Programme
Specialist Accreditation
OPEN FOR APPLICATION
FUTURE APPLICATION CYCLES
Category
Application Window
Senior Accredited Specialist in Building and Construction Law
1 July 2026 – 31 August 2026
Accredited Specialist and Senior Accredited Specialist in Building and Construction Law: Reaccreditation
1 January 2026 – 28 February 2026
Accredited Specialist and Senior Accredited Specialist in Data and Digital Economy Law: Reaccreditation
1 January 2026 – 28 February 2026
Accredited Specialist and Senior Accredited Specialist in Maritime and Shipping Law: Reaccreditation
1 January 2026 – 28 February 2026
The SAL’s Specialist Accreditation Scheme (the “Scheme”) confers recognition of a legal practitioner’s expertise and experience in a specialised area of law. It is an assessment process which requires a legal practitioner to show evidence of his or her knowledge and expertise in their chosen area of specialisation. Specialist accreditation is a voluntary and an individual endeavour.
The Scheme’s purpose is to:
- recognise the high level of proficiency of legal practitioners in their chosen practice area and promote continued personal professional development and improvement
- incentivise younger legal practitioners to hone their skills and knowledge
- provide the legal industry and general public with a reliable means of identifying and accessing legal practitioners who have proven themselves as possessing the requisite skills and knowledge in a practice area
- promote continued development and improve the standard, quality and delivery of legal services
The Scheme aims to build an exhaustive directory of Accredited Specialists and Senior Accredited Specialists for the benefit of users of legal services.
To gain a better understanding of the Scheme’s framework, the papers for the respective practice areas can be found here:
Legal practitioners interested in being accredited may apply to be:
- An Accredited Specialist (for legal practitioners with more than 5 year’s PQE) OR
- A Senior Accredited Specialist (for legal practitioners with more than 10 year’s PQE)
The appraisal will be carried out by a selection panel comprising judges and senior industry representatives.
To apply for specialist accreditation, download and complete the following forms:
- Application Form to be completed by the applicants
- Reference Statement to be completed by the referees
All applications should include the following documents:
- completed application form
- two completed Reference Statement forms
- documentation supporting applications for exemptions
- payment confirmation email or payment receipt
Why should I be accredited?
Specialist accreditation is a significant achievement and valuable asset to recognise and promote your expertise in a specialisation, and thus enhance your reputation. It gives you the opportunity to distinguish yourself from your peers. Specialist accreditation also allows you to be identified by the legal industry and the general public as possessing the requisite skills and knowledge in your chosen area of specialisation.
What is the difference between an Accredited Specialist and a Senior Accredited Specialist?
An Accredited Specialist is a legal practitioner with at least five years’ PQE who has been deemed by SAL to possess the necessary knowledge and skills to handle front-end and/or litigation work of some complexity in a specialised area of law.
A Senior Accredited Specialist is a more experienced legal practitioner with at least 10 years’ PQE who has been deemed by SAL to possess the necessary knowledge and skills to handle front-end and/or litigation work of greater complexity in a specialised area of law. They have dedicated a good proportion of their practice to this specialisation.
To be accredited, what are the eligibility criteria to fulfil?
The eligibility criteria for Accredited Specialist and Senior Accredited Specialist applicants differ. However, the criteria can be broadly set out as follows. You must:
- have been admitted to the Singapore Bar as an Advocate and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore
- for legal practitioners: hold a currently valid practising certificate
- have a minimum full-time post-qualification experience (PQE)
- have NOT been subject to any professional disciplinary proceedings or charged and convicted of a serious crime
- have been substantially involved in the full-time practice of the specialisation for which accreditation is sought
- have been engaged in continuing professional development (CPD) in the said specialisation
- provide favourable references
- successfully complete an assessment process comprising an examination and/or a selection panel interview
How do I apply for specialist accreditation?
Before you apply, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you feel that you have the expert knowledge and experience in a practice area?
- Do your colleagues and contemporaries consider you an expert in this area? Do they seek your advice on complex issues?
- Have you honed your expertise by participating in continuing professional development including attending and/or presenting at seminars and conferences in this area?
If you answer “yes” to these quesitons, do consider applying for specialist accreditation.
Please read the Information Guide for Applicants – General and the guide for the practice area in which they seek accreditation (if any) before applying to determine if you meet the eligibility criteria and are able to abide by the timelines.
Complete the Application Form. Submit it together with the Reference Statements from your referees, other necessary documentation and the payment confirmation email to [email protected].
All fees must be paid through the LawNet Store or through your firm’s Online Purchase Coordinator (OPC).
What are the application dates for specialist accreditation?
If you are interested to apply to be an Accredited Specialist, the opening date for applications is Opening of Legal Year and the closing date is 31 March, 5pm.
If you intend to apply to be a Senior Accredited Specialist, the opening date for applications is 1 July and the closing date is 31 August, 5pm.
What documentation do I need to include in my application?
You would need to include the following with your application:
- completed Application Form
- two completed Reference Statements from your referees
- supporting documents if you are seeking exemptions
- payment confirmation email or payment receipt
How is the 5 or 10 years’ PQE calculated?
If you are interested to apply to be an Accredited Specialist, you need at least 5 years’ full-time PQE as at 1 January. In other words, for 2025 applications, you would need to have commenced full-time practice on or prior to 1 January 2020.
