Practice Training

Serving Practice Training in a Qualifying Entity

Practice trainees can serve up to 3 months of their practice training period in the legal department of a qualifying entity.

A qualifying entity is a sole proprietorship, partnership, or body corporate which is not a Singapore law practice and has a legal department which:

• Handles Singapore law-related work;
• Employs at least three individuals admitted to practise in Singapore or elsewhere; and
• Employs at least one individual who meets the requirements to be a supervisor in a qualifying entity.

To be a supervisor in a qualifying entity, a person must:

• be in full‑time employment in the legal department of the qualifying entity during the practice training period served by the practice trainee with the qualifying entity;
• be an advocate and solicitor who, for a total of not less than 5 out of the 7 years immediately preceding the date of starting his or her supervision of the practice trainee, is in full‑time employment in the legal department of a qualifying entity or has in force a practising certificate; and
• meet any other requirements specified by the Institute in any guidelines issued.

For the period served with the qualifying entity to count as the completion of a Secondary Seat, the practice trainee must complete all of the checklist requirements under the Practice Area Checklist for working in an in-house legal department. This Secondary Seat will be a Solicitor Seat. If the checklist is not completed, the period served may still count towards the 12-month practice training period, but the practice trainee will not be considered to have fulfilled a Secondary Seat through serving the practice training with the qualifying entity.

Do note that practice training must be served under a practice training contract with the qualifying entity. This practice training contract is separate from any practice training contract with a Singapore law practice.

Last Updated: 18 September 2024