Internships Available
Internships are available at the following Legal Service departments:
1.
Judicial Internship Programme (JIP)
[Supreme Court & Subordinate Courts]
Interns
on the JIP would have a unique opportunity to participate and observe the
daily work of Legal Service Officers at both the Supreme Court and the
Subordinate Courts. You will sit in with Registrars and Judges on a wide variety
of hearings conducted in the Supreme Court and the Subordinate Courts,
including trials and interlocutory applications such as summary judgement
hearings and discovery applications.
You
will also have the opportunity to sit in at pre-trial conferences, observe
open court hearings and gain an insight into the process of court
administration. You may also be asked to assist in some project work
undertaken by the Judiciary.
Eligibility: Rising 3rd & 4th year law students preferred
The JIP would be available over three runs. Students offered the JIP would
be assigned to either one of the three runs. The dates for the available
runs are indicated below:
|
Run
|
Period of Internship
|
|
1
|
2
weeks
Supreme Court:
16 May – 22 May 2012
Subordinate Courts: 23 May – 29 May 2012
|
|
2
|
2
weeks
Supreme Court:
16 Jul – 20 Jul
2012
Subordinate Courts: 23 Jul – 27 Jul
2012
|
|
3
|
2
weeks
Supreme Court:
14 Jan – 18 Jan
2013
Subordinate Courts: 7 Jan – 11 Jan
2013
|
2.
Senior Officer’s Law Clerk
Programme (SOLCP)
[Subordinate Courts]
You
should have an interest in judicial work and legal research. You will be
assigned to experienced District Judges and assist in their research as
well as sit in with Registrars and Judges in a wide variety of hearings.
These will include criminal, civil, family and juvenile cases and matters.
You will also be exposed to Traffic and Coroner’s cases. You will have an
opportunity to observe proceedings in all these Courts and visit the Small
Claims Tribunals.
Eligibility: 1st to 4th year law students
The SOLCP would be available over three runs. Students offered the SOLCP
would be assigned to either one of the three runs. The dates for the
available runs are indicated below:
|
Run
|
Period of Internship
|
|
1
(beginning
on 23 May 2012)
|
Interested applicants should
preferably be able to intern for 2 months.
|
|
2
(beginning
on 23 Jul 2012)
|
|
3
(beginning
on 7 Jan 2013)
|
3.
Attorney-General's Chambers [AGC]
In 2012, the AGC will be offering 4-week summer
internship programmes and a 2-week December internship programme.
Applicants should be Singapore citizens or permanent
residents. First year undergraduates are welcome to apply, but if there are
insufficient places, priority will be given to those who are second year
undergraduates and upwards.
The details of the internships are provided below:
|
Summer Internship
AGC’s 4-week summer internship programme is designed to give
interns full exposure to our work as the Public Prosecutor and Legal
Advisor to the government. Interns will be rotated to the Crime Cluster,
consisting of the prosecution Divisions, as well as to the Civil
Division, International Affairs and Legislative and Law Reform Divisions.
Interns will be exposed to a wide range of advisory work,
litigation and negotiations through a structured programme that will give
interns a chance to meet and work alongside many of our lawyers.
In particular, interns will have a unique opportunity to observe
and assist in real-life criminal prosecutions and civil litigation. Apart
from observing and assisting, interns will also have the opportunity to
hone their litigation and advocacy skills in simulated exercises based on
real-life cases.
We will also assign a “buddy” to each intern, typically a junior
legal officer, who will bring you to Court and give you insight into the
work and culture at AGC. In addition, a “mentor”, generally a more senior
colleague, will also be on hand to give you guidance and share their
experiences with you.
The summer internship programme is open to law undergraduates of
both local and overseas universities. Applicants will be considered on a
competitive basis.
|
Choose between:
a)
14 May – 8 Jun 2012
OR
b) 2 – 27
Jul 2012
|
|
December Internship
In addition to the summer internship, AGC will also be conducting
a shorter 2-week internship programme in December 2012.
