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Internships

Internships in the Singapore Legal Service

The Singapore Legal Service offers internships to law undergraduates and JD students studying for a recognised law degree - as stipulated under the Legal Profession Act (Qualified Persons Rules) - at the NUS, the SMU, the SUSS or a Scheduled University. 

2        The internships are offered twice annually and have been designed to coincide with the vacation periods of major law schools/institutions in each academic year: May to Sep; and Dec to the following Feb.

3        All applicants would need to complete an "Internship Application Form" (please click here (DOCX, 210.23 KB) for the said form) and submit it to lsc_sec@lsc.gov.sg.  All applicants are requested to kindly review the “Guidance Notes” (set out in the said form) before completing and submitting an application.  All applicants are also requested to clearly indicate the internship cycle(s) they are applying for.

4        Please note that the current framework is that all interns are eligible for a monthly “internship allowance”.  The quantum of the said monthly “internship allowance” will be pro-rated – based on the number of actual working hours in the month that the intern undertook the internship.

5        All queries may be directed to the Internship Manager of the Singapore Legal Service at lsc_sec@lsc.gov.sg.


Singapore Legal Service Internship Programme 2023/2024

There are two internship cycles: one in mid-2023 (May – Sep) and another in late-2023/early-2024 (Dec 2023 – Feb 2024).  All applicants are to clearly indicate the internship cycle(s) they are applying for. 

2        Please note that all applications will be processed upon the close of the deadlines set out below:

 

(a)    mid-2023 cycle: 26 Feb 2023
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by Apr/May 2023; and 

(b)    late-2023/early-2024 cycle: 30 Jul 2023
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by Oct/Nov 2023.

 

3        The following internship positions are available in mid-2023 and/or late-2023/early-2024:


ACRA

Expectations

You will be exposed to the work of ACRA relating to its regulation of businesses, companies, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, corporate service providers and public accountants. You should be able to obtain a better understanding of the procedures and administrative practices under the legislation administered by ACRA and of some of the policy, registration, filing and compliance issues faced by ACRA.

You will be attached principally to assist the Legal Service Officers in ACRA but you may also be asked to observe and to assist other ACRA officers in the course of their work.

You should be prepared to contribute and assist in legal research or legal policy projects under the guidance of the Legal Service Officers (e.g. researching the law and practice of foreign jurisdictions; preparing legal and policy briefs).

You should be interested in business law or in the regulation of business entities.

Eligibility

3rd and 4th year law students

Period of Internship

Choose between either one of the two windows available:
i.) May – Sep 2023
ii.) Dec 2023 – Feb 2024

Duration

1 month.

Interested applicants should be able to commit for at least 1 month for the internship.

 

Attorney-General's Chambers

Expectations

In 2023, the Attorney-General’s Chambers will be offering two tranches of the internship programmes, each of a 12-day duration, designed to introduce applicants to what AGC does, and to find out how Legal Service Officers (LSOs) in the AGC make a difference every day.

 

AGC’s internship programme gives interns broad exposure to our work as the Public Prosecutor and Legal Advisor to the Government. All interns will be rotated to the Crime Division, Civil Division, International Affairs Division, and Legislation Division.

 

Through a comprehensive and structured programme, interns will be directly exposed to a wide range of advisory, legislative drafting, prosecution, litigation and negotiation work, and will meet and work alongside many of our LSOs. Besides having a chance to observe real-life criminal prosecutions and civil litigation, interns will also be exposed to the seldom-seen, behind-the-scenes deliberations that shape and inform the Attorney-General’s / Public Prosecutor’s decisions.

 

Apart from observing and assisting, interns will also have the opportunity to hone their litigation, advocacy, negotiation, advisory and drafting skills in simulated exercises based on real-life cases.

 

To answer any questions and to give deeper insight into life at AGC, supervising mentors will be assigned to interns for the entire internship programme.

 

Eligibility

Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who are undergoing any course of study in the law, whether at local or overseas Scheduled Universities. Applicants must be in at least the second year of their law course.

 

Internship places are limited and applicants will be considered on a competitive basis. AGC is looking for dynamic and committed individuals who are interested or considering a career in public service. We also seek interns who possess leadership qualities and extra-curricular or community-service experience, beyond purely academic ability.

 

Interested applicants should fill up and return the attached AGC Internship Application Form (DOCX, 78.9 KB), in addition to the cover letter, CV and academic transcripts (as set out in the “Guidance Notes” on the application form).

 

Applicants are advised to give careful thought to their application submissions.

Period of Internship

Choose between:

i) 22 May – 9 Jun 2023

or

ii) 26 Jun – 14 Jul 2023

Interns will be required to commit to the full period (ie, all 15 working days) of the selected internship run.

