To be admitted to the Brunei Bar, a person must satisfy sections 3 and 4 of the Legal Profession Act, Chapter 132, Laws of Brunei:
“3. (1) A person shall be a qualified person for the purposes of this Act if, subject to the provisions of subsection (3), he —
(a) is a barrister-at-law of England or Northern Ireland or a member of the Faculty of Advocates of Scotland;
(b) is a solicitor in England or Northern Ireland or a Writer to the Signet, law agent or solicitor in Scotland;
(c) has been in active practice as an advocate and solicitor in Singapore or in any part of Malaysia; or
(d) is a barrister, solicitor or who is a barrister and solicitor of a Supreme Court of any Australian State or Territory.
(2) A person who is —
(a) a citizen of Brunei Darussalam; or
(b) a permanent resident
on the date of his petition for admission shall, notwithstanding subsection (1), be a qualified person for the purposes of this Act if he has obtained such alternative qualification as may be prescribed.
(3) A person who is not, on the date of his petition for admission, either a citizen of Brunei Darussalam or a permanent resident, shall only apply for admission if, in addition to satisfying the requirements of subsection (1), he has been in active practice in any part of the United Kingdom, in Singapore, in any part of Malaysia, in any Australian State or Territory or in any other country or territory or part of a country or territory in the Commonwealth designated by the Attorney General by notice in the Gazette for at least 7 years immediately preceding such application.
(4) The Chief Justice may at his discretion, and subject to the provisions of this Act, admit as an advocate and solicitor any qualified person who —
(a) has attained the age of 21 years;
(b) is of good character; and
(c) has, to the extent that he is not exempt therefrom, served satisfactorily such manner and period of pupillage (9 months) as may be prescribed for qualified persons.”
The applicant for admission would have to file:
- Petition;
- Affidavit in support;
- 2 Certificates of good character;
- Certificate of diligence from the Pupil Master (if applicable);
- Notice under Section 5(2) of the Legal Profession Act, Cap 132.
The applicant is also required to serve a copy of the petition and affidavit on the Attorney General and the Law Society of Brunei Darussalam within 5 days of the documents being filed in the Chief Registrar’s office.
With the approval of the Chief Justice, pursuant to paragraph 21 of the First Schedule of Section 62(2) (a) the Legal Profession Act, Cap 132 (“the Act”), all applications for admission of advocates or solicitors under Section 4 of the Act shall be required to state in their affidavit that they have read and understood the Legal Profession (Practice and Etiquette) Rules 2015 of the Act.