by MP for Aljunied GRC, Chen Show Mao
Sir,
Background
Currently, external law degrees are not recognized for admission to the Singapore Bar. This was based on recommendations in 1993 by the First Committee on the Supply of Lawyers, as part of broader measures to restrict the supply of lawyers and enhance the quality of legal service in Singapore.
In coming to the recommendation, the committee took into consideration the comparative entry requirements, time taken to complete the degree, class supervision and interaction time, as well as access to resources, of external and full-time degrees.
Nevertheless, the committee recognised that there could be outstanding external degree students who could make a valuable contribution to Singapore’s legal services sector. Thus, individuals can seek an exemption from the Minister for Law to be granted in his discretion.
External law degrees
External law degrees are so-called, as they involve study outside where the university offering the course is based. External law studies may be on a part-time or full-time basis. Part-time study is particularly suited to students who wish to study for a law degree but need to continue working at their full time jobs, say as police officers or accountants or legal secretaries or paralegals in law firms.
One emphasis of this Budget is on increasing productivity. “We are investing significantly in continuing education and training to help our workers develop new skills and expertise and increase their versatility.”
In view of the above, it may be timely to ask whether the existing rules may be changed, or discretion exercised, to allow more external law degree holders to take the bar exam and undergo relevant legal training, for admission to the bar, like many of their counterparts holding full-time law degrees.
Many external law degree holders are mature students who may have first degrees in other disciplines or work experience in other fields, who for various reasons, often financial, have taken up the study of law only later in life. The value of such cross-training, work experience and industry knowledge, such versatility, is increasingly recognized, and may be helpful and desirable to future clients, provided that the external law degree holder is admitted to practice.
Much has changed since the First Committee made its recommendations almost 20 years ago. In fact, a Third committee on supply of lawyers has since recommended measures that would in effect increase the number of practicing lawyers in Singapore, to ensure Singapore’s growth as a leading provider of legal services.
In these twenty years, factors such as technological changes affecting distance learning may also have addressed in part some of the concerns expressed by the First committee, such as those over class supervision and interaction time and access to resources for external law students.
In any case, for an external degree holder who is granted exemption by the Minister, she would only be admitted to practice after she has passed the bar exam and undergone relevant legal training at a law firm, which ought to afford reasonable assurance as to her ability to practice law. I believe it is timely for us to consider if more like her should be given that chance.
Thank you.