How do I file a complaint against a lawyer in Singapore?
Answered from official Singapore sources and the reported court record, as of — recomputed live.
Complaints about a solicitor's conduct are made to the Law Society of Singapore, which channels them through a Review Committee or an Inquiry Committee and, for serious matters, a Disciplinary Tribunal. The gravest cases are heard by a Court of Three Judges, whose decisions are reported judgments.
What the question is really asking
The disciplinary process for advocates and solicitors in Singapore is set out in the Legal Profession Act and administered through the Law Society of Singapore. A complaint about a solicitor's conduct is made in writing to the Law Society, which begins a structured process designed to filter matters according to their seriousness before any question of formal sanction arises.
A complaint is first considered by a Review Committee, which may dismiss it or refer it onward, and by an Inquiry Committee, which examines whether there is substance warranting a formal inquiry. Where the matter is serious enough, it proceeds to a Disciplinary Tribunal, which hears evidence and makes findings on whether professional misconduct or other disciplinary breaches are established. This tiered structure means that many complaints are resolved at an early stage, while the more serious ones move through successive levels of scrutiny.
The most serious cases — those that may warrant suspension from practice or striking a solicitor off the roll — are referred to a Court of Three Judges, the apex of the professional disciplinary structure. Its decisions are delivered as reported judgments, so the way misconduct is assessed and sanctioned is a matter of public record. The reported court record therefore shows, in the courts' own words, how disciplinary matters have been decided.
Official sources & how it works
The instruments and public records that govern the answer, each with its source and the year it describes.
Part VII of the Act sets out the disciplinary framework for advocates and solicitors — the Review Committee, Inquiry Committee, Disciplinary Tribunal and the Court of Three Judges — and the sanctions available.
Source: Legal Profession Act 1966 (Singapore) · as of 2020
The professional body that receives complaints about advocates and solicitors and administers the statutory disciplinary process on behalf of the profession.
Source: Law Society of Singapore · as of 2026
Where does a complaint about a lawyer go first?
A complaint about a solicitor's conduct is made in writing to the Law Society of Singapore. The Law Society administers the statutory disciplinary process, so it is the body that receives complaints and directs them into the appropriate committee for consideration before any question of formal disciplinary action arises.
What are the stages of the disciplinary process?
A complaint is considered by a Review Committee and an Inquiry Committee, which filter matters by seriousness. Where warranted, it proceeds to a Disciplinary Tribunal, which hears evidence and makes findings. The most serious cases are referred to a Court of Three Judges, which can impose the gravest sanctions. Each stage applies a higher level of scrutiny.
Are disciplinary decisions public?
Decisions of the Court of Three Judges in solicitor-disciplinary matters are delivered as reported judgments and are part of the public court record. That record shows how professional misconduct has been assessed and what sanctions were imposed, providing an objective account of disciplinary outcomes rather than a private determination.
Explore the court record
This is one part of what the reported record shows about how lawyers and litigation work in Singapore.
- For the reported disciplinary judgments and which counsel and firms appear in professional-conduct cases, see Legal Profession Lawyers in Singapore: The Court Record.
Methodology & disclaimer
This page explains the question factually from cited Singapore legislation, official public records and the reported Supreme Court court record. It describes how a process or requirement works in general; it does not tell any particular person what to do, is not a recommendation of any lawyer or firm, and is not legal advice. How a specific matter should be handled depends on its facts and is a question for a qualified lawyer.