Legal Profession Act 1966
Table of Contents
Long Title
Part 1 PRELIMINARY
1 Short title
2 Interpretation
Part 1A DIRECTOR OF LEGAL SERVICES
2A Appointment of Director of Legal Services
2B Investigation of law practice entity by Director of Legal Services
2C Power to require documents or information
2D Power to enter premises under warrant
2E Cooperation between Director of Legal Services and Attorney‑General, Registrar, Institute, Council or Society, etc.
2F Power to require law practice entity to provide information
2G Refusal to provide information, etc.
2H Destroying or falsifying documents
2I Protection from personal liability
Part 2 SINGAPORE INSTITUTE OF LEGAL EDUCATION
3 Establishment of Institute
4 Functions and powers of Institute
5 Board of Directors of Institute
6 Appointment of Dean of Institute, officers and employees
7 Appointment of committees and delegation
8 Meetings of Board of Directors of Institute
9 Passing of resolution of Board of Directors of Institute by written means
10 Rules relating to legal education, continuing professional development, and admission of lawyers (NP) and of advocates and solicitors
10AA Extension or abridgment of time
10A Protection from personal liability
11 Dissolution of Board of Legal Education and transfer to Institute of property, existing contracts, etc.
Part 2AA ADMISSION OF LAWYERS (NP)
11A Admission as lawyer (NP) of Supreme Court
11B Requirements for admission as lawyer (NP) of Supreme Court
11C Powers of Minister in relation to requirements for admission as lawyer (NP) of Supreme Court
11D Roll of lawyers (NP)
11E Rules for this Part
Part 2A ADMISSION OF ADVOCATES AND SOLICITORS
12 Admission as advocate and solicitor of Supreme Court
13 Requirements for admission as advocate and solicitor
14 Powers of Minister in relation to requirements for admission as advocate and solicitor
15 Ad hoc admissions
16 Roll of advocates and solicitors
17 (Repealed)
Part 2B PROVISIONAL PRACTISING CERTIFICATES
18 Issue of provisional practising certificate
19 Power of Attorney-General, Registrar and Council with respect to issue of provisional practising certificates in certain circumstances
20 Power of Registrar to refuse or suspend provisional practising certificate for non-payment of certain sums
21 Appeals in connection with issue of provisional practising certificates
22 Medical examination required in certain circumstances
23 Disqualification for provisional practising certificates, etc.
24 Register of provisional practitioners
24A Imposition of conditions while provisional practising certificates in force
24B Referral to Disciplinary Tribunal and suspension of provisional practising certificates
24C Cancellation of provisional practising certificates
Part 3 PRACTISING CERTIFICATES
25 Practising certificates
25A Power of Attorney-General, Registrar and Council with respect to issue of practising certificates in certain circumstances
25AA Power of Registrar to refuse or suspend practising certificate for non‑payment of certain sums
25B Appeals in connection with issue of practising certificates
25C Medical examination required in certain circumstances
26 Disqualification for practising certificates
27 Register of practitioners
27A Imposition of conditions while practising certificates are in force
27B Referral to Disciplinary Tribunal and suspension of practising certificates
28 Cancellation of practising certificates
Part 4 PRIVILEGES OF ADVOCATES AND SOLICITORS
29 Privileges of advocates and solicitors
30 Appointment of Senior Counsel
31 Order of precedence of Senior Counsel in court
32 Requirements for practice and unauthorised persons
33 Unauthorised person acting as advocate or solicitor
34 Qualifications to section 33
35 Sections 32 and 33 not to extend to arbitration proceedings
35A Order to repay upon conviction under section 33
35B Sections 32 and 33 not to extend to mediation
36 No costs recoverable by unauthorised person
Part 4A REGISTRATION OF FOREIGN LAWYERS, SOLICITORS IN FOREIGN LAW PRACTICES AND NON-PRACTITIONERS, ETC.
36A Interpretation of this Part
36B Registration of foreign lawyer to practise both Singapore law and foreign law in Singapore
36C Registration of foreign lawyer to practise foreign law in Singapore
36D Registration of foreign lawyer to be director, partner or shareholder in, or to share in profits of, Singapore law practice
36E Registration of solicitor to practise Singapore law in Joint Law Venture or its constituent foreign law practice, Qualifying Foreign Law Practice or licensed foreign law practice
36F (Repealed)
36G Registration of regulated non-practitioner
36H Application for and renewal of registration under this Part
36I Compliance with guidelines, directions, undertakings and conditions
36J Appeal against decision of Director of Legal Services under this Part, etc.
36K Failure to register or furnish information
36L Civil penalty
36M Rules for this Part
36N Powers of Minister in relation to registration requirements
Part 4B REPRESENTATION IN SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL COURT
36O Interpretation of this Part
36P Registration of foreign lawyer to act in relation to relevant proceedings
36PA Registration of law expert to act in relation to relevant proceedings
36Q Appointing committee
36R Instructing authority
36S Complaints against foreign lawyers registered under section 36P and law experts registered under section 36PA
36T Application for review of decision of complaints committee
36U Application for cancellation of registration under section 36P or 36PA, etc.
