Eligibility for appointment

Eligibility for appointment as an LSO

The general requirements/criteria for possible appointment to the Singapore Legal Service as a Legal Service Officer (“LSO”) are that the applicant should:

1. have/will be graduating with a law degree from:

   • the National University of Singapore ("NUS"), the Singapore Management University ("SMU"), the Singapore University of Social Sciences ("SUSS"); or

   • a "Scheduled University" in England, Australia, New Zealand or the USA and have passed the DipSing or the Part A of the Singapore Bar Examinations; and

2. be a “qualified person” as defined in the Legal Profession Act 1966/the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules.

Undergraduate Law Programme/JD Programme

Undergraduates studying for an LLB programme at the NUS, the SMU or the SUSS or an LLB/B.A. Law/B.A. (Hons) Juris programme at a Scheduled University, and candidates studying for a JD programme at the NUS, the SMU, the SUSS or a Scheduled University, and who have successfully completed at least their second year of study, may apply to be interviewed for the possible offer of “conditional” appointment as an LSO.

The candidates who are interviewed may be required to undergo an internship (of at least two weeks) at the Attorney-General’s Chambers/a Legal Service department. Those who perform well at both the interview and the internship may be offered “conditional” appointment to the Legal Service as an LSO.

The possible confirmation of the offer of the “conditional” appointment as an LSO will be reviewed on the candidate’s full/successful completion of the LLB/B.A. Law/B.A. (Hons) Juris/JD programme and being awarded the requisite qualification.

Read more about eligibility for Undergraduates

Fresh Graduates

Fresh graduates and those with four years or less of strong relevant legal work experience (and who fully satisfy the general requirements/criteria for possible appointment) may apply to be considered for possible shortlisting for an interview for appointment as an LSO.

Read more about eligibility for Fresh Graduates

Mid-Careers

Mid-career candidates with more than four years of strong relevant legal work experience (and who fully satisfy the general requirements/criteria for possible appointment) may also apply to be considered for possible shortlisting for an interview for appointment as an LSO.

Read more about eligibility for Mid-Careers

Interviews

The next set of recruitment interviews for the eligible applicants whose shortlisting for an interview is approved would be on 11/12 May 2026.

Eligible applicants who are keen to be considered for possible shortlisting for an interview on 11/12 May 2026 would be required to submit their application by 27 Feb 2026.

Applicants who submit their applications after the 27 Feb 2026 deadline will be considered for subsequent interviews.

Please note that all eligible applicants are required to provide/include in their application - for the consideration of the relevant Legal Service Shortlisting/Interview Panel - the following (in not more than one page each [in Arial; font size 14] with their name at the bottom left corner):

1. a personal statement; and

2. a write-up on why he/she is applying to the Legal Service for consideration for possible shortlisting for an interview for possible appointment as an LSO and how and what he/she can contribute to the Legal Service and the administration of justice.