LegCo OnLine Up-date - Law passed on Higher Rights of Audience for Solicitors
2010-01-20
The Legal Practitioners (Amendment) Bill 2009 was enacted by LegCo today to establish a system for granting higher rights of audience to suitably qualified solicitors.
Under the enactment, a Higher Rights Audience Assessment Board chaired by a Judge and comprising 10 other members (including 3 each from the Law Society and the Bar) will be appointed by the Chief Justice to receive and determine applications from eligible solicitors for higher rights of audience in civil or criminal proceedings or both.
The Government estimates that the Assessment Board will be in a position to invite the first applications in about 12 months from today.
