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He said that a similar recruitment exercise was launched in April last year. It was found that an increasing number of local lawyers were interested in joining the Legal Department.
A total of 164 local applications, as against 99 in the 1993 recruitment exercise, were received during that exercise and more than 30 candidates were found suitable, he said.
On promotion prospects, the spokesman said that Crown Counsel were considered for promotion to the next rank of Senior Crown Counsel on the basis of ability, performance, legal experience, character and vacancies availability.
"Local Crown Counsel who had insufficient experience to justify promotion to Senior Crown Counsel but otherwise show a special potential meriting accelerated advancement might be promoted under the Double Ladder Scheme, which was specially designed to groom local Crown Counsel with potential to Senior Crown Counsel," he said.
Turning to duties, he said a Crown Counsel deployed in the Attorney General's Chambers would undertake criminal advocacy, civil litigation, legal advisory work, bilingual legislation drafting, commercial law and legal policy work.
The pay scale for a crown counsel is $33,130 to $54,985 per month, the entry pay depends on experience.
As regards entry requirements, candidates should be (A) admitted as solicitors in a recognised jurisdiction as stipulated under the Legal Officers Ordinance and Schedule 1 to Legal Practitioners Ordinance; or (B) barristers with two years' professional experience since call to the bar in a recognised jurisdiction as stipulated under the Legal Officers Ordinance and Schedule 1 to Legal Practitioners Ordinance.
Barristers with the right to practise but who do not possess two years' professional experience since call may also apply. If selected, they may enter at an appropriate point below the minimum of the Crown Counsel pay scale.
Candidates who will complete their training as a trainee solicitor or pupillage on or before 30 September this year may also apply. Their appointment, however, will be subject to their admission as a solicitor or satisfactory completion of pupillage.
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