (which involves resolving disputes through a neutral third party who issues a binding decision) and made recommendations that led to the enactment of the International Arbitration Act 1994. It explains the steps that need to be followed during the arbitration process, and details the rights of the people involved, the powers of the arbitration panel, and what the courts can do in these situations.