The general requirements/criteria for possible appointment to the Singapore Legal Service as a Legal Service Officer (“an LSO”) are that the applicant should have graduated with a law degree from:
(a) the NUS or the SMU; or
(b) a Scheduled University in England, Australia, New Zealand or the USA and have passed the DipSing or the Part A of the Singapore Bar Examinations and be a “qualified person” as defined in the Legal Profession Act Cap. 161/the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules.
2Undergraduate Law Programme/JD Programme:
(a) Undergraduates studying for an LLB programme at the NUS or the SMU or an LLB/B.A. Law/B.A. (Hons) Juris programme at a Scheduled University, and candidates studying for a JD programme at the SMU or a Scheduled University, and who have successfully completed at least their second year of study, may apply to be interviewed for the possible offer of “conditional” appointment as an LSO.
(b) The candidates who are interviewed may be required to undergo an internship (of at least two weeks) at the Attorney-General’s Chambers/a Legal Service department. Those who perform well at both the interview and the internship may be offered “conditional” appointment to the Legal Service as an LSO.
(c) The possible confirmation of the offer of the “conditional” appointment as an LSO will be reviewed on the candidate’s full/successful completion of the LLB/B.A. Law/B.A. (Hons) Juris/JD programme and being awarded the requisite qualification.
3Fresh Graduates and those with 5 years or less experience:
Fresh graduates and those with five years or less of strong relevant legal work experience
(and who fully satisfy the requirements/criteria specified at paragraph 1 above)
may apply to be considered for possible shortlisting for an interview for appointment as an LSO.
4Mid-Careers with more than 5 years’ experience:
Mid-career candidates with more than five years of strong relevant legal work experience
(and who fully satisfy the requirements/criteria specified at paragraph 1 above)
may also apply to be considered for possible shortlisting for an interview for appointment as an LSO.
INTERVIEWS
5 The next sets of recruitment interviews for the eligible candidates whose shortlisting for an interview is approved had been earlier targeted for Apr 2020 and, with the implementation of the nation-wide Circuit Breaker measures, after mid-May 2020.
6 Please note that the said targeted dates for recruitment interviews (in Apr 2020 and after mid-May 2020) would, in view of the extension of the Circuit Breaker, have to be re-scheduled until after the current difficult conditions improve. The position will be reviewed in early Jun 2020 (in accordance with Government advisories/guidelines on the COVID-19 situation). The present intent, subject to Government advisories/guidelines, is to schedule the recruitment interviews after mid-Jun 2020.
7 Please also note the following:
(a) undergraduates/JD students who are currently in their second year and would be commencing their third year of an LLB programme or JD programme - whose application is received on or before 30 Jun 2020 and whose shortlisting for an interview is approved - would, subject to the availability of “interview slots”, be slated for an interview by the last two weeks of Aug 2020; and
(b) undergraduates/JD students who are currently in their third year and, where applicable, would be commencing their fourth year of an LLB programme or JD programme - whose application is received on or before 30 Jun 2020 and whose shortlisting for an interview is approved - would, subject to the availability of “interview slots”, be slated for an interview by the second half of Sep 2020.
8 Please click here for the details on applications to the Justices' Law Clerk Programme.