s 14 Powers of Minister in relation to requirements for admission as advocate and solicitor
14.—(1) Upon an application made to the Minister by any person who is not a lawyer (NP), the Minister may, in his or her discretion, if the Minister is of the opinion that the person possesses such qualification or expertise, and standing or relevant experience, as would contribute to, promote or enhance the quality of legal services in Singapore or the economic or technological development of Singapore —(a) approve the person as an eligible person, subject to any conditions that the Minister may think fit to impose; and[Act 37 of 2023 wef 17/07/2024] (b) issue to the person a written notice to that effect.[8/2011] [Act 37 of 2023 wef 17/07/2024] (2) [Deleted by Act 37 of 2023 wef 17/07/2024] (3) [Deleted by Act 37 of 2023 wef 17/07/2024] (4) The Minister may, after consulting the Board of Directors of the Institute, make rules (called in this subsection the relevant rules) for —(a) the exemption of any eligible person who satisfies, or any class of eligible persons each of whom satisfies, such requirements as may be prescribed in the relevant rules from all or any, and from the whole or any part of any, of the requirements under section 13(c), (d) and (e) and any rules made under section 10(2)(a), (b), (da), (db) and (dc); and[Act 37 of 2023 wef 17/07/2024] (b) the abridgment of the practice training period applicable to any eligible person who satisfies, or any class of eligible persons each of whom satisfies, such requirements as may be prescribed in the relevant rules.[8/2011] [Act 37 of 2023 wef 17/07/2024] (5) Without affecting subsection (4), upon an application made to the Minister by any eligible person, the Minister may —(a) exempt the eligible person from all or any, and from the whole or any part of any, of the requirements under section 13(c), (d) and (e) and any rules made under section 10(2)(a), (b), (da), (db) and (dc); or[Act 37 of 2023 wef 17/07/2024] (b) abridge the practice training period applicable to an eligible person, if the Minister is of the opinion that the eligible person is, by reason of his or her standing and experience or for any other cause, a fit and proper person to be so exempted or to have his or her practice training period abridged, as the case may be. [8/2011] [Act 37 of 2023 wef 17/07/2024] (6) An exemption or abridgment granted to a person under subsection (5) —(a) may be subject to any conditions that the Minister may think fit to impose by written notice to the person; (b) must be notified in writing to the person; and (c) need not be published in the Gazette.[8/2011] (7) The Minister may, after consulting the Board of Directors of the Institute, make rules to provide for —(a) the fees for —(i) any application made to the Minister under this section or under any rules made under section 12(6) or subsection (4); and[Act 37 of 2023 wef 17/07/2024] (ii) any matter related or incidental to any such application; and[Act 37 of 2023 wef 17/07/2024] (b) all other matters related thereto.[8/2011]