Admission to the Singapore Bar

Overview

To be admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor, you must first be an eligible person under the Legal Profession Act 1966 (the “Legal Profession Act”).

An eligible person is:

• A Lawyer (Non-Practitioner) (“Lawyer (NP)”) (i.e. someone who has already been admitted as a Lawyer (NP)); or
• A person who has been approved by the Minister for Law under section 14(1) of the Legal Profession Act.

Under section 14(1) of the Legal Profession Act, if you are not a Lawyer (NP), you may apply to the Minister for Law to be approved as an eligible person. The Minister may, at their discretion, grant such approval if satisfied that you possess the qualifications, expertise, standing or relevant experience that would contribute to the quality of legal services in Singapore, or to Singapore’s economic or technological development. The Minister may also impose conditions and will issue a written notice if your application is approved.

Important: The information below on the requirements for admission as an Advocate and Solicitor 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

If you have been admitted as a Lawyer (NP), you are an eligible person and may apply for admission as an Advocate and Solicitor after completing a 12-month Practice Training Period in accordance with the Legal Profession (Admission) Rules 2024 (“Admission Rules 2024”). You must fulfil the Practice Training Period unless you are granted an exemption from the same under Section 14 of the Legal Profession Act. Exemptions are granted at the discretion of the Minister for Law.

Process

To apply for admission as an Advocate and Solicitor, you must file an originating application under Rule 42 of the Admission Rules 2024. A hearing date will be set by the Supreme Court Registry, and the date will be at least 60 days after the date of 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 stating that you have served the practice training period (Form B(2) of the Admission Rules 2024);
• The instrument of call as a lawyer (NP);
• Two recent certificates of good character; and
• In the case of an applicant who is required to serve a Practice Training Period, the applicable Certificate(s) of Diligence, or such other evidence as the Court may require, to show that you have served your Practice Training Period diligently.

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 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 an Advocate and Solicitor 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 also disclose any ongoing investigations or complaints filed against you, and/or any regulatory or legal offences you have committed.

This applies to all relevant facts, including those not raised in your application for admission as a Lawyer (NP). If such matters were already declared during your Lawyer (NP) application, they must be restated under paragraph 6 of Form A(2), together with details on how the matter was resolved. Any facts that were not previously disclosed, or which arose during the course of your Lawyer (NP) application process, must also be declared under paragraph 6 of Form A(2).

In addition, any new relevant facts that have arisen since the date of your admission as a Lawyer (NP) must be declared under paragraph 8(c), where applicable.

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.

Overview

Please refer to the savings and transitional provisions under the Legal Profession (Amendment) Act 2023 and the Legal Profession (Admission) Rules 2024 to determine whether you fall under the Legal Profession (Admission) Rules 2011 (the “old framework”).

You may refer to the Ministry of Law’s website for more information on applying for exemptions and the infographics below. 

If you have questions or concerns about the above and/or your eligibility for admission to the Singapore Bar under the old admission framework, please contact the SILE or the Ministry of Law.

Procedure

If the old admission framework is applicable to you, you may refer to the Guide to Procedure for Admission As Advocate & Solicitor (Transitional Provisions).