Legal Profession (Professional Conduct) Rules 1998

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1 Citation and commencement

5 Practice in one firm only

6 Professional stationery and signs, etc.

7 Arrangements during absence

8 Supervision of employees and staff

10 Business, trade or calling

11 Executive appointment

12 Diligence and competence

14 Complete work in reasonable time

17 Keeping client informed

18 Receipt of client’s moneys or securities

19 Statement of accounts

20 Responding to clients

21 Explanation to client

22 No advice for illegal purpose

23 Authority of client’s agent

25 Conflict of interest

26 Disclosure of interest

28 Potential conflict of interests

29 Not to act for both parties in dispute

30 Not to act against client’s interests

31 Not to act against client

32 Definitions for purposes of rules 33 and 34

33 Prohibited borrowing transaction

34 Exempted borrowing transaction

36 Fees in contentious matters

37 Contingency fees prohibited

38 Gross overcharging

39 Unauthorised persons

41 Termination of retainer

43 Fees chargeable in conflict situation

44 Dissolution of firm

45 Purchases from client

46 Gift by will or inter vivos from client

47 Relationship with other advocates and solicitors

48 No communication with represented clients

50 Taking over brief

51 Professional undertaking

52 Responsibility for fees

53 Communications with other solicitors

54 Conduct of proceedings in client’s interest

56 Not to mislead or deceive Court

57 Client’s perjury or fraud

58 Duty to cease to act

59 Facts, arguments and allegations

60 Conduct of Court proceedings

61 Scandalous or annoying statements or questions

62 No communication with witness under cross-examination

63 Communication with Court

64 Solicitor not to act if he is a witness

65 Relationship with client or Court

66 Interviewing of witnesses

67 Statements to press or media

68 Payments to witnesses

70 Entering judgment by default

71 Allegations against another solicitor

72 Defending accused regardless of personal opinion

73 Duty of defence counse

74 Confession by client

75 Advising client to plead

76 Absence from criminal trial

77 Continuing to act if accused absconds

78 Disclosure of previous convictions

79 Evidence from accused

81 Acting after conviction and sentence

83 Presentation of case

84 Potential witnesses

85 Conflicting statements

86 Duty to assist Court

87 Unrepresented accused

88 Pending proceedings against accused

No. S 156

Legal Profession Act

(Chapter 161)

Legal Profession (Professional Conduct)
Rules 1998

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 71 of the Legal Profession Act, the Council of the Law Society of Singapore, with the approval of the Chief Justice, hereby makes the following Rules:

Citation and commencement

1. These Rules may be cited as the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct) Rules 1998 and shall come into operation on 1st June 1998.

PART I

PRELIMINARY

Application

2.—(1) These Rules shall apply to every advocate and solicitor who has in force a practising certificate.

(2) In the interpretation of these Rules, regard shall be had to the principle that an advocate and solicitor shall not in the conduct of his practice do any act which would compromise or hinder the following obligations:

(a)	to maintain the Rule of Law and assist in the administration of justice;
(b)	to maintain the independence and integrity of the profession;
(c)	to act in the best interests of his client and to charge fairly for work done; and
(d)	to facilitate access to justice by members of the public.

(3) These Rules shall, to the extent of any inconsistency, prevail over the Practice Directions and Rulings 1989 issued by the Law Society or any additions or amendments thereto.

Definitions

3. In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires —

“Court” means any court, tribunal, board or committee where an advocate and solicitor appears as a representative of another person, whether or not for a fee;

“firm” means a firm of advocates and solicitors and includes a sole-proprietorship and partnership of 2 or more advocates and solicitors;

“Judge” means a Judge of the Supreme Court, a District Judge, Magistrate, Coroner or any person presiding over a court or statutory tribunal.

Made this 5th day of December 1997.

CHANDRA MOHAN K NAIR

President,
Council of the Law Society of
Singapore.

Approved this 29th day of December 1997.

YONG PUNG HOW

Chief Justice,
Singapore.

[LS/72/93;AG/LEG/SL/161/97/1 Vol.1]

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