36V Restriction of judicial review
36W Provisions as to penalties payable under this Part
36X Protection from personal liability
36Y Rules for this Part
Part 5 THE LAW SOCIETY OF SINGAPORE
Division 1 — Establishment, purposes and powers of Society
37 Establishment of Society
38 Purposes and powers of Society
Division 2 — Members of Society and subscriptions
39 Membership
40 Practising solicitors to be members
40A Associate members
41 Non-practitioner members
42 Honorary members
43 Privileges of membership
44 Expulsion and suspension of rights and privileges
45 Termination of membership
46 Annual subscription to Society
Division 3 — Council of Society
47 Council
48 Statutory members
49 Elected members
Division 4 — Election of members of Council
50 Compulsory voting
51 Elections
52 Nominations
53 Insufficient nominations
54 Council’s term of office
55 Casual vacancies
Division 5 — Officers of Council
56 President, vice‑presidents and treasurer
57 Vacation of office of member of Council
Division 6 — Powers of Council
58 General powers of Council
59 Specific powers of Council
60 Appointment of committees of Council
61 Power of Council to inspect files of proceedings in bankruptcy of solicitor or winding up of law corporation or limited liability law partnership
62 Power of Council to accept gifts, etc.
63 Representation in court
Division 7 — Proceedings of Council
64 Meetings of Council
64A Passing of resolution of Council by written means
65 Expenses of members
66 Proceedings of Council, Review Committee and Inquiry Committee to be confidential
Division 8 — General meetings of Society
67 Annual general meeting
68 Extraordinary general meeting
69 Voting
70 Convening and procedure
Part 5A PREVENTION OF MONEY LAUNDERING, TERRORISM FINANCING AND FINANCING OF PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
70A Interpretation of this Part
70B Prohibition against anonymous accounts
70C Customer due diligence measures
70D Suspicious transaction reporting
70E Keeping of records
70F Powers of inspection by Council
70G Contravention of this Part
70H Rules for prevention of money laundering, terrorism financing and financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
Part 5B UNCLAIMED MONEY FUND
70I Interpretation of this Part
70J Unclaimed Money Fund
70K Transfer of unclaimed client money to Fund
70L Application for payment of transferred unclaimed client money
70M Application of law
70N Rules for this Part
Part 6 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE, CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE
71 Professional Conduct Council and rules as to professional practice, etiquette, conduct and discipline, etc.
72 Rules as to keeping of accounts by solicitors
73 Accountant’s report
74 Intervention in solicitor’s practice
75 Compensation Fund
75A Professional indemnity
75B Redress for inadequate professional services
75C Qualification to practise as sole proprietor, partner or director of Singapore law practice
75D Qualification to use title of consultant
76 Solicitors who are commissioners for oaths or notaries public
77 Solicitor not to act as agent for any unauthorised person
78 Employment or remuneration of certain persons by solicitor
79 Acting for housing developer and purchaser prohibited
80 Account by solicitor
81 Interim certificate
Part 6A
[Repealed by Act 40 of 2014]
Part 6B
Part 7 DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS
82 Jurisdiction of Supreme Court over solicitors, Judicial Service Officers, Legal Service Officers and PD Officers
82A Disciplinary proceedings against Judicial Service Officers, Legal Service Officers, PD Officers and non-practising solicitors
82B Disciplinary proceedings against regulated non-practitioners
83 Power to strike off roll of advocates and solicitors, etc.
83A Power to discipline regulated foreign lawyers
84 Appointment of Inquiry Panel
85 Complaints against regulated legal practitioners
86 Inquiry
87 Council’s consideration of report
88 Council’s power to give warning, reprimand or order penalty
89 Application to appoint Disciplinary Tribunal
90 Appointment of Disciplinary Tribunal
91 Proceedings and powers of Disciplinary Tribunal
91A Restriction of judicial review
92 Complaint made by Judge, etc., or Attorney-General
93 Findings of Disciplinary Tribunal
94 Society to apply to court if cause of sufficient gravity exists
94A Society to apply to court for cases involving fraud or dishonesty, or under section 33
