Qualified Person
(Overseas Scheduled Universities)
Overview
Being a qualified person is a prerequisite for taking the Part B Course and Examinations, and for admission to the Singapore Bar as a Lawyer (Non-Practitioner)(“Lawyer (NP)”).
Registration as a Qualified Person
A qualified person who intends to apply for admission to the Singapore Bar as a Lawyer (NP) must apply to the SILE to be registered as a qualified person. The fee payable is S$218.00 (inclusive of GST).
For those who are applying to attend the Part B Course and Examinations, you do not need to make a separate application to register as a qualified person. You will be registered as a qualified person when you successfully apply for the Part B Course and Examinations.
Details on applying for registration can be found in the Guide to Application Process for Qualified Persons.
For those whose law degree is from one of the scheduled institutions of higher learning in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America (subject to Rules 10 and 11 of the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules (the “QP Rules”)), you must meet the following requirements to become a qualified person:
- you must be a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore;
- your degree must satisfy the requirements in the QP Rules (that is, your degree must be an approved law degree from an institution of higher learning specified in the QP Rules);
- you must pass Part A of the Singapore Bar Examinations; and
- you must complete 6 months of relevant legal training or have been engaged in relevant legal practice or work after passing the final examination for the applicable law degree.
A person who does not meet any of the stated conditions for admission to the Singapore Bar may apply to the Minister for Law for an exemption. Please visit the Ministry of Law’s website for information on exemption applications.
Overseas Scheduled Universities
A list of the scheduled institutions of higher learning under the QP Rules, and the applicable ranking requirements for their graduates, can be found below.
Institutes of Higher Learning in the United Kingdom
First Schedule of the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules
| University | Applicable Law Degree | Applicable Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| University of Birmingham | LL.B (Honours) | Attained at least lower second class honours or the equivalent thereof |
| University of Bristol | LL.B (Single Honours) | Attained at least lower second class honours or the equivalent thereof |
| University of Cambridge | B.A. Law | Attained at least lower second class honours or the equivalent thereof |
| University of Durham | LL.B (Honours) | Attained at least lower second class honours or the equivalent thereof |
| King’s College London (formerly known as King’s College London, University of London) | LL.B (Honours) | Attained at least lower second class honours or the equivalent thereof |
| London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London | LL.B (Honours) | Attained at least lower second class honours or the equivalent thereof |
| Queen Mary University of London (formerly known as Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London) | LL.B (Honours) | Attained at least lower second class honours or the equivalent thereof |
| University College London (formerly known as University College, University of London) | LL.B (Honours) | Attained at least lower second class honours or the equivalent thereof |
| University of Nottingham | LL.B (Honours) | Attained at least lower second class honours or the equivalent thereof |
| University of Oxford | B.A. (Honours) Jurisprudence | Attained at least lower second class honours or the equivalent thereof |
| University of Warwick | LL.B (Honours) | Attained at least lower second class honours or the equivalent thereof |
Note: Individuals intending to qualify under the UK universities from the First Schedule must have been conferred that degree on or after 1 January 1997.
Second Schedule of the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules
| University | Applicable Law Degree | Applicable Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| University of Exeter | LL.B (Honours) | Attained at least lower second class honours or the equivalent thereof |
| University of Leeds | LL.B (Honours) | Attained at least lower second class honours or the equivalent thereof |
| University of Leicester | LL.B (Honours) | Attained at least lower second class honours or the equivalent thereof |
| University of Liverpool | LL.B (Honours) | Attained at least lower second class honours or the equivalent thereof |
| School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London | LL.B (Honours) | Attained at least lower second class honours or the equivalent thereof |
| University of Manchester | LL.B (Honours) | Attained at least lower second class honours or the equivalent thereof |
| University of Sheffield | LL.B (Honours) | Attained at least lower second class honours or the equivalent thereof |
| University of Southampton | LL.B (Honours) | Attained at least lower second class honours or the equivalent thereof |
Note: Individuals intending to qualify under the UK universities from the Second Schedule must have gained admission as a candidate for the applicable law degree before 1 October 2015. Additionally, the individual must have been conferred that degree on or after 1 January 1997 but before 1 January 2025.
