Singapore legislation

Clause 22

of Legal Aid and Advice Bill

Clause 22

Privileges attaching to certain relationships

(1)

The like privileges and rights as those which arise from the relationship of client and solicitor acting in his professional employment shall arise from the following relationships:

(a)

the relationship between an applicant for legal aid and the Director and the solicitor (if any) to whom the application is referred;

(b)

the relationship between an aided person and the Director and the solicitor (if any) assigned to act for him in any proceedings to which a legal aid certificate relates;

(c)

the relationship between a person seeking legal advice and the Director and the solicitor (if any) who gives the advice.

(2)

Notwithstanding anything in subsection (1), the privileges therein referred to shall not arise in relation to any information tendered to the Director concerning the property or income of the applicant for a legal aid certificate.

(3)

Unless this Act or any regulations made thereunder otherwise provide, the rights conferred by this Act on a person receiving legal aid or legal advice, as the case may be, shall not affect the rights or liabilities of other parties to the proceedings or the principles on which the discretion of any court or tribunal is normally exercised.