A committee was convened by the Ministry of Law earlier this year, as part of their periodic reviews to ensure that the supply of lawyers keeps pace with the demand that accompanies the sector’s growth.
In a recent report by the forth Committee on the Supply of Lawyers, here are some of the recommendations:
- Review and refresh the list of approved overseas law degrees every five years.
The reason for the refresh is so the list can fulfil its function as a qualitative sieve.
The review will be conducted by the Singapore Institute of Legal Education (SILE), which will then submit the recommendations to the Ministry of Law.
SILE will use past three years’ results from these ranking tables for law schools:
- The Guardian University Guide,
- The Complete University Guide
- The Times Guide.
Based on the combined results, SILE will then write to the 10 lowest-ranking universities which are currently on the approved list. These universities may - subject to reviewing all the representations – be considered for exclusion from the updated list.
SILE may also contact universities that are not on the list for consideration to this list. Establish a third law school with a focus on training prospective lawyers keen to practise community law.
- Increase the annual LLB student intake of the Singapore Management University (SMU) from 120 to 180 students over three years
- Recognise double-degree programmes offered by OSUs subject to their meeting specific criteria; and
- Retain existing policies relating to the minimum degree classification (of at least a lower second class honours) and the non-recognition of external law degrees or programmes offered at satellite campuses.