 

Competition & Consumer Commission of Singapore

The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (“CCCS”) is a statutory board of the Ministry of Trade and Industry.  CCCS administers and enforces the Competition Act (Cap. 50B) which empowers CCCS to investigate and adjudicate anti-competitive activities, issue directions to stop and/or prevent anti-competitive activities and impose financial penalties. CCCS is also the administering agency of the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act (Cap. 52A) which protects consumers against unfair trade practices in Singapore. Our mission is to make markets work well to create opportunities and choices for business and consumers in Singapore.

 

CCCS’s Legal & Enforcement Divisions provide CCCS with the legal and enforcement expertise necessary for CCCS to perform the functions and discharge the duties under the Competition Act. Legal officers are actively involved in conducting investigations, advising other government agencies on competition matters and analysing the merits of notifications for guidance or decision, and merger filings.  In addition, Legal officers also undertake critical review of the Competition Act, subsidiary legislation and CCCS’s guidelines and perform in-house legal advisory work required in the execution of CCCS’s functions and represent CCCS in all court and appeal proceedings. 

 

Expectations

Interns in CCCS are given responsibilities, with opportunities to experience real-work assignments / projects under professional guidance.

During your internship, you will be given the opportunity to observe and participate in the work undertaken by the Legal & Enforcement Divisions. Besides contributing to legal and industry research, you may also participate in reviews of the relevant legislation and guidelines; and where appropriate, you may be involved in case investigations and policy projects.

Eligibility

Rising 3rd and 4th year law students with keen interest in competition law preferred.

Period of Internship

Choose between either one of the two windows available:
i.)May – Sep 2023
ii.) Dec 2023 – Feb 2024

Duration

4 – 12 weeks.

Interested applicants should be able to commit for at least 1 month for the internship.

 

Intellectual Property Office of Singapore

Project

Scope

Special Requirements

Attachment Period

Legal Department / Hearings & Mediation Department

Provide support in the areas of drafting, research & analysis in the following areas:

 

a. International IP work:

 

i. Preparatory work for ongoing negotiations for FTAs and/or multi-lateral treaties with an IP-focus

 

ii. Preparatory work for meetings in the international fora (WTO, WIPO, and bilaterals)

 

b. Domestic IP work:

 

i. Supporting legislative reform in Singapore in the area of IP, or related laws

 

ii. Support policy development on specific IP issues (e.g. limitations & exceptions for copyright; collective management of copyright)

 

iii. Support policy development in relation to IP dispute resolution and legal policy

 

c. In-house counsel work:

i. Drafting and/or reviewing of contracts, external publications, etc.

 

ii. Providing research to support the provision of legal advice

The candidate may also be required to assist in vetting and/or proof-reading draft practice guidelines and legislation where required. Further or alternatively, the candidate may be required to assist with any legal or case management work required by the Hearings & Mediation Department.

 

Candidates must:

 

(a) have completed their third year of study;

 

(b) have studied at least one course on IP law; and

 

(c) be able to provide a letter of recommendation from one their IP Professors.

 

Candidates who have taken more than one course on IP law, or who have past internship and/or work experience relating to IP law, will have an added advantage.

 

Given the sensitive nature of the work, internship applicants should be Singapore citizens.

 

Candidates are invited to apply for an internship during the May 2023 to Sep 2023 period for a duration of 4-6 weeks per intern.

 

Candidates should preferably specify the exact period of commitment, and provide alternative periods where possible.

 

Insolvency & Public Trustee’s Office

Expectations

You will be exposed to the work of a Legal Service Officer who is posted to IPTO, a department of the Ministry of Law, to perform duties of providing legal advice and other legal services to the department in the discharge of their statutory functions and duties relating to personal and corporate insolvency, the Public Trustee and the regulation of moneylenders and pawnbrokers. You may also be asked to conduct legal research and write an opinion on issues arising in the course of the work of IPTO and may be able to accompany Legal Service Officers to Court to observe their legal proceedings.

IPTO will be hosting one run of the internship from June 2023 to September 2023. Interested applicants should be able to commit between 1 and 2 months for the internship.

Eligibility

1st – 4th year law students.

Period of Internship

Jul 2023

Duration

Between 1 and 2 months.

All applicants who wish to be shortlisted for an internship must be able to commit to the full period/duration of the internship.

 

Legal Aid Bureau

The Legal Aid Bureau was set up to assist indigent persons in need of legal help.

