Review of Decision to Set Up Third Law School

Mr Pritam Singh asked the Minister for Law whether the Government plans to review its decision to set up a third law school in view of the large number of oversees law graduates returning to seek employment in the legal sector in Singapore and the difficulties faced by some fresh law graduates in securing a training contract.

The setting up of the third law school was recommended by the 4th Committee on the Supply of Lawyers in 2013. While the Committee did not find a shortage in the overall number of lawyers, it highlighted a shortage of lawyers practising criminal law and family law.

The third law school will seek to address this shortage by focusing on mature students with experience in fields such as social work and law enforcement and who display a keen interest in practising criminal law or family law.

It can also meet some of the demand, albeit in a modest way, as its proposed intake will only be about 50 to 75 students per year, from Singaporeans wanting to study law and who would otherwise pursue this overseas. The third law school therefore remains a relevant and important addition to the legal education landscape.