Unlike the longer 4 week summer internship programme, this shorter
programme will give interns the chance to choose between the two main
facets of our work – that of the Public Prosecutor and of the Legal
Advisor to the government.
Those who
choose to spend their time undertaking criminal prosecution work will be
attached to the Crime Cluster of the AGC for the entire two weeks, where
they will be mentored by Deputy Public Prosecutors and given work that
will expose them to criminal litigation and the criminal justice system.
Those who choose legal advisory work will be rotated to the International
Affairs Division for one week, and the Civil, and Legislation and Law
Reform Divisions for another week. During these two weeks, they will be
given assignments that will expose them to a range of work revolving
around civil litigation, international law and negotiations, legislative
drafting and other types of legal advisory work.
|
10 – 21 Dec 2012
|
4. Legal Services Department, Ministry of
Defence [LSD, MINDEF]
You
will undertake research and work assignments relating to Civil Law,
Contract Law and Military Law.
Eligibility:
3rd & 4th year students preferred
The
LSD, MINDEF internship would be available over three runs. Students offered
the internship would be assigned to either one of the three runs. The dates
for the available runs are indicated below:
|
Run
|
Period of Internship
|
|
1
|
4 weeks
4 Jun –
29 Jun 2012
|
|
2
|
4 weeks
2 Jul –
27 Jul 2012
|
|
3
|
4 weeks
7 Jan – 1
Feb 2013
|
5.
Legal Aid Bureau [LAB]
The Legal Aid Bureau was set up to assist indigent
persons in need of legal help.
Its services covers a wide range of
matters, including divorces, adoptions, guardianship, committee of persons
and estate, variation and enforcement applications, claims for maintenance,
wrongful dismissals, motor and industrial accident claims, probate and
letters of administration, tenancy disputes and monetary claims.
You will get a first-hand experience in
drafting pleadings and other legal documents, doing legal research,
interviewing/counseling applicants and assisting in putting up opinions for
the Legal Aid Board. You will also receive a guided orientation into the
workings of the Legal Aid Bureau.
All interns will have the
opportunity to work independently under the guidance and supervision of a
Legal Service Officer. You will also get the chance to accompany Legal
Service Officers to Court to observe Court proceedings. This includes
sitting in at court hearings, attending status conferences / pre-trial
conferences/ mediations, experiencing video-link hearings and learning how
to use modern technology such as the Justice On-line system. You will also
get the chance to sit in at the legal advice sessions given by our Legal
Service Officers at the Bureau as well as the legal clinic at the Family
Court. Your internship at the Legal
Aid Bureau will provide you with a wide exposure not just in the area of
legal work but also the fulfilling personal experience in helping others.
Eligibility:
2nd & 3rd year law students preferred
|
Institution
|
Period of internship¹
|
|
SMU
|
30 Apr – 18 May 2012
|
|
21 May – 8 Jun 2012
|
|
NUS
|
21 May – 8 Jun 2012
|
|
11 – 29 Jun 2012
|
|
2 – 20 Jul 2012
|
|
United Kingdom
|
30 Jul – 17 Aug 2012
|
|
20 Aug – 7 Sep 2012
|
|
Australia / New Zealand
|
7 – 25 Jan 2013
|
¹ Students may intern at any one
of the above internship periods that coincides with their
institution/country of study.
6.
Insolvency & Public Trustee’s
Office [IPTO]
You will be
exposed to the working life of a Legal Service Officer who is required to
possess a myriad of skills in performing the varied work relating to
insolvency as well as matters under the purview of the Public Trustee. You
will also accompany Legal Service Officers to Court to observe legal
proceedings and Court hearings.
Eligibility: 1st to 4th year law students
The IPTO would be hosting two runs of the internship (one between May &
Sep 2012 and another between Dec 2012 & Feb 2013). Interested
applicants should be able to commit between 1 – 2 months for the
internship.
7.
