About
Twenty years standing for the defence bar
Founded on 3 August 2004 by the late Subhas Anandan, who led the association from the outset.
A narrower remit, deliberately held
Remit
A narrower remit, deliberately held
The Law Society of Singapore represents the profession as a whole, and criminal practice sits within that wider membership. The Association of Criminal Lawyers of Singapore was formed for one part of it.
Its concern is counsel for the defence: the independence of that role, the availability of adequate representation to every person brought before a court, and the standard of knowledge and skill in criminal law and procedure.
The two bodies work alongside one another. The association engages jointly with the Law Society's Criminal Practice Committee on matters affecting the criminal bar, and gives its view when criminal procedure is under review.
Record
A dated chronology
- 1
3 August 2004 — Founding
The Association of Criminal Lawyers of Singapore is founded by the late Subhas Anandan, who leads it from the outset.
- 2
1 June 2006 — The Community Court is established
The Community Court is established to deal with, among others, cases involving youthful offenders between 16 and 18 years old, offenders with mental disabilities, parties in neighbourhood disputes, and cases involving family violence.
- 3
30 June 2006 — Support pledged
The association pledges its support to the Community Court.
- 4
7 July 2006 — Free legal aid offered
The association offers to provide free legal aid to needy cases in the Community Court. Members have since represented many accused persons there without charge.
The work
What the association does
The four objects, the Community Court, the Annual Lecture and continuing legal education.
Read what we do