Ministry of Law Legal Services Regulatory Authority Singapore

Includes licensing requirements for key professional services offered to U.S. service providers. The Legal Services Regulatory Authority licenses all qualified foreign law firms and lawyers in Singapore and provides a searchable online directory of all Singaporean lawyers holding a certificate. www.mlaw.gov.sg/about-us/what-we-do/legal-services-regulatory-authority//> With the exception of law degrees from a handful of designated US, UK, Australian and New Zealand universities, no foreign university degree is recognized for admission to practice law in Singapore. Under the USSFTA, Singapore recognizes law degrees from Harvard University, Columbia University, New York University, and the University of Michigan. Singapore will admit a citizen or graduate of the Faculty of Law of designated universities who is in the top 70% of its graduation class or who has received lower second-class awards (under the UK system) to the Singapore Chamber of Profession. For more information on the structure of Singapore`s legal services, please contact the Singapore Legal Service and the Ministry of Justice. The Law Society of Singapore represents all lawyers in Singapore. The Bar Association`s portal provides information about Singapore`s legal system and other information that may be useful to the public.

The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) is responsible for the regulation of solicitors and barristers in Ireland. It was established in 2016 under the Legal Services Regulation Act, 2015. The LSRA is independent in the exercise of its functions. The Ministry of Justice regulates the legal sector and implements policies aimed at making Singapore an international centre for legal services and dispute resolution. Legal Services: The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) under the Ministry of Justice oversees the regulation, licensing and compliance of all law firms, as well as the registration of foreign lawyers in Singapore. Law firms with a Chartered Foreign Law Firm (FLP) may provide the full range of legal services in foreign and international law, but may not practice Singaporean law except in international commercial arbitration. To practice Singaporean law, foreign law firms require a Foreign Law Practice License (QFLP), a Joint Venture (JLV) with a Singaporean Law Firm (SLP) or a Formal Law Alliance (FLA) with an SLP. Most of Singapore`s 130 foreign law firms operate FLPs, while QFLP, JLV and FLA are all in single digits. A legal joint venture is a collaboration between a foreign law firm and a law firm in Singapore, which can be established as a partnership or company. The Director of Legal Services of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (SLRA) will consider all relevant circumstances, including the proposed structure and its overall relevance to achieving the purposes for which legal joint ventures may be established.

There are currently two U.S. law firms with legal joint ventures in Singapore. U.S. and foreign attorneys may represent parties to arbitration without the need for a Singapore attorney to attend. There is no clear indication of the percentage of shares that each JLV partner can hold in the JLV. www.mlaw.gov.sg/content/minlaw/en/practising-as-a-lawyer/AdmissionRequirements.html Please also note that the Department of Justice has issued a recommendation regarding legal practices on enhanced security measures. Please click here. Law firms can update their disclosures by submitting an update request online through the RSSA`s electronic services. Please click here for more information on submitting update requests.

Legal Professions Act (Chapter 161) Legal profession (professional practice) Rules Legal profession (international services) 2008 Rules Legal profession (qualified persons) Rules Legal profession (license) Legal profession (law firms) 2015 Rules Legal profession (regulatees) Legal profession (regulatees) 2015 Rules Legal profession (amended application of the International Services Act) 2015 Rules. Engineering and Architectural Services: Engineering and architectural offices can work 100% abroad Be the possession. Engineers and architects must register with the Professional Engineers Board and the Board of Architects Singapore, Advocate of the Supreme Court of Singapore You will be reminded to check and ensure that your law firm`s contact information with the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) is accurate and up-to-date to obtain the latest important information from the Ministry of Justice. The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (“LSRA”) was established as a department of the Ministry of Justice on 18 November 2015 following recommendations made by the Singapore Legal Services Regulatory Review Committee (“Regulatory Committee”) in January 2014 (click here for the Committee`s report). Apply for a law firm, limited liability partnership or corporate license by Law Corporation See sample form (PDF/573kb) (not applicable to applications). Singapore Institute of Legal Education (SILE), The Law Society of Singapore (Law Society) and Attorney-General`s Chambers (AGC). – SILE ensures that any person wishing to apply for an authorisation fulfils the eligibility conditions before submitting an application for authorisation. The Law Society and the MCO assess the suitability of the person for admission as a barrister and advocate of the Supreme Court of Singapore after the application for admission has been submitted to the Supreme Court. The LSRA is headed by the Director of Legal Services (“DLS”), who oversees the regulation of all law firms and the registration of foreign lawyers in Singapore. Non-lay members are proposed for appointment by:. Registering a foreign lawyer as a director, partner or shareholder of a Singaporean law firm or participating in the profits of a law firm in Singapore See sample form (PDF/500kb) (not applicable to applications) QFLP licenses allow foreign law firms (FLPs) to practice in the licensed areas of Singaporean law, which excludes constitutional and administrative law, criminal law, family law, inheritance law and fiduciary law. As of December 2020, there were nine QFLPs in Singapore, including five US companies.

The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) is a statutory body of the Ministry of Justice responsible for administering the intellectual property regime in Singapore. The IPOS portal provides information on the different types of IP and how to register them. The LSRA has 11 members, the majority of whom are lay members (not lawyers or lawyers), including its President. The appointment of lay members is proposed by: See sample form (PDF/239kb) (not applicable to nominations) The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (SRA) was created on November 18, 2015 as a division of the Department of Justice. The LSRA performs the following key functions, previously performed by the Legal Professions Secretariat of the Office of the Attorney General and the Law Society: licensing or registration of all law firms; Defines the commercial criteria and licensing conditions applicable to the various structures of lawyers; Oversee law firms` compliance with business criteria and licensing conditions; Approves agreements for cooperation in Singapore`s legal practices involving foreign ownership, profit-sharing or competing partnership; and registers foreign lawyers and regulated non-practitioners.