Singapore legislation
Section 29
Section 29
Privileges of advocates and solicitors
(1)
Subject to the provisions of any written law, advocates and solicitors have the exclusive right to appear and plead in all courts of justice in Singapore according to the law in force in those courts; and as between themselves, subject to section 31, have the same rights and privileges without differentiation.
(2)
Nothing in subsection (1) affects the right which is hereby declared of —
the Attorney-General, a Deputy Attorney-General, the Solicitor‑General, State Counsel, Deputy Public Prosecutors and qualified persons appointed temporarily to perform the duties of those persons to appear and plead on behalf of the Government, or on behalf of any statutory board pursuant to section 3(1) or 4(1) of the Attorney‑General (Additional Functions) Act 2014, in those courts;
the Public Trustee, the Official Assignee, Assistant Public Trustees and Assistant Official Assignees to appear and plead in those courts under any of the provisions of any law relating to those offices; (c)the Director, a Deputy Director or an Assistant Director of Legal Aid to appear and plead in those courts under the provisions of the Legal Aid and Advice Act 1995 or the International Child Abduction Act 2010; and
a public officer mentioned in section 3(4)(b) of the Legal Aid and Advice Act 1995 to appear and plead in those courts under the provisions of that Act.
(3)
Despite subsection (1), an advocate and solicitor who practises in a Joint Law Venture or its constituent foreign law practice, a Qualifying Foreign Law Practice or a licensed foreign law practice is not entitled to practise Singapore law except in accordance with Part 4A and any rules made under section 36M.