Singapore legislation

Regulation 9

of Legal Profession (Regulated Individuals) Rules 2015

Regulation 9

Application for registration of foreign lawyer under section 36D of Act

Subregulation 1

A foreign lawyer who does not practise in Singapore may apply for registration under section 36D of the Act, if the foreign lawyer —

(a)

proposes to be a director, partner or shareholder in, or to share in the profits of, a Singapore law practice, but will not practise in Singapore;

(b)

has successfully completed a legal practice management course referred to in section 75C(1)(a) of the Act; and

(c)

has been employed for not less than 3 continuous years, or 3 years out of a continuous period of 5 years, in a foreign law practice or a foreign branch of a Singapore law practice.

Subregulation 2

Despite paragraph (1)(b), the Director of Legal Services may waive the requirement under that provision, if the Director of Legal Services is satisfied that the foreign lawyer —

(a)

has any qualification or accreditation which indicates that the foreign lawyer has attained skills equivalent to those attainable on the successful completion of a legal practice management course referred to in section 75C(1)(a) of the Act; or

(b)

has sufficient experience and expertise in the management of a law practice entity.

Subregulation 3

The Director of Legal Services must not register, under section 36D of the Act, a foreign lawyer to be a director, partner or shareholder in, or to share in the profits of, a Singapore law practice, unless the Director of Legal Services is satisfied, at that time, that the Singapore law practice satisfies all general threshold requirements.

Subregulation 4

The Director of Legal Services must notify the applicant in writing of the decision of the Director of Legal Services under section 36D(2) of the Act.

Subregulation 5

If an application under section 36D(1) of the Act is approved, the Director of Legal Services must issue the applicant a certificate of registration for such period as the Director of Legal Services may specify.