Part A of the Bar Examinations
Part A of the Bar Examinations is a conversion examination for eligible overseas graduates from approved overseas universities who intend to apply for admission to the Singapore Bar. It replaces the Diploma in Singapore Law which was last held in 2008/09.
The examination is usually be held in November each year. Part A of the Bar Examinations is currently administered by the National University of Singapore’s Law Faculty which offers an optional 3-month preparation course. The course usually commences in August each year.
Please see NUS’s website for details of the Part A course and examination.
Eligibility
You will be eligible to take Part A if you meet all the academic “qualified person” requirements (please refer to the guide ‘Am I a Qualified Person?’).
This means you can still take Part A even if you do not meet the following “qualified person” requirements:
- the requirement to be a Singapore citizen or permanent resident; and / or
- the requirement to have obtained at least 6 months of "relevant legal practice or work" and/or "relevant legal training" within a continuous period of 8 months as defined in the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules).
However please note that generally you would need to satisfy these requirements or obtain the necessary exemption prior to taking Part B of the Bar Examinations, commencing the practice training period, and being admitted to the Bar. For full details and exceptions to the general rule, please see: 'I am not a Singapore citizen or permanent resident'.
You do not need to take Part A if you are already a “qualified person” under the Legal Profession Act read together with the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules.
Registration Details
The National University of Singapore's (NUS) deadline for applications to take Part A in 2011 was 30 April 2011. Please note that late applications will incur an additional fee and be considered on an extenuating case-by-case basis. Full details of the application procedure can be found on NUS’s website.
Exemption to take Part A
If you are not eligible to take Part A (see above), you may wish to try seeking an exemption from the Minister for Law from the relevant “qualified person” criterion or criteria so that you can take Part A.
You should submit your appeal for exemption as soon as possible as it can take about a few months for appeals to be processed. You should also make sure that you submit your application to NUS to take Part A by NUS's stipulated deadline, even if you have not received a decision from the Ministry of Law. (However, please note that NUS will only be able to make any offers (including conditional offers) if and when you are granted an exemption from the Ministry for Law. You will need to submit the exemption letter to NUS.)
If you are a final year student, you can submit an appeal for exemption even if you have not graduated yet. However, please note that the Ministry of Law will not be able to give you a formal decision on your appeal until we receive certified true copies of your degree certificate and full academic transcripts.
Please note that each appeal for an exemption will be considered on its individual merits and may be granted subject to conditions. The onus is on the applicant to make a strong case for the exemption sought.
Exemption from Part A
If you are eligible to take Part A but you are a senior legal practitioner with substantial experience (for example, a partner in a law firm), you may wish to try seeking an exemption from the Minister for Law from the requirement to take Part A.
Please note that each appeal for an exemption will be considered on its individual merits and may be granted subject to conditions. The onus is on the applicant to make a strong case for the exemption sought.