Ever wondered how modern Singapore set her foundations to become a place where people build their lives with confidence?
This year, Singapore commemorates 200 years of its modern judicial and legal system that has shaped the society we know today.
Through every milestone, one key constant thread has remained: the Rule of Law.
To mark the official launch of SGLaw200, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Transport, Murali Pillai SC addressed attendees.
On Mar 6, 2026, over 850 members of the legal community – lawyers, in-house counsel, law students and legaltech innovators – gathered at “The Next Charter: Shaping Singapore’s Legal Future Together!” event to discuss the transformation of Singapore’s landscape, as AI disrupts the practice of law.
Today, we look ahead and think about the next Charter… keeping our laws up to date, meeting demands of the market, making sure that we evolve to remain relevant is a key feature of the Singapore justice system.
Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong SC at the event on Mar 6, 2026.
To engage with younger Singaporeans who will shape the future of law, the SGLaw200 Youth Forum was held on May 13, 2026 to spark dialogue on how our laws must adapt to tomorrow's environment.
The discussions spanned issues such as tackling online harms like harassment and image abuse, as well as the challenges in evolving legal frameworks to account for emerging AI technology.
Singapore has striven to remain at the forefront of key developments with its policymaking. Following the passing of the Online Safety (Relief and Accountability) Act in Parliament in 2025, the Online Safety Commission (OSC) began operations in June 2026, providing victims of online harms with a dedicated avenue to seek timely redress for harmful content.
In continuing the discussions among youth, students across the upper primary to pre-university levels were invited to participate in the SGLaw200 Student Competitions: Why Law Matters. Through creative submissions, they expressed their thoughts on how the Rule of Law matters to them and those around them. Click here to view the students' creative submissions.
Earlier this year, students in the Singapore Management University's multidisciplinary course ‘Constitutions, Cultures, and Context’ also developed communications material to engage the public on the Rule of Law and its practical applications in the everyday lives of Singaporeans.
This is the current site of the National Gallery Singapore, which opened in 2015. Before this however, this was home to the Supreme Court, Singapore’s highest court from 1939 to 2005.
The former Supreme Court building only had four courtrooms.
This might have suffice for Singapore back in 1939, but by the 1980s, the courtrooms could no longer cope with a growing caseload and 12 additional courtrooms had to be built in the adjacent City Hall.
In 2005, the Supreme Court moved into its current building at 1 Supreme Court Lane, which has 29 courtrooms today across a nine-storey building.
As our legal landscape evolves with enhanced facilities, reforms, and improved processes, we make meaningful strides in making justice timely and accessible, beyond fairness.
Check out some of the following interesting activations and initiatives that have been rolled out throughout the year:
The Ministry of Law, in collaboration with Heritage SG, has rolled out a heritage trail to detail the stories behind 20 locations with significance to the Rule of Law in Singapore - from the country's first courthouse following the Second Charter of Justice, to the modern courts and legal institutions of today.
You can choose to experience the heritage trail in two ways:
To discover how the Rule of Law is alive in the everyday moments that make Singapore home, and the benefits it brings about in our daily lives, you can visit a free roving exhibition that will travel to various community spaces across Singapore.
Designed by local artist Andy Koh, the visuals illustrate the core pillars of Singapore's contemporary legal ecosystem.
Scroll through the carousel to learn more about the meaning behind each design.
This year's National Day Parade featured a special SGLaw200 Justice float, honouring four individuals who bring justice to life in our homes and communities: Stephen Poh, community mediator; Guy Bte Ghazali, Deputy Commissioner of the Online Safety Commission and former Senior President of the Syariah Court; Sadhana Rai, who leads Pro Bono SG's team of community and criminal defence lawyers; and Amelia Ang Yu Wen, family lawyer and Assigned Solicitor at the Legal Aid Bureau.
Amelia notes: "No one should have to face a legal problem alone just because they cannot afford a lawyer."
The SC Week, a signature event in Singapore since 2019, convenes the global dispute resolution community to discuss issues such as arbitration, mediation, litigation and the evolving frameworks that shape them. 2026 is a unique year as we are commemorating both SGLaw200 as well as the 60th anniversary of UNCITRAL, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law.
Two centuries of Singapore law. Six decades of UNCITRAL. Both anniversaries are built upon a strong foundation of the Rule of Law, fairness, and neutrality. Visit the Singapore Convention Week 2026 website for more information.
This article was written in partnership with
Produced by: CJ Foo, Desmond Chua, Eunice Leow, Gina Lim, Kimi Ang, Lavinna Kaur, Liu Ying, Lynette Phua, Mustafa Sulaiman, Tony Bo, Wan Yeung
Photo Credits: Ministry of Law, Institute of Policy Studies, Jasper Lim, Danial Zahrin, Nuriyah Fatin
