Gavin Howe
To practice law in Singapore, one must meet the requirements of being a qualified person as defined in the Legal Profession Act and the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules. This includes obtaining a law degree from a recognized university, completing the Singapore Bar Examinations, and fulfilling other requirements set by the Singapore Institute of Legal Education, such as a character and suitability assessment. Additionally, individuals must complete a practice training period, which involves receiving supervised training related to practicing Singapore law. For those who are not eligible for admission to the Singapore Bar, there are alternatives for working in the legal field, such as registering as a foreign lawyer or practicing in permitted areas of Singapore law as a foreign practitioner.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Admission requirements | Meet all the requirements of being a "qualified person" as defined in the Legal Profession Act; fulfil the other admission requirements set out in Sections 12 and 13 of the Legal Profession Act; satisfactorily serve the practice training period; satisfactorily complete such courses of instruction as the Board of Directors of Singapore Institute of Legal Education may prescribe under section 10 |
| Practice training period | 6 months of supervised training related to practising Singapore law; obtain approval of the Singapore Institute of Legal Education as to how you are serving your practice training period; send a written request to the Institute's Bar Admissions and Examinations (Part B) Office stating when you are starting your training, how you are serving your training period, your supervising solicitor's name and other details, as well as the organisation and department of that officer |
| Training contract | Draft a training contract with a relevant law practice in Singapore |
| Bar examinations | Part A: 6-month course on 5 subjects including company law, criminal law, evidence, land law and the Singaporean legal system; Part B: 5-month course on 7 practical subjects plus 2 electives including Civil Litigation Practice, Criminal Litigation Practice, Insolvency Law and Practice, Real Estate Practice, Family Law Practice, and Ethics & Professional Responsibility |
| Registration | Register with the Singapore Institute of Legal Education; register with the Legal Services Regulatory Authority as a foreign lawyer under Part IXA of the Legal Profession Act to practise foreign law in Singapore; register with the Legal Services Regulatory Authority as a foreign practitioner under Section 36B of the Legal Profession Act to practise in permitted areas of Singapore law |
| Academic qualifications | Obtain a law degree from a recognised university; apply for a place on an approved law degree programme at the National University of Singapore (NUS), the Singapore Management University (SMU) or the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) |
| Alternatives for working in the legal field | Submit an application to the Minister for Law for an exemption; consider working as a foreign lawyer or foreign practitioner |
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What You'll Learn
Admission requirements
To practice law in Singapore, one must meet the requirements to be admitted to the Singapore Bar. Here are the admission requirements:
Academic Qualifications
Obtain a law degree from a recognised university. In Singapore, the National University of Singapore, Singapore Management University, and Singapore University of Social Sciences offer law degree programmes.
Bar Examinations
After obtaining a law degree, one must pass the Singapore Bar Examinations. Students with a law degree from a Singaporean university are required to take Part B of the Bar Exam, while overseas candidates from an approved university must complete both Part A and Part B. Part A covers five subjects: company law, criminal law, evidence, land law, and the Singaporean legal system, over a six-month period. Part B covers seven practical subjects and two electives, including Civil Litigation Practice, Criminal Litigation Practice, and Ethics & Professional Responsibility, over a five-month period.
Practice Training Period
A practice training period is required for admission as an advocate and solicitor. This involves receiving supervised training related to practicing Singapore law. The Singapore Institute of Legal Education must approve the training period, which typically lasts six months. During this time, one may work as a Legal Service Officer or under the supervision of a qualified legal officer.
Registration and Application
After passing the bar exams and completing the practice training period, individuals must register with the Singapore Institute of Legal Education and apply for admission to the Singapore Bar. The application must be in accordance with legal requirements, including the Legal Profession (Admission) Rules (LPAR) and Supreme Court Practice Directions.
Character and Suitability Assessment
The Singapore Institute of Legal Education requires individuals to undergo a character and suitability assessment as part of the admission process.
Continuing Professional Development
Individuals must also comply with Continuing Professional Development requirements, which may be set by the regulator and are subject to change.
It is important to note that the requirements for admission to the Singapore Bar may evolve, and it is the responsibility of aspiring lawyers to stay updated with the latest regulations.
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Singapore Bar Examinations
To practice law in Singapore, one must be admitted to the Singapore Bar. This requires meeting the requirements of being a "qualified person" as defined in the Legal Profession Act and the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules.
The Singapore Bar Examinations are a crucial aspect of the admission process for aspiring lawyers in Singapore. The examinations are administered by the Singapore Institute of Legal Education (SILE) and consist of two parts: Part A and Part B.
Part A of the Singapore Bar Examinations is mandatory for graduates of non-Singaporean universities. It covers five subjects: Administrative and Constitutional Law, Company Law, Criminal Law, Evidence, and Land Law. This part of the examination assesses the candidate's competence in Singaporean law, ensuring they possess the necessary knowledge to navigate the country's legal system.
