2. The Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules (R 15) are amended by inserting, immediately after rule 15, the following rule:| “Exemption for lower second class honours, etc. |
15A.—(1) Subject to the requirements in this rule, the Board may exempt any person from any of the requirements in rules 8(2)(ii)(A), 9(1)(a), 9(2)(a), 9(2A)(a) or 9A(1)(b).(2) A person shall not apply for an exemption under paragraph (1) unless —| (a) | the person is a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore; | | (b) | in the case of an application for exemption from any of the requirements, as the case may be, in —| (i) | rule 8(2)(ii)(A), the person has attained at least lower second class honours or the equivalent thereof in relation to the degree referred to therein; | | (ii) | rule 9(1)(a), the person has been ranked by the institution of higher learning referred to therein as being amongst the highest 70%, in terms of academic performance, of the total number of the graduates in the same batch referred to therein; | | (iii) | rule 9(2)(a), the person has been ranked by the institution of higher learning referred to therein as being amongst the highest 70%, in terms of academic performance, of the total number of the graduates in the same batch referred to therein; | | (iv) | rule 9(2A)(a), the person has been ranked by the institution of higher learning referred to therein as being amongst the highest 70%, in terms of academic performance, of the total number of the graduates in the same batch referred to therein; or | | (v) | rule 9A(1)(b), the person has been ranked by the institution of higher learning referred to therein as being amongst the highest 70%, in terms of academic performance, of the total number of the graduates in the same batch referred to therein; and |
| | (c) | either the person —| (i) | is a solicitor of England and Wales or of Hong Kong; or | | (ii) | has, after obtaining the degree referred to in sub-paragraph (b), been engaged in work of a legal nature for at least 3 years and obtained relevant legal experience. |
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(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(c)(ii), work of a legal nature includes prosecution, advocacy, drafting of legal documents, rendering of legal opinions, legal research and preparation for litigation or arbitration —| (a) | in a law firm in Singapore or elsewhere; | | (b) | as an Assistant Public Prosecutor or legal executive in the Attorney-General’s Chambers; | | (c) | as a legal executive (whatever job title may be used) in a law office in the public service or a statutory board; or | | (d) | as a legal counsel in a corporation or an entity (whether publicly listed or otherwise) in Singapore or elsewhere, including a multinational corporation or an international organisation. |
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| (4) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(c)(ii), the requirement for engagement in work of a legal nature for at least 3 years may be satisfied by engagement in such work for 3 years in aggregate out of a continuous period of 5 years immediately preceding the application for an exemption under paragraph (1). |
(5) In deciding whether to grant or to refuse an exemption under paragraph (1), the Board may —| (a) | require the applicant to appear before an interview panel appointed by the Board under rule 10A of the Legal Profession Rules (R3); | | (b) | consider the report of the interview panel; and | | (c) | consider the academic performance, work experience and work performance of the applicant, and such other qualifications of the applicant or any other factor that the Board thinks fit. |
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| (6) For the avoidance of doubt, the Board may refuse to grant an exemption under paragraph (1) notwithstanding that the applicant satisfies all the requirements in paragraph (2). |
| (7) The Board may, in granting an exemption under paragraph (1), impose such terms and conditions as the Board thinks fit. |
| (8) In this rule, “public service” means service under the Government.”. |
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