You can obtain legal advice through several available options:

(A) Engage a lawyer: The Law Society of Singapore has an online directory listing the names, addresses and other useful information of all practising lawyers in Singapore.

(B) The Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS): CLAS is a programme offered by Pro Bono SG for accused persons who cannot afford legal representation facing criminal charges for non-death penalty offences under statutes covered by CLAS. Eligible accused persons will receive legal assistance from a volunteer lawyer if they meet specific criteria. Please refer to Pro Bono SG’s website (https://www.probono.sg/) for the necessary criteria to be fulfilled.

(C) Public Defender’s Office (PDO): If you are Singaporean or Permanent Resident, and unable to afford a lawyer, you may also seek legal assistance from the PDO. Similar to CLAS, you will need to satisfy PDO’s specific criteria and face offences covered under the Public Defender’s Office Act. You may find more information on PDO from their website or contact them by phone or visiting them at their office.

(D) Remand Clinic: If the accused is currently remanded in prison because of not being able to post bail, he/she may attend the Remand Clinic to obtain free legal advice from a volunteer lawyer. More information can be obtained through the officers in the Singapore Prisons Service. Please note that the lawyer that the remandee sees will not be able to represent him/her in Court.

(E) Community Justice Centre (CJC) HELP Centre: The Community Justice Centre (CJC) offers various programs for self-represented accused persons, including:

• Primary Justice Project (PJP)

• On-site Legal Clinic (OSLAS)

• Guidance for Plea Scheme (GPS)

• Friends of Litigants-in-Person (FLiP)

Please refer to CJC’s website (https://cjc.org.sg/) for more details of these programs.