Our services cover a wide range of matters, including divorces, adoptions, guardianship, committee of persons and estates, variation and enforcement applications, claims for maintenance, wrongful dismissals, motor and industrial accident claims, probate and letters of administration, tenancy disputes and monetary claims.

Expectations

You will get a first-hand experience in drafting legal documents, doing legal research, interviewing applicants and assisting in putting up opinions for the Legal Aid Board. You will also receive a guided orientation into the workings of the Legal Aid Bureau.

All interns will have the opportunity to work independently under the guidance and supervision of a Legal Service Officer. You will also get the chance to accompany Legal Service Officers to Court to observe Court proceedings. This includes sitting in at court hearings, attending status conferences / pre-trial conferences/ mediations and experiencing video-link hearings. You will also get the chance to sit in at the legal advice sessions given by our Legal Service Officers at the Legal Aid Bureau. Your internship at the Legal Aid Bureau will provide you with a wide exposure not just in the area of legal work but also the fulfilling personal experience in helping others.

Eligibility

2nd and 3rd year law students.

Period of Internship

NUS & SMU
i.)2 May – 26 May 2023

NUS, SMU & SUSS
i.)
3 Jul – 28 Jul 2023

SUSS & Overseas
i.) 2 Jan – 26 Jan 2024 (tentative dates)

Duration

4 weeks.

All applicants who wish to be shortlisted for an internship must be able to commit to the full period/duration of the internship.

 

Legal Unit, Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth

Expectations

The Legal Unit provides legal services to all the departments of the Ministry of Culture, Community & Youth (MCCY), including the National Youth Council, the Charities Unit and the Registry of Co-operative Societies and Mutual Benefit Organisations. Thus, our work covers a variety of subject matter, including Statutory interpretation, Regulatory work, Trust law and Charities law.

You will be invited to contribute and assist in matters such as vetting/drafting contracts and MOUs, advisory work, devising legal strategies, and undertaking legal analysis and research.

Eligibility

Any law undergraduate from NUS/SMU/SUSS/overseas scheduled universities/institutions

Period of Internship

(a) Mid-2023

(b) Late-2023 / Early-2024

Duration

4 weeks.

All applicants who wish to be shortlisted for an internship must be able to commit to the full period/duration of the internship.

 

Legal Services Branch, Ministry of Education

Expectations

Candidates will be exposed to a wide range of interesting legal issues that arise in the operation of schools and the regulation of the education system, including tort law, contract law, family law and intellectual property law. Candidates should have a keen interest in the practical application of these areas of the law.

 

Eligibility

Rising 3rd and 4th year law students.

Period of Internship

Choose between either one of the two windows available:
i) May – Aug 2023
ii) Dec 2023 – Jan 2024

Duration

4 weeks.

All applicants who wish to be shortlisted must be able to commit for at least 4 weeks.

 

Legal Services Unit, Ministry of Social & Family Development

Expectations

Good interpersonal and communication skills

Good research skills

Strong in written English

Ability to work independently, with display of initiative

 

The intern will undertake research and work assignments relating to the legal aspects of MSF’s functions and operations. This may include the areas of family law, adoption, child protection, intellectual property, and contracts.

 

Eligibility

At least 2nd year law students.

Should preferably have studied some or all of the following subjects: Contract law, Administrative and Constitutional law, and Family law.

Period of Internship

Choose between either one of the two windows available:
i) Mid-Jun – Sep 2023
ii) Dec 2023 – Feb 2024

Duration

4 weeks.

All applicants who wish to be shortlisted must be able to commit for at least 4 weeks.

 

Legal Division, Ministry of Home Affairs

The MHA Legal Division renders legal advice to the Divisions in the Ministry Headquarters as well as the Home Team agencies, which include the Singapore Police Force, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, the Singapore Prison Service, the Singapore Civil Defence Force and the Central Narcotics Bureau.

Expectations

Interns will be exposed to the wide range of legal work handled by the Legal Division. You will have the opportunity to draft advice, carry out legal research, and assist in the vetting/drafting of agreements. Visits to various Home Team agencies will also be arranged.

 

Eligibility

Singapore Citizens.

3rd and 4th year law students preferred.

Period of Internship

Choose between either one of the two windows available:
i) 10 Jul – 21 Jul 2023
ii) 2 Jan – 12 Jan 2024

Duration

2 weeks.

All applicants who wish to be shortlisted for an internship must be able to commit to the full period/duration of the internship.

 

Legal Services Department, Ministry of Defence

Expectations

An internship with MINDEF Legal Services Department offers interns the unique opportunity to be exposed to the niches areas of law relating to military forces: the Military Justice system, the Laws of Armed Conflict, as well as other wider areas of public international law and domestic law.

