XN000022-1991-05-22 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1991

5

LEGAL PRACTITIONERS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991

MANDATORY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION WAS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN ENSURING THAT THE PUBLIC HAD ACCESS TO

TO COMPETENT, PROFESSIONAL LAWYERS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR JEREMY MATHEWS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL 1991, MR MATHEWS SAID THE

(AMENDMENT) PURPOSES.

LEGAL PRACTITIONERS BILL HAD THREE MAIN

"FIRST, IT SEEKS TO INTRODUCE A MANDATORY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION SCHEME TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE LAW SOCIETY FOR AND TRAINEE SOLICITORS.

SOLICITORS

"SECONDLY, IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE BAR ASSOCIATION BE EMPOWERED TO ISSUE ITS OWN PRACTISING CERTIFICATES.

"AND THIRDLY, THE BILL PROPOSES AN AMENDMENT TO FACILITATE ADMISSION AS BARRISTERS OF PRACTISING SOLICITORS," HE SAID.

THE

VERY

ON CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION, MR MATHEWS SAID IT WAS A IMPORTANT METHOD FOR PROMOTING AND MAINTAINING PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE.

'A CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION SCHEME RECOGNISES THAT A LAWYER'S

OF COMPLETION

THE EDUCATION DOES NOT CEASE UPON GRADUATION OR THE POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN LAWS COURSE.

11

"THE LAW AND THE PRACTICE OF LAW ARE CHANGING; HENce the

PROFESSIONAL FOR LAWYERS TO KEEP ABREAST OF CHANGES THROUGHOUT THEIR CAREER, HE SAID.

NEED

MR

MATHEWS SAID MANDATORY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION WERE OPERATING SUCCESSFULLY IN MANY OTHER JURISDICTIONS.

SCHEMES

LAW SOCIETY

"FOR HONG KONG, AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, THE HAS DECIDED TO FOLLOW THE SCHEME IN PLACE IN ENGLAND AND WALES.

LEGAL CONTINUING

WILL

BE

"INITIALLY,

EDUCATION COURSES MANDATORY FOR RECENTLY QUALIFIED SOLICITORS AND TRAINEE SOLICITORS.

"MAKING

THE SCHEME

MANDATORY FOR SOLICITORS

WITH

ONE

YEAR

EXPERIENCE AFTER ADMISSION, AND TRAINEE SOLICITORS DURING THEIR YEAR TRAINING PERIOD, ENSURES THAT THESE LAWYERS PRACTICE SKILLS AND ARE COMPETENT IN THOSE AREAS OF THE LAW THAT

PRACTICE," WILL MOST LIKELY COME ACROSS IN THEIR EARLY YEARS OF ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID.

TWO-

START WITH

GOOD

THEY

THE

SOCIETY EDUCATION SCHEME.

CLAUSE 4 OF THE BILL AMENDED THE ORDINANCE TO EMPOWER THE

ΤΟ ENFORCE

OF THE THE MANDATORY NATURE

LAW

CONTINUING

LEGAL

/IT MIGHT