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Guide for Undergraduates: Getting called to the Singapore Bar

To be admitted to the Singapore Bar, you must:

  • be a "qualified person";
  • pass Part B of the Singapore Bar Examinations; and
  • complete a 6 - month practice training contract at a Singapore law practice.
Local graduates from NUS or SMU

Qualified persons

You would be a "qualified person" if you:

  • graduated from NUS with at least a Lower Second Class honours; or
  • graduated from SMU with a grade point average of at least 3.00.

Preparatory Course leading to Part B of the Singapore Bar Examinations

Once you have satisfied the “qualified person” criteria, you will need to attend the Preparatory Course leading to the Part B of the Singapore Bar Exams. This is a full-time course that runs for about 5 months, commencing in July and ending in December each year. It is compulsory for both local and overseas graduates.

To be called to the Singapore Bar, you will first need to pass Part B of the Singapore Bar Examinations (the "Part B Exam"). The Part B Exam will take place in November each year, starting from 2010.

Training Contracts

After passing the Part B Exam, you will need to complete a 6-month practice training contract (the “Training Contract”) at a Singapore law practice.


Overseas graduates

Qualified persons

Subject to certain exemptions and exceptions, you must fulfill the following criteria to be a “qualified person”:

  • be a Singapore citizen or permanent resident;
  • have obtained an approved law degree from an approved university;
    have, over at least 3 years as a full-time internal candidate, read the law degree;
    for approved universities in the United Kingdom, have obtained at least Lower Second Class honours; for approved universities in Australia, New Zealand and the United States, been ranked in the top 70% in terms of academic performance; have passed Part A of the Bar Examinations; and
  • have, continuously for at least 6 months, received relevant legal training or engaged in relevant legal practice or work or a combination of both.

Part A of the Singapore Bar Examinations

Since August 2009, the Diploma in Singapore Law has been replaced with the Part A Bar Preparation Course (the “Part A Course”). The Part A Course is conducted by the NUS Faculty of Law. It is a 3-month optional course which culminates in Part A of the Singapore Bar Examinations (the “Part A Exam”).

While the Part A Course is optional, the Part A Exam is not. All overseas graduates must take the Part A Exam although they may choose not to attend the Part A Course.

For more details on the Part A Course (e.g. enrolment requirements, dates, etc.), please refer to the NUS Faculty of Law website.

Preparatory Course leading to Part B of the Singapore Bar Examinations

Once you have satisfied the “qualified person” criteria, you will need to attend the Preparatory Course leading to the Part B of the Singapore Bar Exams. This is a full-time course that runs for about 5 months, commencing in July and ending in December each year. It is compulsory for both local and overseas graduates.

To be called to the Singapore Bar, you will first need to pass Part B of the Singapore Bar Examinations (the "Part B Exam"). The Part B Exam will take place in November each year, starting from 2010.

Training Contracts

After passing the Part B Exam, you will need to complete a 6-month Training Contract at a Singapore law practice. Prior legal training or experience will not affect this requirement.

More Information

For more information on admission to the Singapore Bar, including links to the relevant legislation, please refer to: the Ministry of Law website and the Board of Legal Education website.