Useful Info

Practising Singapore Law or Foreign Law

In Singapore, a distinction is drawn between the practice of foreign law (for example, English or New York Law), and the practice of Singapore Law.

Practising Foreign Law

If you are admitted, qualified or authorised to practise in any jurisdiction, you are allowed to practise foreign law in Singapore if you register as a ‘Foreign Lawyer’ under Part IXA of the Legal Profession Act with the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ Legal Profession (International Services) Secretariat. You will not need to take any courses or examinations.  

Practising Singapore Law

You can practise Singapore law only if you are admitted to the Singapore Bar. However the extent to which you can practise Singapore law in a Law Practice will depend on the extent to which that Law Practice is allowed to practise Singapore law.

Singapore Solicitors wishing to practise Singapore law in a Foreign Law Practice must register under Section 130N of the Legal Profession Act with the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ Legal Profession (International Services) Secretariat.

Summary of the extent to which Singapore Solicitors can practise Singapore law in different types of Law Practices: 

Type of Law Practice or arrangement	Extent to which a Singapore Solicitor can practise Singapore law in that Law Practice
Representative Office	None
Foreign Law Practice	Only in relation to an agreement pertaining to international arbitration
Foreign Law Practice in a Formal Law Alliance	Only in relation to an agreement pertaining to international arbitration
Joint Law Venture	Only in “permitted areas of legal practice”
Qualifying Foreign Law Practice	Only in “permitted areas of legal practice”
Singapore Law Practice	Full extent