Part B of the Singapore Bar Examinations is the more advanced stage, and it is offered annually, typically during the last week of November. This part of the examination covers eight practice areas, including Civil Law Practice, Criminal Law Practice, Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Family Law Practice, Real Estate Practice, and Insolvency Practice. Additionally, candidates can choose two electives from a list of subjects such as Mediation, Arbitration, and Intellectual Property. Passing Part B is a significant milestone, as it allows qualified persons to be called to the Bar.
However, it is important to note that passing the Singapore Bar Examinations alone does not automatically qualify an individual to practice law in Singapore. There are additional requirements, including completing a training contract. As of 2023, individuals who pass Part B of the Singapore Bar Examinations are required to complete a 12-month training contract before they can obtain a practicing certificate and commence their legal practice in Singapore. This training period ensures that aspiring lawyers receive practical experience and supervision before entering the profession.
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Training period
To practice law in Singapore, an individual must complete a training period. The duration of the training period is 12 months, although some sources state 6 months. The discrepancy may be due to the fact that individuals who have completed six months of training can apply for a Provisional Practising Certificate (PPC) to practice provisionally under the supervision of a solicitor.
The training period must be served under a training contract with a relevant law practice in Singapore. This contract must be drafted and submitted to the Singapore Institute of Legal Education (SILE) for approval. The individual must send a written request to the Institute's Bar Admissions and Examinations (Part B) Office, stating when they are starting their training, how they are serving their training period, the name of their supervising solicitor, and the organisation and department of that officer.
During the training period, individuals receive supervised training related to practicing Singapore law. They may receive this training by working as a Legal Service Officer or under the supervision of a qualifying relevant legal officer.
Upon completion of the training period, individuals are considered full-fledged lawyers certified to practice in Singapore.
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Registering as a foreign lawyer
To practice law in Singapore, one must meet the requirements of being a "qualified person" as defined in the Legal Profession Act. This includes fulfilling the admission requirements set out in Sections 12 and 13 of the Legal Profession Act, satisfactorily completing a practice training period, and attending and completing the necessary courses of instructions as prescribed by the Board of Directors of the Singapore Institute of Legal Education (SILE).
If you are not eligible for admission to the Singapore Bar, there are alternatives for working in the legal field in Singapore. One option is to register as a foreign lawyer. Foreign lawyers who are qualified and certified by the relevant authority in their jurisdiction can register with the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) under the Ministry of Law to practice foreign law in Singapore. This registration allows them to work in foreign law and international law but not Singapore Law, except in international commercial arbitration.
To practice Singapore Law as a foreign lawyer, one must attain a Foreign Practitioner Certificate (FPC) by passing the Foreign Practitioner Examinations (FPE). This certificate allows foreign-qualified lawyers to practice in specific areas of Singapore Law, such as banking and finance, mergers and acquisitions, and commercial and corporate law.
It is important to note that to register as a foreign lawyer in Singapore, one must have at least five years of experience in advocacy before any court or tribunal and be proficient in the English language to conduct proceedings. Additionally, the registration process requires an undertaking in the affidavit to comply with the Code of Ethics issued under the amended Legal Profession Act.
For those seeking to practice law in Singapore, it is essential to carefully review the requirements and alternatives available, as outlined by the Ministry of Law and the Singapore Institute of Legal Education.
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Applying for exemptions
To practice law in Singapore, one must be admitted to the Singapore Bar. This requires a combination of academic qualifications, practical training, and passing the Singapore Bar Examinations.
If you are not eligible for admission to the Singapore Bar, you may submit an application to the Minister for Law for an exemption. Each application for an exemption is considered on its individual merits and may be granted subject to conditions.
The process of becoming a lawyer in Singapore can take several years, and the requirements may change from time to time. It is important to keep yourself updated with the latest regulations and requirements set by the regulator, the Legal Services Regulatory Authority.
To apply for admission as a lawyer (non-practitioner) or an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court, you must meet the criteria for a qualified person as defined under Section 2 of the Legal Profession Act 1966. There are also other admission requirements set out in the Legal Profession (Admission) Rules 2011, such as satisfactorily completing a practice training period and prescribed courses of instruction.
If you are applying under the old law, you must refer to Section 48 of the Legal Profession (Amendment) Act 2023 to check if you are eligible to apply under the new law and obtain any necessary exemptions or extensions of time.
If you are registered to practise law in an overseas jurisdiction, you can register with the Legal Services Regulatory Authority as a foreign lawyer to practise foreign law in Singapore without needing to take any additional courses or examinations.
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Frequently asked questions
To practice law in Singapore, one must obtain a law degree from a recognised university, pass the Singapore Bar Examinations, complete a practice training contract, and apply for admission to the Singapore Bar.
To be eligible to take the Singapore Bar Examinations, one must obtain a law degree from a Singaporean university or an approved overseas university. Students with a law degree from a Singaporean university are required to take Part B of the Bar Exam, while overseas candidates must complete both Part A and Part B.
If you are not eligible for admission to the Singapore Bar, you may register with the Legal Services Regulatory Authority as a foreign lawyer to practice foreign law in Singapore or practice in permitted areas of Singapore law after passing the Foreign Practitioner Examinations (FPE).