95 Provisions as to penalties ordered by Council under section 88(1) or 94(3)(a)
96 Procedure for complainant dissatisfied with Council’s determination under section 87(1)(a) or (b)
97 Application for review of Disciplinary Tribunal’s decision
97A Remedial measures
98 Application for order that solicitor be struck off roll of advocates and solicitors, etc.
98A Provisions as to penalties ordered by court
99 Drawing up of order
100 Solicitor’s application to remove own name
101 Adverse orders to be noted on roll of advocates and solicitors
102 Replacement on roll of advocates and solicitors of name of solicitor who has been struck off
103 Costs
104 Absence of person under inquiry
105 Provisions as to evidence
106 No action in absence of bad faith
Part 8 REMUNERATION RECEIVED BY SINGAPORE LAW PRACTICES OR SOLICITORS, OR IN RESPECT OF PRACTICE OF SINGAPORE LAW
106A Application of this Part
107 Prohibition of certain stipulations
108 Orders as to remuneration of solicitors, law corporations or limited liability law partnerships for non-contentious business
109 Agreements with respect to remuneration for non-contentious business
110 Remuneration of solicitor who is mortgagee
111 Agreement as to costs for contentious business
112 Effect of agreements with respect to contentious business
113 Enforcement of agreements
114 Death or incapability of solicitor after agreement
115 Change of solicitor after agreement
Part 8A CONDITIONAL FEE AGREEMENTS
115A Application and interpretation of this Part
115B Conditional fee agreement for prescribed proceedings
115C Effect of conditional fee agreement
115D Enforcement of conditional fee agreement
115E Death or incapacity of solicitor or foreign lawyer or winding up or dissolution of law practice entity after conditional fee agreement made
115F Change of solicitor, foreign lawyer or law practice entity after conditional fee agreement
Part 9 RECOVERY AND ASSESSMENT OF COSTS
116 Interpretation and application of this Part
117 Charging orders
118 Solicitor not to commence action for fees until one month after delivery of bills
119 Court may authorise action for recovery of fees before expiry of one month after delivery of bills
120 Order for assessment of delivered bill of costs
121 Costs of order for assessment
122 Time limit for assessment of bills of costs
123 Applications for assessment to contain submission to pay
124 Order for delivery of bill of costs to be obtained as of course
125 Solicitor to deliver copy of bill of costs
126 Preparation of bills of costs as between solicitor and client
127 Interest in respect of disbursements and advances
128 How costs of assessment to be borne
129 Interest on client’s money
130 Costs of Government
Part 9A LAW PRACTICE ENTITIES
Division 1 — Law Firms
131 Licensing of law firms
132 Name of law firm
133 Regulatory control over law firm
134 Appeal against decision of Director of Legal Services under this Division
135 Register of law firms
136 Rules on law firms
Division 2 — Limited Liability Law Partnerships
137 Interpretation of this Division
138 Licensing of limited liability law partnerships
139 Name of limited liability law partnership
140 Effect of becoming limited liability law partnership
141 Relationship between client and limited liability law partnership
142 Professional misconduct
143 Effect of disciplinary action
144 Additional grounds for winding up limited liability law partnership
145 Regulatory control over limited liability law partnership
146 Appeal against decision of Director of Legal Services under this Division
147 Register of limited liability law partnerships
148 This Division to prevail over inconsistent provisions of limited liability partnership agreement
149 Application of Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005 and other written law to limited liability law partnerships
150 Rules on limited liability law partnerships
151 Reference in other written law
Division 3 — Law Corporations
152 Interpretation of this Division
153 Licensing of law corporations
154 Name of law corporation
155 Effect of company becoming law corporation
156 Relationship between client and law corporation
157 Professional misconduct
158 Requirements as to alteration of memorandum or articles of association or constitution
159 Shares of law corporation, etc.
160 Additional grounds for winding up law corporation
161 Regulatory control over law corporation
162 Appeal against decision of Director of Legal Services under this Division
163 Register of law corporations
164 This Division to prevail over inconsistent provisions of memorandum and articles of association or constitution
165 Application of Companies Act 1967 and other written law to law corporations
166 Rules on law corporations
167 Reference in other written law
Division 4 — Joint Law Ventures, Formal Law Alliances, Foreign Law Practices, Representative Offices and Foreign Interests in Singapore Law Practices
168 Interpretation of this Division
169 Joint Law Venture
170 Formal Law Alliance
171 Qualifying Foreign Law Practice
172 Licensed foreign law practice
173 Representative office
174 Regulatory control over Joint Law Venture or Formal Law Alliance
175 Regulatory control over Qualifying Foreign Law Practice or licensed foreign law practice
176 Foreign interests in Singapore law practices
177 Measures to ensure compliance with section 176
178 Application for and renewal of licence or approval under this Division
179 Compliance with guidelines, directions, undertakings and conditions
180 Appeal against decision of Director of Legal Services under this Division, etc.
181 Failure to apply for licence, register or furnish information
182 Civil penalty
183 Liability of partners, directors and shareholders
184 Rules for this Division
Division 5 — Group practices
184A Formation of group practices
184B Rules for this Division
Part 10 MISCELLANEOUS
185 General provision as to rules
186 Offices of Institute and Society
187 Service of documents
188 Recovery of moneys by Institute and Society
189 Rules Committee to prescribe certain fees and costs
190 Relief to banks
191 Jurisdiction of court
192 Interlocutory applications in certain proceedings
193 Rules for certain proceedings
194 Court of 3 Supreme Court Judges may conduct hearing through electronic means of communication
Legislative History
Abbreviations
Comparative Table