Singapore legislation
Regulation 8
Regulation 8
Money from client account — how drawn
Subregulation 1
Except as provided under rule 7, no money shall be drawn from a client account unless the Council upon an application made to it by the solicitor specifically authorises in writing such withdrawal.
Subregulation 2
No money shall be drawn from a client account under rule 7(1)(a)(ii) or (iv), (c) or (d) except by —
a cheque drawn in favour of the solicitor; or
a transfer to a bank account in the name of the solicitor not being a client account.
Subregulation 3
No money shall be drawn from a client account under rule 7(1)(c) or (d) by a cash cheque or a bearer cheque.
Subregulation 4
No money shall be drawn from a client account by a cash cheque or a bearer cheque except with the permission of the General Division of the High Court.
Subregulation 4A
No money shall be drawn from a client account by means of any —
automated teller machine; or (b)telephone banking service.(c)[Deleted by S 312/2022 wef 12/04/2022]
Subregulation 5
No sum exceeding $5,000 is to be drawn from a client account except —
upon a cheque (or other instruction effecting the withdrawal) signed by 2 solicitors; or
by means of an online digital payment authorised by 2 solicitors in accordance with any practice directions issued by the Council.
Subregulation 6
Paragraph (5) shall not apply if —
the solicitor has engaged a book-keeper for the purposes of rule 11(8); and
the sum to be drawn does not exceed $30,000.
Subregulation 7
A solicitor shall not sign a cheque or other instruction effecting a withdrawal from a client account, or authorise an online digital payment effecting such withdrawal, if —
the solicitor has been —
in practice as a solicitor in Singapore for less than 3 years in aggregate; or
employed as a Judicial Service Officer, a Legal Service Officer or a PD Officer for less than 3 years in aggregate;
the solicitor is not holding a current practising certificate; or
the practising certificate of the solicitor is subject to any condition imposed under section 25A or 27A of the Act prohibiting the solicitor from signing such cheques or instructions.
Subregulation 8
For the avoidance of doubt, a solicitor shall comply with the requirements of these Rules in respect of the withdrawal of money from a client account notwithstanding that the permission of the General Division of the High Court has been obtained in respect of that withdrawal for the purposes of paragraph (4).