Skip to Main Content

Historical Sources of Singapore Law: Reference Sources

Judicial Dictionaries

Legal Dictionaries & Glossaries

Find out the meanings of words and phrases, particularly when used in the local context:

Legal Abbreviations

If you are unable to identify the abbreviation in a case or article citation, use one of the following indexes to find out its meaning:

Legal Encyclopaedias

The key legal encyclopaedia for Singapore is the *Halsbury's Laws of Singapore. However, relevant information can also be obtained from other encyclopaedias listed below:

Digests

The main legal digest for Singapore, Mallal's Digest, provides summaries of reported decisions, and a selection of unreported decisions for Singapore and Malaysia from 1808 to 2018. This publication has ceased.

Citators (Print)

You may use the following print citators to note-up case law and legislation. Do note, however, that the publications are dated and will not provide the latest information:

Citators (Online)

To note up a case online, use LawNet:

Search for the case you wish to note-up, e.g. Ang Sunny v Public Prosecutor. Case treatment is indicated just above the case name by the words "Following", "Referring", "Distinguishing", etc. Click on each section to the see the relevant listing of cases.

Alternatively, look under "Case References - Referring" on the left panel of the screen for annotating cases.