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

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

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;

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

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.

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 —

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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;

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

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.

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 —

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

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

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.

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.

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.