The Story In 60 Seconds
- Contrary to popular belief that there are no sources for legal assistance for the needy, there are actually avenues for legal assistance. One key element in this support is a free legal clinic, where you may have a brief consultation with a lawyer for little or no cost.
- With the exception of business, corporate or investment-related matters, legal clinics can advise you on a range of issues – including divorce proceedings, Women’s Charter, division of property and even intellectual property law.
- However, you need to be found eligible for assistance at such legal clinics, so you should check in advance if you qualify.
What are free legal clinics?
In every occupation, there are always people who are willing to find ways to give back to society using their professional skills – especially when it comes to those who need it the most, or the less fortunate. That’s why you hear about free medical clinics or even Médecins Sans Frontières (or Doctors Without Borders). But did you know that there are also lawyers who are willing to provide their legal expertise to help people? This service comes in two forms: (a) legal aid – where a lawyer will provide their full services to you at a subsidised rate; and, (b) free legal clinics – a location where you may schedule a short appointment (usually 20 minutes long) with a qualified lawyer. At such free legal clinics, you will receive basic legal advice and information on a one-to-one basis, but you will not receive the full services of a lawyer.
Am I eligible for a consultation at a free legal clinic?
While you would need to fulfil a very stringent list of criteria in order to be eligible for legal aid, you would generally only need to meet some basic criteria in order to make an appointment at a free legal clinic:
- You are a Singaporean or a Permanent Resident living in Singapore;
- You are facing a legal issue on a personal matter, and it does not touch on investment, business and professional matters;
- You have never sought legal advice before;
- You do not have a lawyer, or you have yet to engage a lawyer; and/or,
- You are unable to afford a lawyer.
However, do note that the eligibility criteria may vary between legal clinics. Some clinics are willing to accept applicants of different nationalities; while other clinics require that you undergo “means testing” – or a test which confirms if you are really unable to afford a lawyer.
Another important point: While some clinics have lawyers or staff who can speak a different language other than English, most clinics are mainly staffed by English-speaking lawyers. So if you are more comfortable speaking in a different language, you should bring along someone who can help to translate the discussion on your behalf.
Free legal clinics in the heartlands
- People’s Association Community Centres
- Opening times and operating hours vary.
- Usually by appointment only.
- Mainly serves Singaporeans and Permanent Residents, but some legal clinics in community centres may be open to foreigners.
- Law Society Pro Bono Services Office
- The Law Society’s legal clinics operate on a rotational basis across Singapore, with different branches operating at different hours and days of the week.
- All sessions are held by appointment only.
- Only serves Singaporeans and Permanent Residents on matters where they are not represented by a lawyer, and where the issue does not touch on corporate, business, or investment matters.
Free legal clinics for women
- Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE)
- The AWARE Legal Clinic serves women earning less than S$3,000 a month on a wide range of issues and is open on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. You will need to make a prior appointment before you attend your consultation session.
- The organisation’s on-site Sexual Assault Care Centre (SACC) also provides a free legal clinic, as well as counselling support for survivors of sexual assault (including sexual harassment). The SACC is open every week (usually on Tuesdays), and you do not need to make a prior appointment if you need help urgently. If you would like to find out more or to book an appointment, please call the SACC helpline 6779 0282 (Mon-Fri, 10 am till midnight).
- Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO)
- The SCWO runs two legal clinics – one for Civil Law and one for Muslim Law – for women residing in Singapore.
- The Civil Law legal clinic is open on the first and third Monday of the month, while the Muslim Law legal clinic is open on the third Monday of the month.
- You will need to make a prior appointment before attending the session, and the clinics will not handle issues based on corporate, business, or investment matters.
- The SCWO runs two legal clinics – one for Civil Law and one for Muslim Law – for women residing in Singapore.
Free legal clinics for Family Law
- Family Court Legal Clinic
- Operates on the premises of the Family Court every Wednesday from 4:30 pm to 5:50 pm, except on public holidays, and the eve of public holidays.
- Each consultation is limited to 20 minutes. This service is only available for needy residents in Singapore, and general legal advice will only be given on Family Law/Family Court-related matters.
- The applicant must also not be represented by a lawyer, nor should they have sought any legal advice on the issue beforehand.
Free legal clinics for Litigants in Person (LIP)
- Community Justice Centre On-Site Legal Advice Scheme
- Litigants in Person (LIPs) are people who are self-represented in court. Generally, they do not have legal representation and have to argue their case in court on their own.
- If you are an LIP, the Community Justice Centre’s On-Site Legal Advice Scheme provides immediate legal advice and directions to LIPs by offering a free one-time legal consultation with volunteer lawyers for a maximum duration of 20 minutes. In addition, the Community Justice Court also provides a slew of other services ranging from emotional support to information and education services, as well as assistance schemes and practical support services.
- Clinic sessions are available from Mondays to Fridays, 10 am to 12:30 pm, and 2:30 pm to 5 pm (except for Public Holidays).
- There is no need to arrange for a prior appointment. However, consultation is on a first-come, first served basis, and is subject to the availability of slots.
Free legal clinics for Intellectual Property Matters
- Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS)
- If you believe that your intellectual property (IP) has been infringed upon, or if someone has accused you of infringement, you can approach the IPOS IP Legal Clinic for a 45-minute consultation session with a professional IP lawyer.
- While you may be required to pay roughly $200 to $400 to the consulting lawyer at the end of the session, the fee you paid for may be claimed through reimbursement from IPOS.
- Consultations are by appointment only.
Free legal clinics for Syariah Law
- Jamiyah Legal Clinic
- Consultation is by appointment only.
- Applicants are not restricted by their ethnicity, and they can request to meet either Muslim and non-Muslim volunteer lawyers.
- The clinic offers advice on issues such as family disputes, matrimonial problems, division of property and other issues for all ethnicities. But cases on Syariah law will be referred to a special panel of lawyers.
- The operating hours are on Wednesdays (6 pm to 7 pm), as well as Saturday (3 pm to 5 pm).
- If the applicant is elderly or frail and may find it difficult to come down to the clinic’s main address, Jamiyah Legal Clinic also provides video-conferencing services at special kiosks at Kaki Bukit Community Centre and Eunos Community Club.
- Darul Arqam Legal Clinic
- The legal clinic is open on the first and third Saturdays of every month, from 10:30 am to 12:15 pm, and primarily handles marital and civil matters.
- Booking is by appointment only.
Need Legal Assistance? Don’t Worry!
It’s easy to feel worried since the law seems very obscure and daunting to most people, but it doesn’t mean that you have to feel alone! There are still many avenues for support and assistance out there. The Law Society of Singapore has a helpful list of legal clinics all across the island that you can read here.
This article is written by Chee Seng Tang from Asia Law Network.
This article does not constitute legal advice or a legal opinion on any matter discussed and, accordingly, it should not be relied upon. It should not be regarded as a comprehensive statement of the law and practice in this area. If you require any advice or information, please speak to practicing lawyer in your jurisdiction. No individual who is a member, partner, shareholder or consultant of, in or to any constituent part of Interstellar Group Pte. Ltd. accepts or assumes responsibility, or has any liability, to any person in respect of this article.