Clause 13

The Second Schedule shall have effect with respect to the provision by solicitors of services on or after the appointed day which are not of the quality which it is reasonable to expect of them.(2) In this section and section 75C, “appointed day” means such date as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, appoint for the purposes of this section and section 75C; and the Minister may appoint different dates for the purposes of this section and of section 75C.Qualification to practise as sole proprietor or in partnership75C.—

No solicitor, who is admitted as a solicitor on or after the appointed day, may practise as a solicitor on his own account or in partnership unless he —

has successfully completed such legal practice management course within such time as the Council may by rules made under section 71 prescribe; and

has, since being admitted as a solicitor, been employed for not less than 3 continuous years or 3 years out of a continuous period of 5 years in the practice of a solicitor in Singapore; or

has been employed as a legal officer for not less than 3 continuous years or 3 years out of a continuous period of 5 years.(2) The Council may, with the approval of the Minister, exempt a solicitor from subsection (1)(a) or shorten any period referred to in subsection (1)(b) and (c) if it is satisfied that the solicitor has gained substantial experience in law in Singapore or elsewhere.(3) Subsection (1) shall not apply to a solicitor who practises in partnership with any solicitor who has been in active practice in Singapore for not less than 3 continuous years or 3 years out of a continuous period of 5 years.(4) Any solicitor who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.(5) For the purposes of this section and section 75D, “legal officer” includes a legal officer of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore or of such other statutory corporation as the Minister may prescribe.Qualification to use title of consultant75D.—

No solicitor shall take or use the title of consultant unless he has, for a period of not less than 10 years in the aggregate, been —

a solicitor in practice;

a legal officer;

a full-time member of the academic staff of the Faculty; or

holding any combination of occupations referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c).(2) Any solicitor who, immediately before the date of commencement of the Legal Profession (Amendment) Act 1996, has taken or used the title of consultant and who does not satisfy the requirements in subsection (1) shall be exempted from that subsection for a period of one month from that date.(3) Any solicitor who contravenes subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.”.