Admission to the Supreme Court of Singapore as Lawyer (Non-Practitioner)

Overview

Candidates may apply to be admitted as a Lawyer (Non-Practitioner) (“Lawyer (NP)”) if:

• They are qualified persons as defined in the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules; and
• They have completed the Part B Bar Course and passed Part B of the Singapore Bar Examinations (“Part B Examination”).

The requirements for admission are governed by the Legal Profession Act 1966, the Legal Profession (Admission) Rules 2024 (“Admission Rules 2024”), and the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules. 

Lawyers (NP) will have their names admitted to the roll of Lawyers (NP) and are officers of the Court.  However, being admitted as a Lawyer (NP) does not entitle you to apply for a practising certificate. Only Advocates and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Singapore may apply for practising certificates. Please refer to the Section on admission as an Advocate and Solicitor for the requirements to be admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor.

Important: The information below on the requirements for admission as a Lawyer (NP) is provided for general reference only. You are responsible for ensuring that your application complies with all applicable laws and rules. Please refer to the relevant legislation and official guidelines to ensure that you meet all necessary requirements. 

Requirements

The key requirements for admission as a Lawyer (NP) are as follows:

• being a qualified person;
• attending and satisfactorily completing the Part B Bar Course; and
• passing the Part B Examination.

Process

To apply for admission as a Lawyer (NP), you will need to file an originating application for admission under Rule 25 of the Admission Rules 2024. A hearing date will be fixed by the Supreme Court Registry, which will be at least 60 days from the date you file your application. 

You must file an affidavit in support of your application (“Supporting Affidavit”) and the Request for Hearing. The Request for Hearing is to be filed together with the Supporting Affidavit. The Supporting Affidavit can only be filed at least 30 days after your application is filed and no later than 21 days before the hearing date. Your Supporting Affidavit must include the following:

• A certificate from the SILE confirming that you are a qualified person and that you have attended and completed the Part B Bar Course and passed the Part B Bar Examinations (Form B(1) of the Admission Rules 2024); and 
• Two recent certificates of good character.

Important: A pass in the Part B Examinations is valid for five years for the purpose of admission as a Lawyer (NP). Your application for admission as a Lawyer (NP) should be made within this period.

Letter of No Objections / Notice of Objections

Any person who intends to object to your application for admission must file a notice of objection and serve it on the Attorney-General, the Law Society, the SILE and on you. This must be done not later than 30 days after the date on which you filed the application.

If the Attorney-General, Law Society of Singapore or the SILE (the “Stakeholders”) intends to object to your application, they must file a notice of objection and serve it on you at least 5 days before the hearing date.

If none of the three Stakeholders intends to object, each of them must serve you with a Letter of No Objection at least 5 days before the hearing date.

In deciding whether to object to your application, any of the three Stakeholders may require you to:

• Provide additional information or documents;
• Amend your affidavit to correct any errors; and/or
• Agree to a request for the hearing to be adjourned.

Declarations

You are required to make full and frank disclosure of any misconduct or facts that may affect your suitability to practise law as a Lawyer (NP) in Singapore, or as a legal practitioner elsewhere. This includes, but is not limited to, any findings by your university or other institution of higher learning that you engaged in deliberate assessment offences, such as plagiarism or cheating, whether or not disciplinary proceedings were formally initiated.

You must disclose such incidents even if no formal punishment was imposed or if you were only given a warning.

You must also disclose:

• Any ongoing investigations or complaints filed against you; and/or
• Any regulatory or legal offences you have committed.

If in doubt, it is always best to err on the side of caution and disclose the matter. Your disclosure must be specific, complete and supported with relevant documents.

Please refer to the Guide to Declaration(s) in the Admission Affidavit in Relation to Academic Misconduct and Deliberate Assessment Offences for further guidance.