Are you needing a lawyer in Singapore and if so which type of lawyer do you need? Do you need a civil lawyer or can you manage it through the Small Claims Court? We are fortunate to live in a country with clearly defined laws to protect our interests. That being said, sometimes disputes are inevitable. As a former British colony, civil law in Singapore is based on English common law and is usually referred to when dealing with private disputes between parties.
Civil law covers a range of professional disputes. These can range from employment matters and labour disputes, to banking, financial and insolvency disputes; it also covers issues arising between landlords and tenants, and consumer protection. A matter might sometimes call for a civil lawyer, but there are other non-legal options too.
Small Claims Tribunal
You can approach the Small Claims Tribunal as a first option to settle cases with a value of up to $20,000. It’s an efficient system where you represent yourself, and resolve matters relatively quickly using the court’s online document uploading service. Depending on the situation, there may also be an option to e-negotiate final settlements, avoiding a hearing altogether.
Once a claim is filed, a consultation date is arranged for both parties to attend. At the consultation, your claim will be assessed; if it’s within the tribunal’s jurisdiction, you’ll get a chance to discuss your situation and hopefully resolve it amicably with the other party.
If the matter isn’t settled, a hearing date will be set, where a Tribunal Magistrate will hear both sides and make an order.
CASE (Consumer Association of Singapore)
Bought a dodgy TV and the retailer is refusing to refund it? For all matters relating to consumer protection, you can lodge a complaint with the Consumer Association of Singapore.
You can access a walk-in consultation, and opt for assistance or file a case. Unresolved matters can be escalated for mediation or referred to the Small Claims Tribunal.
If you find yourself needing legal advice in Singapore around any civil law or litigation issues, it’s best to consult a professional legal firm specialising in civil law disputes specifically.
Civil Lawyers
Eugene Thuraisingam LLP is a premier dispute resolution firm with a reputable team of civil and criminal lawyers based in Singapore. The firm has been recognised for various practice areas, including ‘White-collar Crime’ and ‘Commercial and Transactions’ by Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific 2020, and ‘Dispute Resolution’ by Asialaw Profiles 2020. It was also named as one of the ‘Firms to Watch 2019’ by Asian Legal Business. The team is well-versed with dealing with a manner of disputes ranging from professional, to financial, insolvency, banking and employment cases.
As civil litigators with an accomplished criminal practice, they bring specialist trial skills to pursue claims – particularly where factual or expert evidence is strongly contested. They are experienced in dealing with a wide array of disputes ranging from professional, to financial, insolvency, banking, employment and labour cases.
Email eugene@thuraisingam.com for more information.
IRB Law LLP is a full service law firm, offering the full breadth of legal services to private individuals and businesses of all sizes. Founded in 2012, it has grown organically to over 50 employees. It’s largely known as having one of the biggest family law teams and a strong reputation for corporate and criminal law services. Another speciality is employment law, assisting with employment and labour disputes.
The team at IRB Law LLP are well versed with working with individuals and small businesses to larger companies and corporations. They consider themselves to be a contemporary practice offering legal solutions instead of mere legal advice.
Email them here for more information
Read on for more helpful information about setting up a business in Singapore
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