Institutions of Higher Learning in Australia
First Schedule of the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules
| University | Applicable Law Degree | Applicable Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Monash University | LL.B, LL.B (Honours), Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) | Highest 70%, in terms of academic performance, of the total number of graduates in the same batch |
| University of Melbourne | LL.B, LL.B (Honours), Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) | |
| University of New South Wales | LL.B, Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) | |
| University of Sydney | LL.B, LL.B (Honours), Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) |
Note: Individuals intending to qualify under the Australian universities from the First Schedule must have commenced reading on or after 1 January 1994 a course of study as a candidate for their degree, if the degree is a degree of Bachelor of Laws; or been conferred that degree on or after 1 December 2017, if the degree is a degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence.
Third Schedule of the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules
| University | Applicable Law Degree | Applicable Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Australian National University | LL.B, LL.B (Honours), Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) | Highest 70%, in terms of academic performance, of the total number of graduates in the same batch |
| Flinders University | LL.B, LL.B (Honours), Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) | |
| University of Queensland | LL.B, LL.B (Honours), Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) | |
| University of Western Australia | LL.B, LL.B (Honours), Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) |
Note: Individuals intending to qualify under the Australian universities from the Third Schedule must have been conferred their degree on or after 28 July 2003, if the degree is a degree of Bachelor of Laws; or conferred their degree on or after 1 December 2017, if the degree is a degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence.
Institutions of Higher Learning in New Zealand
First Schedule of the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules
| University | Applicable Law Degree | Applicable Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| University of Auckland | LL.B, LL.B (Honours) | Highest 70%, in terms of academic performance, of the total number of graduates in the same batch |
| Victoria University of Wellington | LL.B, LL.B (Honours) |
Note: Individuals intending to qualify under the New Zealand universities from the First Schedule must have commenced reading the applicable degree of Bachelor of Laws on or after 1 January 1994.
Fourth Schedule of the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules
| University | Applicable Law Degree | Applicable Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| University of Tasmania | LL.B, LL.B (Honours), Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) | Highest 70%, in terms of academic performance, of the total number of graduates in the same batch |
| Murdoch University | LL.B, LL.B (Honours), Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) |
Note: Individuals intending to qualify under the New Zealand universities from the Fourth Schedule must have been conferred their degree on or after 1 August 2005 if the degree is a degree of Bachelor of Laws; or conferred their degree on or after 1 December 2017, if the degree is a degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence.
Institutions of Higher Learning in the United States of America
Fifth Schedule of the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules
| University | Applicable Law Degree | Applicable Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard University | Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) | Highest 70%, in terms of academic performance, of the total number of graduates in the same batch |
| Columbia University | Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) | |
| New York University | Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) | |
| University of Michigan | Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) |
Note: Individuals intending to qualify under the United States of America universities from the Fifth Schedule must have been conferred the applicable law degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence on or after 1 January 2004.
IMPORTANT
The requirements to be a qualified person are determined by the Ministry of Law, and set out in the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules. The information presented on SILE’s webpages is for reference only, and is not a substitute for the applicable legislation. Unless otherwise stated, the information provided on SILE’s webpages assumes that a person was enrolled in an applicable law degree on or after 1 January 2006, or is intending to pursue a law degree but has not started yet.
Last Updated: 9 October 2025
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
If you are a local graduate, you become a qualified person on meeting all the relevant requirements set out in Part II of the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules.
If you are an overseas scheduled university graduate, you become a qualified person on meeting all the relevant requirements set out in Part III of the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules.
No. Only qualified persons are eligible to apply for the Part B Course and Examinations.
If you are not a qualified person but wish to sit for the Part B Course and Examinations, you will need to obtain the relevant exemption from the Minister for Law. Details of the exemption application procedure can be found on the Ministry of Law’s website.
Details of the exemption application procedure, including a list of supporting documents, can be found on the Ministry of Law’s website.
No. The SILE cannot apply for exemptions on behalf of any applicants. Applicants are to make their exemption applications themselves. Details of the exemption application procedure can be found on the Ministry of Law’s website.