Strengthening Partnerships

In collaboration with the Singapore Academy of Law, the State Courts conducted a virtual webinar titled ‘An Overview of the Law and Practice of the Small Claims Tribunals’ for legal practitioners on 5 October 2022. This was part of the Community Courts and Tribunals Cluster’s public education efforts to demystify the law, processes and practices of judicial tribunals, thereby enhancing access to tribunal justice.

The objective of the webinar was to equip legal practitioners with information and know-how on the legal framework, civil procedures and practices of the Small Claims Tribunals (SCT). With this knowledge, lawyers would then be able to effectively advise clients and members of the public who seek legal assistance at pro bono legal clinics about alternative dispute resolution processes, and whether their claims fall within the SCT’s jurisdiction.

Topics covered included how the SCT’s legislative framework and processes are designed to facilitate speedy and cost-efficient resolution of small-value disputes. The webinar also highlighted the nature of disputes commonly heard in the SCT, as well as common legal issues faced by litigants in the SCT, where legal representation is not permitted. Feedback from the participants was very positive.