Legal minds at the ballot box: What lawyers bring to Singapore’s political landscape

AS NOMINATION Day unfolded for Singapore’s 2025 General Election (GE2025), a striking trend emerged: the significant number of legal professionals stepping forward as candidates across party lines.

Lawyers turned candidates for the first time include Gho Sze Kee, Cassandra Lee, and Marshall Lim of the People’s Action Party (PAP), and Harpreet Singh Nehal of the Workers’ Party (WP). Lawyers are making their presence felt in this electoral cycle. This pattern invites a deeper examination of what these legal minds bring to Singapore’s governance, and why their participation matters for the nation’s future.

A tradition of legal expertise in politics

Singapore’s politics has historically welcomed legal professionals, beginning with founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, himself Cambridge-trained in law. This tradition continues with current stalwarts like K Shanmugam, who has served as minister for law since 2008; Edwin Tong, minister for culture, community and youth; Indranee Rajah, minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and second minister for finance; and Murali Pillai, minister of state for transport and law. All of them are senior counsels.