Statute Details
- Title: Order under Section 11(3)
- Act Code: RELA1983-S217-2009
- Type: Subsidiary Legislation (SL)
- Legislation Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Publication/Instrument: No. S 217
- Gazette/Instrument Date: 19 May 2009
- Commencement: 1 June 2009
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Key Legal Basis: Section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act
- Primary Legal Subject: Legal Profession Act (Chapter 161) — loose-leaf edition
- Related Legislation (as referenced): Legal Profession Act; Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275); Legislation timeline
What Is This Legislation About?
This instrument is an order made under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275). In plain language, it addresses a technical but highly consequential issue: when Singapore publishes a revised “loose-leaf” edition of an Act, the Government needs to ensure that courts and legal practitioners know which version is the authoritative law to apply.
The order concerns the Legal Profession Act (Chapter 161). It states that, with effect from 1 June 2009, the loose-leaf edition of the Legal Profession Act published by the Law Revision Commissioners (as in force on 1 May 2009) shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of that Act, for all courts and for all purposes.
Although the text is short, the order plays a foundational role in legal certainty. It is not “substantive legislation” that changes professional rules for lawyers; rather, it is an authoritative consolidation/validation mechanism that ensures the revised edition is treated as the definitive legal text.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Reference to the Law Revision Commissioners’ publication
The order begins by “whereas” clauses explaining the background. It notes that pursuant to section 10 of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Law Revision Commissioners have published the Legal Profession Act in loose-leaf form as in force on 1 May 2009. This matters because loose-leaf publications are typically updated over time; the legal system must designate which version is authoritative at a given point.
2. The President’s power under section 11(3)
The order then identifies the legal mechanism: under section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, the Commissioners must transmit a copy of the loose-leaf edition to the President. The President may then, by order published in the Gazette, specify that the loose-leaf edition is the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of that Act.
3. The operative declaration: sole and only proper law
The operative part is the key legal effect. It provides that the loose-leaf edition of the Legal Profession Act shall, with effect from 1 June 2009, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of that Act. The phrase “in all courts and for all purposes” is crucial: it removes ambiguity about whether courts should rely on earlier printed editions, interim amendments, or other sources.
4. Formalities and effective date
The order is dated 12 May 2009 and signed by LAU WAH MING, Secretary to the Cabinet, Singapore, “By Command”. It also specifies the effective date: 1 June 2009. For practitioners, the effective date is essential when determining which text applies to events, filings, disciplinary matters, licensing decisions, or other legal proceedings that may have occurred around that time.
Practical implication for lawyers: once the order takes effect, the legal profession rules contained in the loose-leaf edition become the definitive statutory text for interpretation and application. Even if amendments were made after the “as in force on 1 May 2009” cut-off, the loose-leaf system is designed to incorporate updates; the order ensures that the revised edition is treated as the authoritative “proper law” baseline.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
This instrument is structured as a single-page order with an enacting formula and a short set of “whereas” clauses leading to an operative declaration. Unlike a typical Act with multiple sections and detailed substantive provisions, this order functions as a procedural/constitutional validation of the authoritative legal text.
In terms of legal architecture, it relies on the Revised Edition of the Laws Act for its authority. The order itself does not create new legal duties for lawyers; instead, it implements the statutory scheme that allows the President to designate the loose-leaf edition as the “sole and only proper law”.
For practitioners using legislation databases, the instrument’s “current version” status indicates that the order remains relevant as part of the legal framework governing which version of the Legal Profession Act is treated as authoritative. The “timeline” feature (as referenced in the extract) is important because the database may show multiple versions of the same instrument or related amendments.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
On its face, the order applies to the Legal Profession Act as a matter of legal text authority. It does not directly impose obligations on a class of persons (such as advocates and solicitors) in the way that disciplinary or licensing provisions would. Instead, it determines that the loose-leaf edition of the Legal Profession Act is the sole and only proper law for use by all courts and for all purposes.
Indirectly, the order affects all legal practitioners, law firms, regulators, and litigants because it governs the statutory text that courts will apply when interpreting the Legal Profession Act. In practice, this means that when advising clients, drafting submissions, or arguing statutory interpretation issues, lawyers should rely on the authoritative version designated by the order and subsequent legislative updates.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the order is brief, it is important for legal certainty. Singapore’s legal system depends on knowing which version of an Act is the “proper law” at any given time. Without a mechanism like section 11(3), disputes could arise about whether courts should treat earlier printed editions, interim amendments, or different compilations as controlling.
This order also supports uniformity in legal practice. When courts across jurisdictions (and at different levels) interpret the Legal Profession Act, they do so against a single authoritative text. That reduces the risk of inconsistent interpretations based on outdated or non-authoritative versions.
For practitioners, the order is particularly relevant in contexts where the precise statutory wording matters—such as:
- statutory interpretation of professional conduct and regulatory provisions;
- licensing and admission issues where statutory criteria must be applied strictly;
- disciplinary proceedings where the applicable legal text at the relevant time can be determinative;
- litigation and appeals where counsel must cite the correct statutory provisions.
Finally, the order illustrates the broader legislative maintenance framework in Singapore: the Revised Edition of the Laws Act provides a structured process for revising and publishing consolidated legal texts, and the President’s order ensures that the revised edition becomes the authoritative baseline for courts and legal actors.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — particularly sections 10 and 11(3)
- Legal Profession Act (Chapter 161)
- Legislation Timeline (database feature used to confirm the correct version as at a given date)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Order under Section 11(3) for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.