Legal Profession Act 1966 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 2B · Provisional Practising Certificates
18. Issue of provisional practising certificate
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2023.
This section applies to a lawyer (NP) who —
is serving his or her practice training period with a Singapore law practice;
has served not less than the prescribed period of his or her practice training period in a Singapore law practice (whether or not the same Singapore law practice as that in paragraph (a)); and
wishes to do any act in the capacity of an advocate and solicitor under the supervision of a solicitor —
during his or her practice training period; and
after the end of that practice training period and before he or she is admitted as an advocate and solicitor.
The lawyer (NP) must, before doing any act mentioned in subsection (1)(c), apply to the Registrar for a provisional practising certificate.
Registrar
“Registrar” means the Registrar of the Supreme Court and includes the Deputy Registrar and an Assistant Registrar;
An application under subsection (2) must be made in the form and manner determined by the Registrar, and must be accompanied by —
the information and documents prescribed under subsection (9); and
the fee prescribed under section 189.
The Registrar may, subject to sections 19, 20 and 21, thereupon issue to the applicant a provisional practising certificate authorising him or her to practise provisionally during the periods mentioned in subsection (1)(c)(i) and (ii).
practising certificate
“practising certificate” means a certificate issued by the Registrar under section 25;
A provisional practising certificate issued does not authorise a lawyer (NP) to practise as a locum solicitor, whether or not under the supervision of a solicitor.
locum solicitor
“locum solicitor” means an advocate and solicitor engaged (whether concurrently or otherwise) on a temporary or freelance basis by one or more law firms, law corporations, limited liability law partnerships or solicitors practising on their own account;
Every provisional practising certificate must be signed or approved by the Registrar and, subject to section 24B, is in force for a period of 12 months starting on the date of the issue or until the lawyer (NP) is admitted as an advocate and solicitor under section 12, whichever is earlier.
advocate and solicitor
“advocate and solicitor”, “advocate” and “solicitor” mean an advocate and solicitor of the Supreme Court;
However, a provisional practising certificate ceases to be in force —
upon the lawyer (NP) becoming subject to any disqualification under section 23(1)(c), (d), (e) or (f);
when the Registrar subsequently issues another provisional practising certificate to the lawyer (NP); or
on the occurrence of such event as may be prescribed.
If the name of a lawyer (NP) is removed from or struck off the roll of lawyers (NP), any provisional practising certificate of the lawyer (NP) that is in force expires immediately, and the date of the expiry must be entered by the Registrar in the register of provisional practitioners.
roll
“roll” means the roll of advocates and solicitors of the Supreme Court kept under section 16;
Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Council may make rules —
Council
“Council” means the Council of the Society established under section 47;
to prescribe the particulars mentioned in section 24(1);
to regulate the issue of provisional practising certificates;
to prescribe conditions that apply to a provisional practising certificate, including conditions relating to the handling of client’s moneys by a lawyer (NP) and the supervision of a lawyer (NP);
to provide for any training that the lawyer (NP) must complete for the purposes of subsection (1)(c) and the time within which such training must be completed; and
to prescribe other matters required or permitted to be prescribed under this section.
Rules made by the Council under this section must be signed by the president of the Society and submitted to the Chief Justice, and come into operation upon the Chief Justice signifying the Chief Justice’s approval.
Society
“Society” means the Law Society of Singapore established under section 37;
To avoid doubt, a provisional practising certificate may only be issued to or held by a lawyer (NP) to which this section applies.