Singapore legislation
Section 20
Section 20
Right to and nature of legal advice
(1)
Subject to this Part, legal advice is available to persons resident and present in Singapore.
(2)
Any legal advice under subsection (1) may consist of any of the following:
oral advice, by the Director or a solicitor whose name is on an appropriate panel of solicitors maintained under section 4, on any matter that may result in any proceedings for which legal aid may be given;
advice and assistance in preparing legal documents for purposes that are not related to any proceedings for which legal aid may be given;
any other matter that may be prescribed,but does not include any advice, assistance or other matter in respect of any law that is not the law of Singapore.
(3)
Provision may be made by regulations made under this Act for further defining or restricting the matters for which legal advice may be given and for regulating all matters relating to fees, charges and costs in relation to the giving of legal advice.
(4)
A person seeking legal advice must apply to the Director, and must satisfy the Director that the person cannot afford to obtain the legal advice in the ordinary way.
(5)
Where a person who desires to be given legal advice is a minor, the application must be made on behalf of the minor by the minor’s guardian.