If you intend to apply to be a Senior Accredited Specialist, you would need at least 10 years’ full-time PQE as at 1 July. In other words, for 2025 applications, you would need to have commenced full-time practice on or prior to 1 July 2015.
Once I am accredited, what must I do to maintain my accreditation?
Because accreditation is a testament to your expertise in the specialisation, to maintain this accreditation, you would be required to fulfil certain criteria.
The scheme requires you to be reaccredited every 2 years. To be reaccredited, you must show that, in the prior 2 years as a specialist, you:
- continue to hold a currently valid practising certificate
- have been substantially involved in the full-time practice of the practice area for which specialist reaccreditation is sought
- have been engaged in continuing professional development in the said practice area, and
- have not been subject to any professional disciplinary proceedings or charged and convicted of a serious crime
You may also be required to be interviewed by the selection panel.
Please refer to the guides under To be Reaccredited as a Specialist.
What if I am unable to fulfil certain criteria? Are there exemptions?
If you are unable to fulfil certain criteria due to a leave of absence, or have successfully completed full-time post-graduate studies in the practice area for which specialist accreditation is sought, you may seek an exemption.
Approval for exemptions are at the discretion of SAL.
Please refer to the Information Guide for Applicants – General for more details.
What are the fees?
The fees in Singapore dollars and exclusive of GST are as follows:
| Accredited Specialist | Senior Accredited Specialist | |
| Application | 400 | 1,000 |
| Examination | 400 | – |
| Reaccreditation (biennially) | 200 | 500 |
All fees must be paid through the LawNet Store or through your firm’s Online Purchase Coordinator (OPC).
What are the refunds?
| Accredited Specialist | Senior Accredited Specialist | |
| Application (candidature not confirmed) | 300 | 700 |
| Examination | 300 (prior to registration closing date) | – |
| Reaccreditation (biennially) | 150 | 350 |
What are the important dates I should take note of?
The key dates for the specialist accreditation programme 2024 are tentatively:
| Date | Event |
| OLY | Accredited Specialist applications open |
| 31 March | Accredited Specialist applications close 5pm |
| 30 April | Accredited Specialist candidature confirmed |
| 2 May | Examination registration opens |
| 1 July | Senior Accredited Specialist applications open |
| 2 September (as 31 August is a Saturday) | Senior Accredited Specialist applications close 5pm |
| One week before examination date | Examination registration closes |
| Saturday 7 September | Examination |
| 30 September | Senior Accredited Specialist candidature confirmed |
| October/November | Selection panel interviews for all candidates |
| OLY | Results released to all candidates |
To be Accredited as a Specialist
Guides
Applicants for accreditation are advised to refer to
- the “Information Guide for Applicants – General” and
- the guide for the practice area in which they seek accreditation (if any)
to be familiar with the criteria to be accredited.
Forms
To be Reaccredited as a Specialist
Guides
Specialists are advised to refer to
- the “Information Guide for Specialists – General” and
- the guide for the practice area for which they seek reaccreditation (if any)
to be familiar with the criteria to be reaccredited.
Forms
Logs
Accreditation is valid for two years after which all specialists must apply for reaccreditation.
Being accredited allows you to be recognised as possessing the necessary experience and knowledge associated with an expert in your practice area of accreditation. As such, you must maintain your accreditation by fulfilling the criteria as stated in the Information for Specialists guide for your practice area of accreditation. Broadly speaking, to be reaccredited, you must, during the two years as a specialist:
- continue to hold a validly current practising certificate
- have NOT been subject to any professional disciplinary proceedings or charged and convicted of a serious crime
- maintain your substantial involvement in the practice area of accreditation
- accumulate the required CPD points
You are advised to keep a record of your substantial involvement and CPD activities in the practice area of accreditation performed during the two years. You may avail yourself of the Practice and CPD logs for assistance.
The reaccreditation assessment process may vary from one practice area to another but the general format is:
For information on the criteria and process, please download the guides under To be Reaccredited as a Specialist and the renewal form Application for Reaccreditation.
Leave of Absence
If you intend to embark on a leave of absence that will affect your substantial involvement and CPD fulfillment in your practice area of accreditation, you are required to inform the SAL for a leave of absence from your accreditation for up to 2 years. Complete the Leave of Absence application form and send it by email to [email protected].
During your leave of absence, you are not to hold yourself out as a specialist.
You will still be required to fulfil the CPD requirements during your leave of absence unless you are physically unable to do so due to illness or accident, in which case you may be given an extension of time to accumulate the requisite number of CPD points to be reaccredited.
Marketing Your Accreditation
Being accredited is a significant achievement and promoting it is one way for accredited specialists to be recognised by the legal profession and the general public for their enhanced skills and knowledge.
The information guide Marketing Your Accreditation provides guidelines to specialists on the correct use of the post-nominal in various marketing channels and collateral.
Do remember:
- Your accreditation is an individual attainment. It should not be used to promote your firm or organisation.
- If your accreditation is suspended, revoked or cancelled, you cannot hold yourself out as an accredited specialist.
Guides
Accredited Specialist
Application
Examination
Reaccreditation (biennially)
Refunds
Accredited Specialist
Application
SGD 320.00
Examination
SGD 320.00
Reaccreditation (biennially)
SGD 150.00
Senior Accredited Specialist
Application
SGD 700.00
Reaccreditation (biennially)
SGD 350.00