Established to help those unrepresented by lawyers understand the legal processes and procedures, the Community Justice Centre - "HELP Services" operates from two locations:
- Level 1 of the Subordinate Courts Building, for civil and criminal matters;
- Level 3 of the Family and Juvenile Court Building, for family cases;
The "HELP Services" Centre is open daily (apart from weekends and public holidays):
- Mon-Thu: 8.30 am to 12.30 pm; 2.00 to 5.30 pm
- Fri: 8.30 am to 12.30 pm; 2.00 to 5.00 pm
Manned by experienced staff, the services offered at the "HELP Services" Centre is free of charge. The Centre provides basic information on court processes, procedures and practices. It does not provide legal advice. You may seek legal advice at various free legal clinics provided by the Centre’s partners.
Location map of "HELP Services" Centre
Service offered by "HELP Services" Centre
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Criminal cases
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Civil cases
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Family cases
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Facilities
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- Private consultation rooms.
- Computers with access to relevant websites for research.
- Brochures, reading materials, refreshments and TV news programmes for litigants waiting to be served.
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- Private consultation rooms.
- Computers with access to relevant websites for research.
- Brochures, reading materials, refreshments and TV news programmes for litigants waiting to be served.
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- Private consultation rooms.
- Computers with access to relevant websites for research.
- Photocopier (cash-card self-service) to make copies of documents for use in court.
- Brochures, reading materials, refreshments and TV news programmes for litigants waiting to be served.
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| Services |
- Counter staff assist with general enquiries and general information on court forms, court procedures and practices in relation to criminal cases.
- Referrals to The Law Society of Singapore - Pro Bono Services Office for Criminal Legal Clinic.
- Law students from the NUS Criminal Justice Club assist in filling in forms and referring to research material. At Criminal Legal Clinics, they assist volunteer lawyers to take notes of interview and provide language assistance when required. They also conduct preliminary interviews with remandees for the ACLS’ Remand Legal Clinics.
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- Counter staff assist with general enquiries and general information on court forms, court procedures and practices in relation to civil cases.
- Referrals to: legal clinics run by The Law Society of Singapore - Pro Bono Services Office* / Community Centres/Clubs/CDCs; Small Claims Tribunals; Legal Aid Bureau; Public Trustee (for administration of small estates).
* Strictly by appointment only. Please contact The Law Society of Singapore - Pro Bono Services Office at 6536 0650 for the appointment.
- University Court Friends (student volunteers from the Pro Bono Clubs of the NUS and SMU) assist in filling in forms at the Small Claims Tribunals.
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- Counter staff assist with general enquiries and general information on court forms, court procedure and practices in relation to family cases.
- Referrals to partner agencies for social welfare and legal advice, such as Legal Aid Bureau, The Law Society of Singapore and the Singapore Association of Women Lawyers (SAWL)
- University Court Friends (student volunteers from the Pro Bono Clubs of the NUS and SMU) guide parties to fill in forms.
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Legal clinics
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- 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month
2.30 pm onwards @ Court 17: ACLS’ Remand Legal Clinic for accused persons in remand.
- 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month
6.30 to 8.30 pm @ "HELP Services' Centre: The Law Society of Singapore’s Criminal Legal Clinic.
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- Every Wednesday
11 am to 1 pm @ "HELP Services" Centre: free consultations with lawyers from volunteer law firms.
* Strictly by appointment only. Please contact The Law Society of Singapore - Pro Bono Services Office at 6536 0650 for the appointment. |
- Every Wednesday
Free consultations with volunteer lawyers @ Legal Clinic Room.
1st, 2nd and 4th Wednesday: 4.30 pm to 6 pm
(by The Law Society of Singapore)
3rd & 5th Wednesday:
5 pm to 6 pm
(by the Singapore Association of Woman Lawyers (SAWL))
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Resources
(educational, reference and
research materials)
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- Information brochures on court processes and procedures.
- Educational video: “Over-view of court procedure in a criminal case”.
- Mini-library facilities: Statutes and basic law textbooks on criminal law, criminal procedure, evidence, sentencing principles and practice
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- Information brochures on court processes and procedures.
- Blank court forms (e.g. Writ of Summons, Memorandum of Appearance, Defence, Originating Summons, Summons, Affidavit).
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Information brochures, educational videos and reference materials on programmes such as: Divorce Information session, legal clinic sessions, Project Hope, as well as court processes and procedures.
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