Does a law practice need the approval of the LSRA to share premises with another law practice?
Under rule 81 of the Legal Profession (Law Practice Entities) Rules 2015, the prior approval in writing of the Director of Legal Services is required if a law practice wishes to share, occupy or use premises jointly with an "unauthorised person" as defined under the Legal Profession Act.
- A Singapore law practice wishes to share, occupy or use premises jointly with one or more other Singapore law practices;
- The member law practices of a Singapore group practice wish to share, occupy or use premises jointly;
- The member law practices of a foreign group practice wish to share, occupy or use premises jointly;
- The member law practices of a Formal Law Alliance wish to share, occupy or use premises jointly; or
- The constituent law practices of a Joint Law Venture wish to share, occupy or use premises jointly.