In Singapore, under Part IV: Privileges of Advocates and Solicitors in the Legal Profession Act, the process for Appointment of Senior Counsel is prescribed. Under Section 30, the following process is laid down:
1. A Selection Committee comprising the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General and the Judges of Appeal may appoint an advocate and solicitor or a Legal Service Officer as Senior Counsel if the Selection Committee is of the opinion that, by virtue of the person’s ability, standing at the Bar or special knowledge or experience in law, he is deserving of such distinction.
2. At every meeting of the Selection Committee, 3 members shall constitute a quorum, and no business shall be transacted unless a quorum is present.
3. Subject to this section, the Selection Committee may establish its own practice and regulate its own procedure.
4. The appointment of a Senior Counsel shall be deemed to be revoked if the Senior Counsel
a) Deleted.
b) being a Legal Service Officer, is dismissed from the Singapore Legal Service;
c) being a member of the Faculty of Law of the National University of Singapore or the School of Law of the Singapore Management University, is dismissed from the Faculty or School, as the case may be;
d) is convicted of an offence by a court of law in Singapore or elsewhere and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than 12 months or to a fine of not less than $2,000 and has not received a free pardon;
e) becomes mentally disordered and incapable of managing himself or his affairs;
f) is an undischarged bankrupt; or
g) enters into a composition with his creditors or a deed of arrangement with his creditors.
Revocation of Appointment
The appointment of a Senior Counsel shall be deemed to be revoked if, upon an application under section 82A(10) or 98(1) —
a) the Senior Counsel is suspended from practice or struck off the roll; or
b) a court of 3 Judges of the Supreme Court recommends that the appointment of the Senior Counsel be revoked.
No person shall be appointed as a Senior Counsel unless he has for an aggregate period of not less than 10 years been an advocate and solicitor or a Legal Service Officer or both.
On 21st April 1989, those persons who, on the date immediately preceding that date, are holding office as the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General shall be deemed to have been appointed as Senior Counsel under this section.
Any person who, on or after 1st June 2007, holds office as the Attorney-General, a Deputy Attorney-General or the Solicitor-General shall, if he is not a Senior Counsel, be deemed to have been appointed as Senior Counsel under this section on that date or the date on which he is appointed Attorney-General, Deputy Attorney-General or Solicitor-General, whichever is the later.