Singapore is one of Asia's most important legal markets — a major centre for international commercial arbitration, regional in-house counsel operations, and the APAC legal practices of global law firms. The Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) consistently ranks among the world's most preferred arbitral institutions. Singapore law is widely used as the governing law for commercial contracts throughout Asia.
Qualifying as a lawyer in Singapore
- Complete an approved Singapore law degree (LLB from NUS or SMU) or an overseas law degree from an approved university — maintained by the Singapore Institute of Legal Education (SILE)
- Pass Singapore Bar Examinations (Part A and Part B) administered by SILE. Overseas-trained lawyers take Part A (substantive Singapore law modules); all candidates take Part B (practical legal training).
- Complete a 6-month training contract with a Singapore law firm or legal organisation
- Call to the Singapore Bar by the Court of Three Judges
Singapore law firm landscape
| Tier | Key firms |
|---|---|
| Top tier Singapore firms | Allen & Gledhill, Rajah & Tann, WongPartnership, Drew & Napier, Dentons Rodyk — the "Big Five" Singapore law firms |
| International firms (Singapore office) | Linklaters, Herbert Smith Freehills, Baker McKenzie, White & Case, Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Simmons & Simmons |
| Boutique and specialist firms | Cavenagh Law, Bird & Bird (Singapore), RHTLaw Asia, Colin Ng & Partners |
SIAC and international arbitration
The Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) is consistently ranked among the top three most preferred arbitral institutions globally (alongside ICC and LCIA). Singapore's Maxwell Chambers — the world's first integrated dispute resolution complex — houses SIAC and other leading arbitral institutions. For lawyers specialising in international commercial arbitration, Singapore is Asia's premier hub.
Singapore legal salary benchmarks (2026, S$/month)
| Role | Monthly range |
|---|---|
| Associate (1–3 years PQE, top Singapore firm) | S$7,000–S$11,000 |
| Senior Associate (4–7 years PQE) | S$12,000–S$18,000 |
| In-house Counsel (3–6 years PQE, MNC) | S$10,000–S$16,000 |
| Head of Legal / GC (regional mid-market) | S$18,000–S$35,000+ |
| Partner (equity, top Singapore firm) | S$40,000–S$150,000+/month (profit sharing) |
Sources: SILE (sile.edu.sg, 2026); SIAC (siac.org.sg, 2026); Law Society of Singapore (lawsociety.org.sg, 2026); Robert Walters Singapore Legal Salary data 2026; Michael Page Singapore Legal 2026
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