Eligibility for Appointment as a JSO

The general requirements/criteria for possible appointment to the Singapore Judicial Service as a Judicial Service Officer (“JSO”) are that the applicant should have graduated with a law degree from:

(a) the NUS, the SMU or the SUSS; or

(b) a Scheduled University in England, Australia, New Zealand or the USA and have passed the DipSing or the Part A of the Singapore Bar Examinations and be a “qualified person” as defined in the Legal Profession Act 1966/the Legal Profession (Qualified Persons) Rules.

Graduates with 5 years’ or less experience:

Candidates with five years or less of strong relevant legal work experience (and who fully satisfy the requirements/criteria specified at paragraph 1 above) may apply to be considered for possible shortlisting for an interview for appointment as a JSO.

Mid-Careers with more than 5 years’ experience:

Mid-career candidates with more than five years of strong relevant legal work experience (and who fully satisfy the requirements/criteria specified at paragraph 1 above) may also apply to be considered for possible shortlisting for an interview for appointment as a JSO.

2-stage Selection Process

Stage 1: Recruitment Interviews

The recruitment interviews in 2025 for applicants who are shortlisted for an interview would be on 4 Apr 2025 and 16 Oct 2025.

Applicants who are keen to be considered for possible shortlisting for an interview would be required to submit their application by 5 pm on 13 Feb 2025 (to be considered in Apr 2025) or 10 am on 29 Aug 2025 (to be considered in Oct 2025).

Please note that all applicants are required to provide/include in their application - for the consideration of the relevant Shortlisting/Interview Panel - the following (in not more than one page each [in Arial; font size 14] with their name at the bottom left corner):

(a) a Personal Statement;

(b) a Write-up
on why he/she is applying to join the Judicial Service as a JSO and how and what he/she can contribute to the Judicial Service and the administration of justice; and

(c) a summary of his/her legal work experience (where applicable).

Stage 2: Written Assignment & Judicial Service Selection Programme (“JSSP”)

Please also note that candidates identified at the interviews would be required to:

(a) complete a take-home written assignment via email ahead of the JSSP; and

(b) be physically present to attend the JSSP to enable the Judicial Service to better assess their suitability for a judicial appointment. The JSSP in 2025 would be on 30 Apr 2025 (following the recruitment interviews on 4 Apr 2025) and 12 Nov 2025 (following the recruitment interviews on 16 Oct 2025).