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Legal Processes

Admission of Advocates and Solicitors

General Notice:

  1. All admission applicants are hereby notified that they should declare in their affidavit for admission any and all facts, circumstances and events relating to their personal history or background if such facts, circumstances and events are relevant or material to their application for admission, e.g., if they have been issued with a stern warning in lieu of prosecution or have previously been investigated for any offence, etc.
  2. For queries relating to the law and procedure on admission applications, applicants should refer to the relevant provisions set out in the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules, the Legal Profession (Admission) Rules 2011, the Rules of Court and the Supreme Court Practice Directions.
  3. For queries relating to the practices and processes of admission applications, applicants are encouraged to seek the necessary guidance from their supervising solicitors and/or from the law firms in which they serve their practice training contracts.
  4. Please note that the Attorney-General’s Chambers is unable to provide any legal advice or guidance to members of the public.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. I have filed an Admission of Advocates and Solicitors (AAS) application. When can I expect to hear back from AGC?

A1. You can expect to receive the letter of no objection or notice of objection from AGC at least 5 days prior to the application being heard in Court. During the peak season between July and August every year, we seek your understanding and patience with the processing of your application, as we experience a high volume in AAS applications. Should you have any further queries regarding your AAS application, please write to AGC_AAS@agc.gov.sg.

Q2. When should I file my affidavits to AGC, in support of my application for admission?

A2. The affidavits should be filed at least 21 days prior to the application being heard in Court.  In some cases, we may require you to file supplementary affidavits.

Q3. AGC has asked me to file a supplementary affidavit. Can I send the supplementary affidavit to AGC to confirm that it is correct before I file it?

A3. We do not provide legal advice to members of the public, and do not comment on cause papers that have not been filed with the Court. We will review your application after your supplementary affidavit has been filed with the Court and has been served on us.

Q4. Is there a template affidavit that I can follow?

A4. Please refer to the Second Schedule of the Legal Profession (Admission) Rules 2011 (“Admission Rules”). You should also familiarise yourself with the requirements for admission in the Legal Profession Act, the Admission Rules and the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules.

Q5. Will AGC object to my application for abridgement of time?

A5. You may apply for an abridgement of time only if there are good reasons which are beyond your or your law firm’s control (eg. bereavement), you would suffer serious prejudice if called in the next monthly call and the public interest has not been compromised. Poor reasons for an abridgement of time application, and for which AGC will object, include:

  • You would like to be called during Mass Call with your batchmates;
  • Manpower shortage in your law firm;
  • Getting called is necessary for a salary adjustment;
  • Your law firm told you to do so;
  • You received your Part B examination results late (eg. after re-sits);
  • Your practice training period ended one day after the deadline for the filing of the affidavit;
  • You were overseas and could not file the necessary papers

Q6. I am a Qualified Person who has just passed the Part B Bar exams. I have submitted my application to register myself as a qualified person with SILE under rule 24(1) of the Admission Rules. Should I serve copies of the forms and documents for my application (“SILE QP Registration Documents”) on the AGC as well? What would be the mode or manner of service?

A6. Yes, see rule 24(1)(e) of the Admission Rules – you should serve the SILE QP Registration Documents on AGC. Please serve the copies of the documents on AGC via email at AGC_AAS@agc.gov.sg.

Q7. My name has been entered into the Register of Qualified Persons with SILE and I have been issued a letter by SILE to notify me of the same (“ERQ Letter”). Am I required to serve a copy of the ERQ Letter on AGC. What would be the mode or manner of service?

A7. You are not required to serve the ERQ Letter on AGC. However, as a matter of good practice, you may wish to e‐file and serve a copy of the ERQ Letter together with the Originating Summons, when you are filing your AAS application to Court.

Q8. I intend to file my AAS application court papers to Court. Please advise what documents should I serve and at what stage do I serve these documents. Please also advise what are the relevant timelines I ought to adhere to.

A8. Please note that the AGC does not provide legal advice to members of the public.

Q9. I have e‐filed and served my AAS application court papers on AGC via e‐Litigation. Would I need to serve hardcopies of the same on AGC?

A9. If you have already served your AAS application court papers via e‐Litigation, you are not required to serve hardcopies of the same on AGC.