Legal Profession Act 1966 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 2A · Admission of Advocates and Solicitors
15. Ad hoc admissions
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2023. 6 amendments in all.
Despite anything to the contrary in this Act, the court may, for the purpose of any one case, admit to practise as an advocate and solicitor any person who —
court
“court” means the General Division of the High Court or a Judge sitting in open court in the General Division of the High Court;
holds —
His Majesty’s Patent as King’s Counsel; or
any appointment of equivalent distinction of any jurisdiction;
does not ordinarily reside in Singapore or Malaysia, but has come or intends to come to Singapore for the purpose of appearing in the case; and
has special qualifications or experience for the purpose of the case.
The court must not admit a person under this section in any case involving any area of legal practice prescribed under section 10 for the purposes of this subsection, unless the court is satisfied that there is a special reason to do so.
Any person who applies to be admitted under this section must do so by originating application supported by an affidavit of the applicant, or of the advocate and solicitor instructing the applicant, stating the names of the parties and brief particulars of the case in which the applicant intends to appear.
advocate and solicitor
“advocate and solicitor”, “advocate” and “solicitor” mean an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court;
The originating application and affidavit or affidavits must be served on the Attorney‑General, the Society and the other party or parties to the case.
Society
“Society” means the Law Society of Singapore established under section 37;
At the time of the service, the applicant must pay the prescribed fee to the Attorney‑General and the Society for their costs incurred in the application.
Before admitting a person under this section, the court is to have regard to the views of each of the persons served with the application.
The Chief Justice may, after consulting the Supreme Court Judges, by notification in the Gazette, specify the matters that the court may consider when deciding whether to admit a person under this section.
The Registrar must, on payment of the fee prescribed under section 189 for the purposes of this subsection, issue to every person admitted under this section a certificate to practise specifying in it the case in which the person is permitted to appear.
Registrar
“Registrar” means the Registrar of the Supreme Court and includes the Deputy Registrar and an Assistant Registrar;
Any person to whom a certificate to practise has been issued under subsection (7) is, for the purpose of his or her employment in that case, deemed to be a person to whom a practising certificate has been issued under section 25.
practising certificate
“practising certificate” means a certificate issued by the Registrar under section 25;
The Registrar must not enter the names of persons admitted under this section upon the roll of advocates and solicitors but must keep a separate roll for persons admitted under this section.
roll
“roll” means the roll of advocates and solicitors of the Supreme Court kept under section 16;
In this section, “case” includes any interlocutory or appeal proceedings connected with a case.