Expanding Access to Justice in Singapore: A Look at Civil and Criminal Legal Aid

Strategic Insights -

The Ministry of Law in Singapore has been working to provide equal access to justice for its citizens, particularly those who cannot afford legal services due to financial constraints. In a recent Parliament Q&A session, Member of Parliament Denise Phua Lay Peng raised concerns about the current means test for pro bono legal services, which only covers the bottom 25% of resident households. The Ministry has responded that expanding legal aid beyond this threshold would require increased funding, either through cutting back on other services or raising taxes.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Government-funded civil and criminal legal aid in Singapore covers the bottom 25% of resident households, focusing on those most in need.
  • The Ministry has introduced measures to streamline divorce proceedings, including a simplified case management track, alternative dispute resolution, and a judge-led approach.
  • In 2020, 60% of divorce cases were filed on the simplified track, and 90% of cases that went through mediation reached a full or partial settlement.
  • The Ministry is working with agencies and the courts to simplify processes in deputyship and estate administration matters, including the introduction of simplified filing tracks and an online application for probate matters.
  • Partnerships with the Law Society Pro Bono Services and other organizations are being explored to increase awareness of common legal issues and enhance access to justice for Singaporeans.
  • The Ministry will continue to review areas and processes that can be streamlined, with a focus on increasing awareness and enhancing access to justice.

Statistics:

  • 60% of divorce cases in 2020 were filed on the simplified track.
  • 90% of cases that went through mediation in 2020 reached a full or partial settlement.
  • 25% of resident households are covered by the Government-funded civil and criminal legal aid.
  • 5. The Ministry is partnering with the Law Society Pro Bono Services to develop a one-stop portal for layman-friendly information on common legal issues.

Sources:

  • Ministry of Law, Government of Singapore, Parliament Q&A Session (2020)
  • Ministry of Law, Government of Singapore, Simplified Divorce Proceedings (2020)
  • Law Society Pro Bono Services, Cooperation with the Ministry of Law (2020)