Singapore · Overview
The legal system of Singapore
An English common-law system that has deliberately diverged since the Application of English Law Act 1993 cut off the automatic reception of English statutes and the abolition of Privy Council appeals in 1994 made the local apex court final. Contract, tort, trusts and equity remain recognisably English in structure but Singaporean authority now governs, and the courts have declined to follow English developments in several areas. Commercial dispute resolution is a deliberate national industry: the Singapore International Commercial Court sits with foreign judges and permits foreign counsel, and SIAC arbitration and SIMC mediation are built around the same policy.
Legal tradition
Singapore belongs to the common law tradition. An English common-law system that has deliberately diverged since the Application of English Law Act 1993 cut off the automatic reception of English statutes and the abolition of Privy Council appeals in 1994 made the local apex court final. Contract, tort, trusts and equity remain recognisably English in structure but Singaporean authority now governs, and the courts have declined to follow English developments in several areas. Commercial dispute resolution is a deliberate national industry: the Singapore International Commercial Court sits with foreign judges and permits foreign counsel, and SIAC arbitration and SIMC mediation are built around the same policy.
How power is divided
Unitary and highly centralised — a city-state with no subnational legislature. Community Development Councils and Town Councils manage local services under statutory authority, but there is no federal or provincial layer and no devolved legislative competence.
Where law comes from
- The Constitution
- Supreme law; Article 4 voids inconsistent legislation.
- Acts of Parliament
- The dominant source; extensive statutory codification of commercial law.
- Judicial precedent
- Court of Appeal decisions bind lower courts; English authority is persuasive only.
- Subsidiary legislation
- Regulations and orders published in the Government Gazette.
- Muslim law
- Applied by the Syariah Court to Muslims in marriage, divorce and inheritance under AMLA.
The legal profession
A fused profession: advocates and solicitors are admitted to the Singapore Bar under the Legal Profession Act after a qualifying law degree, Part B of the Bar examinations and a practice training period. The Law Society regulates solicitors and the Singapore Institute of Legal Education handles admission requirements. Foreign lawyers may register to appear in the Singapore International Commercial Court and in offshore-law matters, and Foreign Law Practices and Qualifying Foreign Law Practices operate under licence — a deliberate opening not mirrored in the general courts.
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