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Hong Kong Solicitors

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A. Commencing Practice as a Solicitor

Instructions for Newly Qualified Solicitors

Eligibility to Hold a Practising Certificate

Solicitors to whom the Practising Certificate (Special Conditions) Rules apply must give 6 weeks’ notice to the Society when applying for their practising certificate.

2025 Practising Certificate

(a)	Notice of Intention to Apply for a Practising Certificate
	Any Solicitor whose application falls within any of the circumstances listed on the relevant Law Society circular as follows (“the Circumstances”) is required to submit a Notice of Intention to Apply for a Practising Certificate (“the Notice”). One of the Circumstances is that a Solicitor has not been in full-time practice of law for 2 continuous years immediately prior to the giving of the Notice. The Council has agreed that absence from full-time practice of law for a period of not more than 6 months in aggregate during the 2-year period referred to in the section will not be treated as having broken the continuity requirement (see Circular 04-310(SD)). The Notice must be submitted to the Law Society at least 6 weeks before the Solicitor’s application for a Practising Certificate.
	(i)	Circulars 24-497 (COM), 03-29 (SD), 04-310 (SD) and Principle 13.09 of The Hong Kong Solicitors' Guide to Professional Conduct Volume 1, 3rd Edition
	(ii)	The "Notice of Intention to Apply for a Practising Certificate" form
	(iii)	“Notes on How to Fill in the Notice of Intention to Apply for a Practising Certificate (2025)”
(b)	Application for Practising Certificate
	The application fee for a 2025 practising certificate is HK$6,500 and the 2025 membership subscription fee is HK$2,500. According to Section 6(3) of the Legal Practitioners Ordinance, a practising certificate shall not be issued unless the applicant has paid to the Law Society the membership subscription in respect of the year for which the practising certificate is to be issued.
	(iv)	The Application Form (2025) for Practising Certificate
	(v)	“Notes on How to Fill in the Application Form for a Practising Certificate (2025)”
	(vi)	The Statement of Compliance with CPD and RME Requirements – Solicitors (2025)
	(vii)	The Credit Card Authorization Form (2025)
(c)	Application for Law Society Membership/Membership Card Please refer to the ‘Law Society Membership’ section.

2026 Practising Certificate

(a)	Notice of Intention to Apply for a Practising Certificate
	Any Solicitor whose application falls within any of the circumstances listed on the relevant Law Society circular as follows (“the Circumstances”) is required to submit a Notice of Intention to Apply for a Practising Certificate (“the Notice”). One of the Circumstances is that a Solicitor has not been in full-time practice of law for 2 continuous years immediately prior to the giving of the Notice. The Council has agreed that absence from full-time practice of law for a period of not more than 6 months in aggregate during the 2-year period referred to in the section will not be treated as having broken the continuity requirement (see Circular 04-310(SD)). For a 2026 practising certificate, you are recommended to return the completed Notice to the Law Society by 19 September 2025, and in any event, by 17 October 2025.
	(i)	Circulars 25-502 (COM), 03-29 (SD), 04-310 (SD) and Principle 13.09 of The Hong Kong Solicitors' Guide to Professional Conduct Volume 1, 3rd Edition
	(ii)	The "Notice of Intention to Apply for a Practising Certificate" form
	(iii)	“Notes on How to Fill in the Notice of Intention to Apply for a Practising Certificate (2026)”
(b)	Application for Practising Certificate
	The application fee for a 2026 practising certificate is HK$6,500 and the 2026 membership subscription fee is HK$2,500. According to Section 6(3) of the Legal Practitioners Ordinance, a practising certificate shall not be issued unless the applicant has paid to the Law Society the membership subscription in respect of the year for which the practising certificate is to be issued.
	(iv)	The Application Form (2026) for Practising Certificate
	(v)	“Notes on How to Fill in the Application Form for a Practising Certificate (2026)”
	(vi)	The Statement of Compliance with CPD and RME Requirements – Solicitors (2026)
	(vii)	The Credit Card Authorization Form (2026)
(c)	Application for Law Society Membership/Membership Card Please refer to the ‘Law Society Membership’ section.

B. Continuing Professional Development and Risk Management Education Requirements

For details of CPD and RME Requirements, please refer to the following sections:-

(a)	CPD Requirement
(b)	RME Requirement
(c)	CPD/RME Training Record

For enquiries, please contact the Assistant Director, Professional Development at adpd@hklawsoc.org.hk.

C. Removal of Partnership Conditions on a Practising Certificate

1.	Circular 23-330 (COM) for removal of partnership condition and the procedure to be followed when making an application under Section 6(6) of the Legal Practitioners Ordinance and Sample Application.
2.	Circular 23-329 (COM) for the guidelines for removal of partnership condition and the procedure to be followed when making an application under Section 6(6A) of the Legal Practitioners Ordinance and Sample Application.

D. Information for In-House Solicitors

For details of the regulatory requirements on in-house solicitors, please refer to :-

(a)	Practice Direction N
(b)	Frequently Asked Questions: In-House Solicitors

For enquiries, please contact the Assistant Director, Regulation and Guidance II at adrg2@hklawsoc.org.hk.

For enquiries, please contact the Assistant Director, Registration at regist@hklawsoc.org.hk.

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