In forceAmended1999 Revised Edition

Contents

8. Money from client account — how drawn

Amended

Last amended by an amending law of 2022. 4 amendments in all.

(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.

(2)

No money shall be drawn from a client account under rule 7(1)(a)(ii) or (iv), (c) or (d) except by —

(a)

a cheque drawn in favour of the solicitor; or

(b)

a transfer to a bank account in the name of the solicitor not being a client account.

(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.

(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.

(4A)

No money shall be drawn from a client account by means of any —

(a)

automated teller machine; or (b)telephone banking service.

(c)

[Deleted by S 312/2022 wef 12/04/2022]

(5)

No sum exceeding $5,000 is to be drawn from a client account except —

(a)

upon a cheque (or other instruction effecting the withdrawal) signed by 2 solicitors; or

(b)

by means of an online digital payment authorised by 2 solicitors in accordance with any practice directions issued by the Council.

(6)

Paragraph (5) shall not apply if —

(a)

the solicitor has engaged a book-keeper for the purposes of rule 11(8); and

(b)

the sum to be drawn does not exceed $30,000.

(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 —

(a)

the solicitor has been —

(i)

in practice as a solicitor in Singapore for less than 3 years in aggregate; or

(ii)

employed as a Judicial Service Officer, a Legal Service Officer or a PD Officer for less than 3 years in aggregate;

(b)

the solicitor is not holding a current practising certificate; or

(c)

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.

(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).

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