 

Interns will be given the opportunity to observe the conduct of General Court Martial proceedings, and (depending on timing) observe the practice of the law relating to militaries in exercise settings. Interns will also be assigned a dedicated research project during their stint, and will be required to present their findings to the department at the end of their attachment.

Eligibility

3rd and 4th year law students preferred.

Period of Internship

26 Jun – 21 Jul 2023

Duration

4 weeks.

All applicants who wish to be shortlisted for an internship must be able to commit to the full period/duration of the internship.

 

Ministry of Law

The Ministry of Law’s Legal Group (comprising the Legal Policy Group and the International & Advisory Group), steers policy and legislative reforms to uphold the rule of law, strengthen access to justice, and ensure a sound, progressive legal framework.

Expectations

Interns will assist in various projects and initiatives, and undertake research and policy analysis on domestic and international legal policy. This will cover areas such as civil and criminal justice, family law, litigation funding, restructuring and insolvency, legal industry, land, intellectual property, community legal services, and international legal policy.

Interns can expect to embark on rigorous legal research and analysis, study developing trends and practices in other countries, assist with statistical collation and analysis, undertake cross-jurisdictional comparative studies, and experience the application of such knowledge to policymaking in practice.

Eligibility

2nd – 4th year law students.

Period of Internship

Choose between either one of the two windows available:
i)May – Sep 2023
ii) Dec 2023 – Feb 2024

Duration

4 – 6 weeks.

All applicants who wish to be shortlisted for an internship must be able to commit for at least 4 weeks.

 

Legal Office, Ministry of Health

Expectations

To assist in vetting MOH’s contracts and other legal documents. These are key to ensuring that the public healthcare sector in Singapore is appropriately funded and provisioned for, and that there is at all times proper oversight of medical standards and costs.

 

To assist with prosecution matters concerning regulatory offences under MOH’s purview. Interns will have the opportunity to attend hearings in person, to gain a better understanding of court proceedings on the ground.

 

To assist in advising MOH policy and operational divisions on public healthcare initiatives and other related work (including the continued management of COVID-19 and the rollout of HealthierSG). Interns will gain exposure to both the legal and policy aspects of Singapore’s public healthcare framework.

 

To conduct research on a diverse range of legal topics including medical law, bioethics, contract law, tort law, criminal law, bioethics and administrative law.

Eligibility

To minimally have completed modules on Contract law and Tort law. It would be ideal as well if the student has completed an Administrative law and/or Criminal law module(s), but these are not mandatory.

Period of Internship

Choose between either one of the two windows available:

i) May – Sep 2023

ii) Dec 2023 – Feb 2024

Duration

Up to 8 weeks.

All applicants who wish to be shortlisted for an internship must be able to commit to the full period/duration of the internship.

 

Legal Services Division, Ministry of Manpower

Expectations

As an intern, you will experience the work of a Prosecuting Officer, including assessing potential statutory offences under MOM’s purview, preparing court documents for prosecution and arguing a case in a moot court setting. You will also sit in actual court proceedings (mentions and trials), observe inspections conducted by MOM enforcement divisions and conduct legal research on a range of topics, including employment laws.

Eligibility

1st to 4th year law students.

Applicants should have completed a course in Criminal Law.

Period of Internship

Choose between either one of the two windows available:
i)May – Sep 2023
ii) Jan – Feb 2024

Duration

4 weeks.

All applicants who wish to be shortlisted for an internship must be able to commit to the full period/duration of the internship.

 

Singapore Land Authority

Expectations

You will gain insights into the work and practices of SLA in areas such as land registration, land survey and geospatial data, land alienation and management of State land and property. You will have a better understanding, gain a broader perspective and knowledge of the procedures under the various legislation administered by SLA, e.g. Land Titles Act, Residential Property Act, Boundaries and Survey Maps Act, State Lands Act and State Lands Protection Act.

You will also work closely with the Legal Counsel in SLA to help provide legal advice on policy and operational issues to the various divisions.

You should be prepared to contribute and assist in legal research or legal policy projects (which may involve researching the law and practice of foreign jurisdictions) and you may be asked to prepare legal and policy briefs under the guidance of the Legal Counsels.

At the end of the internship, you will appreciate the realistic expectations of the work in a legal environment and you can revel in the experience of working with issues that touch and concern land – a limited resource in Singapore.

Eligibility

Rising 3rd and 4th year law students.

Period of Internship

Choose between either one of the two windows available:
i) Mid–2023
ii) Early–2024

Duration

3 to 4 weeks.

All applicants who wish to be shortlisted for an internship must be able to commit to the full period/duration of the internship.