ASK! about Singapore

Yes, you can. Below is a list of some websites where you can find information about laws and legal practices in Singapore:

Attorney-General’s Chambers of Singapore
The duty of the Attorney-General is to provide the Singapore Government with legal advice. This website contains historical information on the function of the legal advisor since our establishment as a Straits Settlement during Raffles’ time, and a timeline of the various AGs that had served Singapore. Especially useful for general interest is its ‘Useful Links’. There are links to international legal resources as well, so you can check out the laws in other nations.

Singapore Statutes Online
A statute is a law made by a legislature, written down in a formal document. This is a transparent documentation of our laws, but the legal expressions could daunt a layman. Misinterpretation could also result if you do not fully comprehend the sentences. Hence, consult a professional if you are attempting to decipher the maze of information here.

The Singapore E-Gazette
A gazette is a written document to broadcast changes in the law or government offices, sort of like how newspapers carry latest stories to us.

Singapore Academy of Law
You will find authoritative commentaries made about the law in Singapore by the academy, and read news of latest happenings relevant to our legal system. Apart from news, there are also updates from other government offices such as CPF. These updates are fed from the Singapore Law Watch.

The Subordinate Courts of Singapore
The Subordinate Courts of Singapore consists of the Criminal Justice Division, Civil Justice Division, Family Court of Singapore and the Juvenile Court of Singapore. The FAQ is user-friendly for the laymen, and the glossary is particularly interesting as it is a translation of the common legal terms from English to Chinese and Malay. The resources are also divided into those aimed at the public or lawyers.  As far as possible, the website tries to simplify the court processes for the public. Perhaps due to the law being an inherently complicated topic though, do not expect straight-forward answers here. Overall, the website is well-structured with much information.

Syariah Court Of Singapore
The Syariah Court of Singapore oversees the application of the Muslim law in relevant cases. The website also explains the Islamic view family matters like divorce.

Posted by Ang Mei Jun,

Associate Librarian, Adult & Young People’s Services

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