Achievers LLC v Legal Aid Bureau

[2026] SGDC 162 District Court 12 May 2026 • DC/BCS 4/2026 • 12 min read

8 cases cited

Catchwords

Legal Profession — Bill of costs Courts and Jurisdiction — District Court — Assessment of bill of costs Statutory Interpretation — Construction of statute — Purposive approach

Practice Areas

Legal Profession Courts and Jurisdiction Statutory Interpretation

Judges (1)

Don Ho Delivered

Counsel (2)

Achievers LLC Firm Mohamed Ibrahim Counsel Applicant

Parties (2)

Achievers LLC Applicant Legal Aid Bureau Respondent

Case Significance

Achievers LLC v Legal Aid Bureau [2026] SGDC 162, decided by District Court Deputy Registrar Don Ho on 12 May 2026, clarified that the District Court has jurisdiction to assess a bill of costs submitted by a solicitor instructed by the Legal Aid Bureau for work done in Syariah Court proceedings. The applicant, Achievers LLC (represented by Mohamed Ibrahim), sought to recover $8,570 for work in Syariah Court Summons No 61241 in a legally aided divorce matter. The grounds of decision were released specifically to put it beyond doubt that such bill-of-costs applications may be filed in the District Court rather than the Syariah Court, applying a purposive approach to statutory construction under the Administration of Muslim Law Act and the Legal Profession Act.

Summary

Achievers LLC applied to the District Court to assess a bill of costs of $8,570 for work done in Syariah Court divorce proceedings on behalf of a legally aided person, raising the threshold question of whether the District Court had jurisdiction to assess such a bill under reg 15 of the Legal Aid and Advice Regulations. The Deputy Registrar found that the District Court had jurisdiction, applying a rectifying construction to reg 15(2) of the LAAR to avoid a conflict with s 120 of the Legal Profession Act, which limits bill of costs assessment to the State Courts and High Court. The bill of costs was allowed as drawn in the sum of $8,570.

Can a solicitor instructed by the Legal Aid Bureau file a bill of costs for Syariah Court work in the District Court?

Yes. In Achievers LLC v Legal Aid Bureau [2026] SGDC 162, Deputy Registrar Don Ho held that the District Court has jurisdiction to assess such a bill of costs, confirming that DC/BCS 4/2026 — filed on 4 March 2026 and claiming $8,570 for Syariah Court Summons No 61241 — was properly before the District Court.