Legal Policy Division, Ministry of
Law [LPD, MINLAW]
The LPD is responsible for formulating and reviewing
laws and policies under the Ministry’s purview, such as the vetting of bills,
extradition, mutual legal assistance, the implementation of United Nations
sanctions (e.g. against terrorists), the liberalization of the legal
services sector pursuant to free trade agreements, the legal profession,
administration of justice, admission of advocates and solicitors,
intellectual property, insolvency, legal aid and land. The LPD is unique in
the Singapore Legal Service as it is the only legal service department
which is devoted primarily to a policy-making role. Officers in the LPD thus
have to do more than merely interpret the law. They have to formulate sound
legal policies in the areas listed above. You will have the opportunity to
be actively involved in projects undertaken by the LPD and to assist the
LPD in its pursuit of various initiatives this year.
Eligibility: Rising 4th year law students preferred
The
MINLAW internship is available between May & Sep 2012. Interested
applicants should be able to commit for at least four weeks.
8. Legal Services Department, Ministry of
Manpower [LSD, MOM]
You will undertake research. You may also be involved in
case analysis and discussion and may also have the opportunity to assist in
a trial.
Eligibility:
1st to 4th year students who have completed a course
in criminal law
The LSD, MOM would be
hosting two runs of the internship (one between May & Sep 2012 and
another between Dec 2012 & Feb 2013). Interested applicants should be
able to commit for at least a month for the internship.
9.
Legal Services Branch, Ministry of
Education [LSB, MOE]
You will undertake
research into the education laws of Singapore and other countries. You may
also be asked to assist with some litigation and contract work. Candidates
must be keen to learn & understand the role of a Ministry in-house
Legal Counsel & the legal issues dealt with by the LSB, MOE.
Eligibility: Rising 3rd & 4th year law students preferred
The LSB, MOE would be hosting two runs of the internship (one between May
& Sep 2012 and another between Dec 2012 & Feb 2013). Interested applicants
should be able to commit for at least a month for the internship.
10.
Competition Commission of Singapore
[CCS]
You
will undertake Legal and Industry research. You may also be involved in
casework, where appropriate.
Eligibility: Rising 3rd & 4th year law students preferred
The CCS would be hosting two runs of the internship (one between May &
Sep 2012 and another between Dec 2012 & Feb 2013). Interested
applicants should be able to commit for at least a month for the
internship.
11.
Accounting & Corporate
Regulatory Authority [ACRA]
You will be exposed to the work of the ACRA in its
regulation of businesses, companies, limited liability partnerships and
public accountants. You should be able to obtain a better understanding of
the procedures and administrative practices under the legislation
administered by the ACRA and of some of the policy, registration, filing
and compliance issues faced by the ACRA. You will be attached principally
to assist the Legal Service Officers in the ACRA but you may also be asked
to observe and to assist other ACRA officers in the course of their work.
You should be prepared to contribute and assist in legal research or legal
policy projects, (which may involve researching the law and practice of
foreign jurisdictions) and you may be asked to prepare legal and policy
briefs under the guidance of the Legal Service Officers. You should be
interested in business law or in the regulation of business entities.
Eligibility: 3rd & 4th year law students preferred
|
Institution
|
Period of internship
|
Duration
|
|
NUS & SMU
|
Jun – Jul 2012
|
Interested applicants should be able to
commit for at least a month.
|
|
United Kingdom
|
Jul – Aug 2012
|
|
Australian / New Zealand
|
Jan – Feb 2013
|
12. Intellectual Property Office of Singapore
[IPOS]
You will provide support and research assistance in
various IP departments/divisions, which may include, from time to time,
research in the area of alternative dispute resolution, Free Trade
Agreement-related research (such as on foreign IP regimes), copyright
issues (such as “3 strikes rule”; cross-border issues in IP infringement; camcording), strategic/policy review of Registered
Designs regime, guides for patent examiners, IP management factsheets (on
IP valuation, commercialization, financing etc.).
