Kinds of practice
Foreign lawyers in Hong Kong: registration and limits
A registered foreign lawyer holds a Law Society certificate of registration to practise foreign law from Hong Kong. That is not admission as a Hong Kong solicitor.
At a glance
- Registers with
- The Law Society of Hong Kong
- Holds
- A certificate of registration
- Public record
- Law List, Foreign Lawyers section
- First registration, 1 Jul 2026 to 31 Mar 2027
- HK$9,000
- Supervision proposal needed if
- Under 2 years’ full-time foreign-law practice
A registered foreign lawyer is a lawyer qualified outside Hong Kong who holds a certificate of registration from the Law Society of Hong Kong. Registration lets them practise foreign law from Hong Kong, in a registered foreign law firm or a Hong Kong law firm. It is not admission as a Hong Kong solicitor. You can check any registered foreign lawyer in the Foreign Lawyers section of the Law List, which the Society says shows lawyers holding current certificates of registration.
Foreign lawyer or Hong Kong solicitor?
| Registered foreign lawyer | Hong Kong solicitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Law Society record | Certificate of registration | Admission as a solicitor, plus a practising certificate |
| Where to check | Law List, Foreign Lawyers | Law List, Members with Practising Certificate |
| Where they work | A registered foreign law firm or a Hong Kong law firm | A Hong Kong law firm; registered foreign law firms may not employ them |
The Law Society says registered foreign law firms are precluded from practising Hong Kong law, and from employing Hong Kong solicitors or taking them into partnership. A firm can only register as a foreign law firm if all the partners who intend to practise in Hong Kong are foreign lawyers, or its sole practitioner is one. Such a firm may practise the law of the jurisdictions where its partners and associates are qualified, and of third jurisdictions where they are competent to practise.
An overseas lawyer who wants to practise as a Hong Kong solicitor has to be admitted. The Society publishes an annual information package on admission for overseas lawyers, which covers the Overseas Lawyers Qualification Examination.
How to check a foreign lawyer
- Get the full name and the jurisdiction the lawyer says they are qualified in.
- Search the Foreign Lawyers section of the Law List. You can search by name and filter by jurisdiction.
- Check the jurisdiction shown matches the law they are advising you on.
- Check their firm. Search the Foreign Law Firms or Hong Kong Law Firms section for the firm named on their letterhead.
- For any Hong Kong law point, ask who will advise and check that person in Members with Practising Certificate.
Our guide on how to check the Law List explains each section.
How registration works
The Law Society’s foreign lawyers page and its June 2025 information package set out the application. The applicant completes the original Form FL approved by the Council, precisely, and encloses:
- a certified copy of their passport, and of their Hong Kong Identity Card if they have one
- a passport-size photo taken within three months of the application
- a certified copy of their current practising certificate
- a certified copy of a Certificate of Good Standing from the law society or governing body where they were admitted, confirming the date of admission and whether any disciplinary proceeding is pending or has been taken since
- certified English translations of any supporting document not in English or Chinese
Hong Kong firms and foreign firms must submit supervision proposals for applicants who do not have at least two years’ post-qualification experience in the full-time practice of foreign law.
Fees
The Society’s 2026 fees schedule lists these charges for a foreign lawyer’s certificate of registration:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| First registration, 1 April to 14 May 2026 | HK$4,500 |
| First registration, 15 May to 30 June 2026 | HK$13,500 |
| First registration, 1 July 2026 to 31 March 2027 | HK$9,000 |
| Renewal, from 1 July 2026 | HK$9,000 |
Fees change. Check the current schedule before paying.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a foreign title, such as solicitor of another country or attorney, makes someone a Hong Kong solicitor.
- Taking an email signature as proof of registration. Search the list.
- Forgetting the firm matters as well as the person. A registered foreign law firm is precluded from practising Hong Kong law, whoever works there.
Our law directory separates Hong Kong solicitor firms from registered foreign law firms. For the wider picture, read solicitor firm, foreign law firm or chambers. We are not the Law Society, and nothing here is legal advice.
Questions people ask
Is a registered foreign lawyer the same as a Hong Kong solicitor?
No. A registered foreign lawyer holds a certificate of registration from the Law Society. A Hong Kong solicitor is admitted in Hong Kong, and one who holds a practising certificate appears on the Law List’s Members with Practising Certificate list. An overseas lawyer who wants to become a Hong Kong solicitor goes through a separate admission route.
Can a registered foreign lawyer advise me on Hong Kong law?
Registration is for practising foreign law, and it is not admission as a Hong Kong solicitor. The Law Society also says registered foreign law firms are precluded from practising Hong Kong law. If your matter turns on Hong Kong law, ask for a solicitor who is on the Members with Practising Certificate list and check them.
Where can I check whether a foreign lawyer is registered in Hong Kong?
In the Foreign Lawyers section of the Law Society’s Law List. The Society says lawyers listed there hold current certificates of registration. You can search by name and filter by jurisdiction.
Can a foreign lawyer work in a Hong Kong law firm?
Yes. The Law Society’s registration package covers applicants in both Hong Kong firms and foreign firms; for example, both kinds of firm must submit supervision proposals for applicants with under two years’ full-time foreign-law practice.
How does a foreign lawyer become a Hong Kong solicitor?
By admission as a solicitor in Hong Kong. The Law Society publishes an annual information package on admission for overseas lawyers, including the Overseas Lawyers Qualification Examination.