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In forceAmended2020 Revised Edition

Act of Parliament

Legal Aid and Advice Act 1995

Feedback & supportGranting legal aid and advice to people of limited means

In plain English

Not legal advice

The Act provides for legal aid and advice for people of limited means. Legal aid may go to citizens and permanent residents of Singapore for civil proceedings listed in Part 1 of the Schedule. Proceedings in Part 2 of the Schedule are left out. The director may still allow aid for Part 2 proceedings that are, or are likely to be, related to those civil proceedings. A permanent resident is a person whose length of stay in Singapore is not limited under immigration law.

Summary · Drafted with AI, checked against the official text on 30 Sep 2026.

Part 1

Preliminary

Official textFrom Singapore Statutes Online, unchanged

s 1Short title

This Act is the Legal Aid and Advice Act 1995.

s 2Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —“aided person” means a person who is issued a Grant of Aid and, where such a person is a minor, includes the minor’s guardian;“court” means any court, tribunal or adjudicator before which or before whom any proceedings mentioned in section 5(1) or (2) are heard;“Director” means the Director of Legal Aid appointed under section 3 and includes a Deputy Director and an Assistant Director of Legal Aid;“goods and services tax” means the goods and services tax levied under the Goods and Services Tax Act 1993;“Grant of Aid” means a document issued under section 8 stating that legal aid is granted to a person (whether on a provisional basis or otherwise);“guardian”, in relation to a minor, includes any person whom the Director considers might properly be appointed to be the litigation representative of the minor;“judge”, in relation to any proceedings, means the person (however described) who decided those proceedings;“legal advice” has the meaning given by section 20;“legal aid” means legal aid granted under this Act;“solicitor” means an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court.

“aided person” means a person who is issued a Grant of Aid and, where such a person is a minor, includes the minor’s guardian;

“court” means any court, tribunal or adjudicator before which or before whom any proceedings mentioned in section 5(1) or (2) are heard;

“Director” means the Director of Legal Aid appointed under section 3 and includes a Deputy Director and an Assistant Director of Legal Aid;

“goods and services tax” means the goods and services tax levied under the Goods and Services Tax Act 1993;

“Grant of Aid” means a document issued under section 8 stating that legal aid is granted to a person (whether on a provisional basis or otherwise);

“guardian”, in relation to a minor, includes any person whom the Director considers might properly be appointed to be the litigation representative of the minor;

“judge”, in relation to any proceedings, means the person (however described) who decided those proceedings;

“legal advice” has the meaning given by section 20;

“legal aid” means legal aid granted under this Act;

“solicitor” means an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court.

Part 1A

Appointment of Director of Legal Aid, Solicitors, Etc.

Part 2

Legal Aid in Civil Actions

Part 3

Legal Advice

Part 4

Supplementary

Schedules