Eligibility:
1st to 4th year law students and who have studied trade
marks law, copyright law and contract law.
The
IPOS will be offering three projects in the 2012/2013 SLS internships.
Interested applicants should indicate their preferred IPOS project when
applying.
|
Project
|
Scope
|
Special requirements
|
Attachment Period
|
|
A.
|
Provide support and
research assistance in
the Registries Division (Patent/Trade Marks /Designs/Plant Varieties
Protection) and Hearings and Mediation Division, which may include, from
time to time, research and review of
selected key issues concerning the regimes for registrable
IP namely trade marks, patents, designs and
plant varieties. This includes comparative analysis of the regimes in key
IP jurisdictions, as well other research and strategic/policy review as
may be assigned.
|
Candidate should
have studied intellectual property law and ideally, be familiar with:
-
trade marks law and
patents law' or
-
copyright law
|
May – Sep 2012 for 4 weeks
|
|
B.
|
Provide support,
research and analysis for policy development on issues such as Copyright,
e.g., L&E and Collective Management Organisations.
This may include
providing support to the organisation of a
Collective Management Organisations seminar
co-organised by IPOS and the WIPO Singapore Office.
|
Candidate should
have studied intellectual property law and ideally, be familiar with:
-
copyright law
-
public
international law
Candidate with prior
internship or working experience in dealing with industry stakeholders,
inter-governmental organisations or experience
in legislative drafting would be favorably considered.
|
May – Sep 2012 &
Dec 2012 – Jan/Feb 2013
for 4 – 6 weeks.
|
|
C.
|
Provide support and
research for ongoing:-
- Free Trade Agreements negotiations, e.g.,
comparative research and analysis on intellectual property issues;
- WIPO and WTO meetings, e.g., research and
analysis on selected legal issues such as Genetic Resources,
Traditional Cultural Expressions & Traditional Knowledge, and
Geographical Indications.
|
Candidate should
have studied intellectual property law and ideally, be familiar with at
least one of the following:
-
copyright law
-
trademark law
-
patents law
-
registered
designs law
-
geographical
indications law
Familiarity with
international law, especially international trade law and international
environmental law would be an added advantage.
|
May – Sep 2012 &
Dec 2012 – Jan/Feb 2013
for 4 – 6 weeks.
|
13.
Singapore Land Authority [SLA]
You will gain insights into the work and practices of
the SLA in areas such as land registration, land survey, land alienation
and State land and property/lease management. You will have a better
understanding, gain a broader perspective and knowledge of the procedures
under the various legislation administered by the SLA, e.g. Land Titles
Act, Residential Property Act, Boundary Map and Survey Act, State Lands Act
and State Lands Encroachment Act.
You will also work closely with the Legal Counsels in
the SLA to help provide legal advice on policy and operational issues to
the various divisions. You should be prepared to contribute and assist in
legal research or legal policy projects, (which may involve researching the
law and practice of foreign jurisdictions) and you may be asked to prepare
legal and policy briefs under the guidance of the Legal Counsels.
At the end of the internship, you will appreciate the
realistic expectations of the work in a legal environment and you can revel
in the experience of working with issues that touch and concern land – a
limited resource in Singapore.
Eligibility: Rising 3rd & 4th year law students
preferred
The SLA would be hosting two runs of the internship (one between May &
Sep 2012 and another between Dec 2012 & Feb 2013). Interested
applicants should be able to commit for at least three weeks for the
internship.
14.
Legal Service Unit, Ministry of
Community Development, Youth and Sports [MCYS]
You will undertake research and work assignments
relating to the legal aspects of MCYS’ functions and operations. This may
include the areas of family law, adoption, child protection, charities,
intellectual property and contracts.
Eligibility:
At least 2nd year law students
The LSU, MCYS would be hosting two runs of the
internship (one between May & Sep 2012 and another between Dec 2012
& Feb 2013). Interested applicants should be able to commit for at
least three weeks for the internship.
