The Law Society of Hong Kong is a professional association for solicitors in Hong Kong vested with statutory powers to regulate the professional conduct of solicitors, trainee solicitors and foreign lawyers. It was incorporated in 1907 as a company limited by guarantee.
The Law Society speaks for the solicitors’ profession in Hong Kong and ensures our voice are accurately and purposefully communicated to relevant parties
The Law Society is dedicated to providing relevant and effective support to our members including professional training and legal practice updates.
The Law Society is committed to facilitating the attainment and maintenance of the highest professional standards by our members in the interest of the community
The Law Society reaches out and maintains a wide local and global network for knowledge exchange, experience sharing and collaboration between our members and different sectors of both the local and international communities.
The Law Society strives to raise general public legal awareness, facilitate public access to legal services and promote a culture of giving back to the community among our members.
Monthly Statistics on the Profession (updated as of 31 August 2023)
|
Members (with or without Practising Certificate) |
13,072 | |
|
Members with Practising Certificate |
11,425 (out of whom 7,991 (70%) are in private practice) |
|
|
Trainee Solicitors |
906 | |
|
Registered Foreign Lawyers |
1,434 (from 32 jurisdictions) |
|
|
Hong Kong Law Firms |
931 (47% are sole proprietorships and 42% are firms with 2 to 5 partners, 60 are limited liability partnerships formed pursuant to the Legal Practitioners Ordinance) |
|
|
Registered Foreign Law Firms |
75 (from 19 jurisdictions, 15 are limited liability partnerships formed pursuant to the Legal Practitioners Ordinance) |
|
|
Civil Celebrants of Marriages |
2,187 | |
| Reverse Mortgage Counsellors | 389 | |
|
Solicitor Advocates |
95 (89 in civil proceedings, 6 in criminal proceedings) |
|
|
Student Members |
261 | |
|
Registered Associations between Hong Kong law firms and registered foreign law firms (including Mainland law firms) |
34 | |
|
Members of Association of China-Appointed Attesting Officers Limited |
474 | |
| Members of Hong Kong Society of Notaries | 382 |
| Admission of solicitors 2012—2021 |
 |
| Solicitors holding practising certificates 2012—2021 |
 |
| Years of admission - solicitors holding a 2021 practising certificate |
 |
| Gender ratio – Solicitors holding a practising certificate (2014 – 2021) |
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| Gender ratio – Trainee solicitors 2016 – 2021 |
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| Gender ratio – Partners 2016 – 2021 |
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| Size of solicitors’ firms and number of trainee solicitors in 2021 |
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