Justices' Law Clerk Programme

Learn about the unique opportunity to work closely with the Chief Justice and the Members of the Supreme Court Bench as well as the application timeframe/requirements

Last updated 28 August 2026

The Justices' Law Clerk (JLC) Programme is a structured 2-year programme of the Singapore Judicial Service. Those who aspire to have the unique privilege of working closely with the Chief Justice and the Members of the Supreme Court Bench may submit an application for selection for deployment to the 2-year JLC Programme.

If shortlisted for an interview and found suitable for appointment, candidates would be required to first undergo 4 months of JLC-Designate (JLCD) training from Sep to Dec (concurrent with the Part B of the Singapore Bar Course and Examinations, if applicable), prior to the commencement of the 2-year JLC Programme the following Jan.

JLC Information Session: 14 May 2026 (3.45 pm - 6 pm)

3.45 pm – 4 pm	Briefing by JSC Secretariat (on the Judicial Service & JLC Programme)
4 pm – 5 pm	Sharing of experiences by JLCs & in-Service ex-JLCs
5 pm – 5.30 pm	Sharing of experiences by former JLCs: Justice Mohamed Faizal, Senior Counsel Jason Chan, Senior Counsel (Partner at Allen & Gledhill; practice area – complex commercial litigation, investigations & arbitration) Tan Liang Ying (Partner at Seladore Legal; specialisation – international arbitration, international law & complex cross-border disputes)
5.30 pm – 6 pm	Question & Answer over Tea Reception

Note: This was held at the Supreme Court, with a remote stream for those who were unable to attend physically.

JLC Recruitment Interviews &
Deadlines for Submission of Application

Candidates	JLC Recruitment Interviews	Application Deadline
Completed at least second year of law studies at a Scheduled University Available for appointment on 1 Sep 2028 (after passing the Part A of the Singapore Bar Examinations) to undertake the 4-month JLCD stint, before commencing the 2-year JLC Programme on 1 Jan 2029 Note: Successful candidates will be offered a “conditional” appointment. The confirmation of the offer will be reviewed on the candidates’ completion of the law programme and being awarded the requisite qualifications.	14 Jul 2026 & 15 Jul 2026	29 May 2026 5 pm
Available for appointment on 1 Sep 2026 to undertake the 4-month JLCD stint, before commencing the 2-year JLC Programme on 1 Jan 2027	16 Jul 2026 & 17 Jul 2026	3 Jun 2026 5 pm
Available for appointment on 1 Sep 2027 (after passing the Part A of the Singapore Bar Examinations, if applicable) to undertake the 4-month JLCD stint, before commencing the 2-year JLC Programme on 1 Jan 2028	29 Sep 2026	17 Aug 2026 5 pm

Relevant Legal Training

Candidates from the Scheduled Universities who are selected for appointment to the JLC Programme may choose to undertake the Relevant Legal Training at a law firm (prior to joining the Singapore Judicial Service on 1 Sep to commence the JLCD stint).

Alternatively, for those who are available for at least 8 months prior to the commencement of the JLCD stint on 1 Sep, they can serve the equivalent of the Relevant Legal Training in the Singapore Judicial Service – via a secondment to the Singapore Legal Service.

Documents to be provided

Please note that all eligible applicants are required to provide the following for the consideration of the relevant Judicial Service Shortlisting/Interview Panel:

(a) the Judicial Service Application Form [DOCX, 197.51 KB] (opens in new tab);

(b) a Cover Letter - of not more than two pages (in Arial; font size 14) - setting out why he/she is applying for the 2-year JLC Programme, his/her views on what the work as a JLC entails and why he/she thinks he/she is suitable for the position, and his/her biggest aspirations on completion of the JLC Programme;

(c) academic references/testimonials
from two Professors of Law in support of the application (of not more than one page each [all applicants are kindly requested to convey this one-page limit specified by the Interview Panel to the Professors concerned]) to be provided by the Professors directly to the Secretary, Judicial Service Commission (“JSC”) at the JSC Secretariat’s email at jsc_sec@jsc.gov.sg (opens in new tab); and

(d) additional information / character reference –

(i) applicants from the local universities are to advise via email (when submitting their application) on a Professor / Teaching Faculty who knows them sufficiently well and would be available to complete by mid-Jun 2026 an assessment form (to be issued by the JSC Secretariat through the university); and

(ii) applicants from the Scheduled Universities are encouraged to request an academic adviser from the university to provide - directly to the Secretary, JSC at the JSC Secretariat’s email at jsc_sec@jsc.gov.sg (opens in new tab) - a character reference (of not more than a page) in support of their application.

Please also note that eligible applicants who are earmarked for possible shortlisting for an interview will be required to undertake the following for the consideration of the relevant Judicial Service Shortlisting/Interview Panel:

(a) one or more Essays on:
(i) 5 Jun 2026 (for purposes of the interviews on 14 and 15 Jul 2026);
(ii) 9 Jun 2026 (for purposes of the interviews on 16 and 17 Jul 2026); and
(iii) 21 Aug 2026 (for purposes of the interviews on 29 Sep 2026); and

(b) an online psychometric assessment.