Re Kuoh Hao Teng: Admission to the Bar Dispute over Practice Training Requirements
Mr. Kuoh Hao Teng applied to the High Court of Singapore for admission to the Bar. His application was initially opposed by his former supervising solicitor, Mr. Tan Jeh Yaw, but the objections were later withdrawn. The court, presided over by Choo Han Teck J, granted the application, admitting Mr. Kuoh to the Bar. Concerns were raised regarding Mr. Tan's qualifications to supervise practice trainees and the supervision of other trainees.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
General Division of the High Court1.2 Outcome
Application granted and Mr. Kuoh admitted to the Bar.
1.3 Case Type
Civil
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
Application for admission to the Bar. The court granted the application after initial objections were withdrawn, but raised concerns about the supervising solicitor's qualifications.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kuoh Hao Teng | Applicant | Individual | Application granted | Won | |
| Tan Jeh Yaw | Other | Individual | Objections Withdrawn | Neutral |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Choo Han Teck | Judge of the High Court | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Luo Ling Ling | Luo Ling Ling LLC |
| Kenii Takashima | Tan Jeh Yaw LLC |
| Tan Jeh Yaw | Tan Jeh Yaw LLC |
4. Facts
- Mr. Kuoh applied for admission to the Bar after completing his practice training.
- Mr. Tan, Mr. Kuoh's initial supervising solicitor, objected to the application.
- Mr. Tan alleged that Mr. Kuoh was playing computer games and watching movies during office hours.
- Mr. Kuoh refuted Mr. Tan's complaints in an affidavit.
- Mr. Kuoh started a fresh stint as a practice trainee under Ms Carolyn Tan.
- Mr. Tan withdrew his objections to Mr. Kuoh’s application.
- It was discovered that Mr. Tan did not have the prerequisite qualifications to take on practice trainees.
5. Formal Citations
- Re Kuoh Hao Teng, Admission of Advocates and Solicitors No 718 of 2020, [2021] SGHC 79
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Mr Kuoh graduated from the University of Bristol | |
| Mr Kuoh completed the mandatory Relevant Legal Training | |
| Mr Kuoh began his traineeship under Mr Tan | |
| Mr Kuoh filed his application, HC/AAS 479 of 2019 | |
| Mr Kuoh’s traineeship ended | |
| Mr Tan signed the documents for Mr. Kuoh's application | |
| Mr Kuoh prepared an amended list of practice areas | |
| Mr Kuoh submitted the documents to the Singapore Institute of Legal Education | |
| Mr Tan filed a Notice of Objection | |
| Mr Kuoh filed an affidavit refuting Mr Tan's complaints | |
| The AGC informed Mr Kuoh that it would be referring the matter to the police | |
| Mr Tan filed a police report concerning Mr Kuoh’s amendments to the list | |
| Mr Kuoh started a fresh stint as a practice trainee under Ms Carolyn Tan | |
| Mr Kuoh completed his training | |
| Application for withdrawal was fixed before the judge | |
| Mr Kuoh appointed Ms Luo Ling Ling to act on his behalf | |
| Leave granted to Mr Kuoh to withdraw AAS 479 | |
| Mr Tan withdrew his objections to Mr Kuoh’s application under AAS 718 | |
| Hearing before the judge | |
| Judgment Date |
7. Legal Issues
- Admission to the Bar
- Outcome: The court granted the application for admission after initial objections were withdrawn.
- Category: Substantive
- Sub-Issues:
- Compliance with Practice Training Requirements
- Qualifications of Supervising Solicitor
8. Remedies Sought
- Admission to the Bar
9. Cause of Actions
- No cause of actions
10. Practice Areas
- Regulatory Law
11. Industries
- Legal Services
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No cited cases | |||||
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| Rule 25 of the Legal Profession (Admission) Rules 2011 |
| Rule 18(1) of the Legal Profession (Admission) Rules 2011 |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| Legal Profession Act (Cap. 161) | Singapore |
| Legal Profession (Admission) Rules 2011 | Singapore |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Admission to the Bar
- Practice Training Period
- Supervising Solicitor
- Notice of Objection
- Practising Certificate
15.2 Keywords
- admission
- advocate
- solicitor
- legal profession
- practice training
- supervising solicitor
17. Areas of Law
| Area Name | Relevance Score |
|---|---|
| Admission to the Bar | 100 |
| Legal Profession Act | 90 |
| Civil Procedure | 50 |
| Costs | 40 |
16. Subjects
- Legal Education
- Professional Responsibility