2024

This notice clarifies the CPD Points Requirements for Group 3 Lawyers, Group 2 Lawyers, Group 1 Lawyers and s36B Foreign Lawyers for CPD Year 2025 and summarises the changes to the CPD Scheme. 

This paper is prepared by the Singapore Institute of Legal Education (“SILE”). It sets out some of the key implementation plans for the upcoming revisions to the SILE CPD Scheme, which are being made to implement the recommendations of the Working Group for the Reform of Legal Education (“RLE Committee”) and the recommendations of the Ethics and Professional Standards Committee (“Ethics Committee”), as deliberated by multi-agency working groups.

In consultation with the Reform of Legal Education Standing Committee and the Ethics and Professional Standards Committee (“EPSC”), the Singapore Institute of Legal Education will be implementing recommendations of the Working Group for the Reform of Legal Education (“the RLE Working Group”) and the recommendations of the EPSC relating to the CPD Scheme from CPD Year 2025 onwards. CPD Year 2025 commences on 1 January 2025.

SILE’s verification of compliance with CPD requirements for CPD Year 2023 will commence in May 2024.

Advocates and solicitors of the Supreme Court of Singapore seeking to apply for a Singapore practising certificate (‘PC’) must make one of the three declarations set out under rule 8 of the CPD Rules in the online PC application form. Foreign lawyers seeking to apply for or renew their registration under section 36B of the Legal Profession Act 1966 must make one of the three declarations set out under rule 5(4)(e) of the Regulated Individuals Rules as part of their application in 2024. This advisory clarifies the appropriate declaration to be made by solicitors and s36B Foreign Lawyers seeking to apply for PCs or foreign practitioner certificates (‘FPCs’) in 2024.

If you are unable to fulfil your CPD requirements for CPD Year 2023 even with the Extension Waiver and any applicable Deemed Waivers, or if they do not apply to your situation, then you may consider applying for a waiver using the Waiver Application for CPD Year 2023 Form ahead of the renewal of your practising certificate/foreign practitioner certificate in 2024.