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Rules relating to the practice of Hong Kong law
3.16
It is proposed that the Council be empowered to make rules providing for the minimum post qualification experience required of any solicitor taken in as a partner or employed by a foreign law firm, the supervision of any solicitor employed by a foreign law firm, the ratio between foreign lawyer partners and solicitor partners, the ratio between solicitor partners and foreign lawyer employees, the keeping of records of advice given by solicitors and
Details the inspection of such records by the Law Society.
of these are set out in paragraphs 5.10 to 5.12 and 5.23 to 5.26 of Chapter 5.
Proposed Amendment of Part V of the Legal Practitioners
Ordinance
3.17
Part V of the Legal Practitioners Ordinance sets
Under this out offences relating to the practice of law. part an unqualified person (which would include a foreign lawyer) is prohibited from acting as a solicitor (section 45), pretending to be a solicitor (section 46), preparing certain documents (e.g. conveyancing) (section 47) and
In addition, no preparing papers for probate (section 48). In solicitor may act as an agent for an unqualified person (section 49) or recover costs for an unqualified person who acts as a solicitor (section 50).
3.18
Amendments will be necessary to these sections to enable solicitors to enter into partnership with foreign lawyers and to employ foreign lawyers as they presently employ solicitors and to enable foreign lawyers to employ and enter into partnership with solicitors.