Hong Kong Regulations

BARRISTERS (QUALIFICATION FOR ADMISSION AND PUPILLAGE) RULES - SECT 4

Qualification for admission under section 27(1) of Ordinance

PART 2

QUALIFICATION FOR ADMISSION

(1) Subject to subsection (3), a person is qualified for admission as a
barrister under section 27(1) of the Ordinance if he-

   (a)  has obtained a Postgraduate Certificate in Laws;

   (b)  has been admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong for at least 3 years
        either immediately or in any case not more than 12 months before the
        date of his application for admission and during that time he was in
        practice as a solicitor in Hong Kong or was employed in the public
        service of the Government as a legal officer within the meaning of the
        Legal  Officers Ordinance ( Cap 87); or

   (c)  is an overseas lawyer who satisfies the requirements specified in
        subsection (2).

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(c), an overseas lawyer is qualified for
admission as a barrister under section 27(1) of the Ordinance if he-

   (a)  holds a certificate of admission as a legal practitioner from the
        appropriate authority in his jurisdiction of admission and such
        certificate is currently valid and in force;

   (b)  has practised for at least 3 years in his jurisdiction of  admission;

   (c)  is a person of good standing in his jurisdiction of admission; and

   (d)  has passed the Examination (excluding any examination paper which such
        person has been exempted from sitting pursuant to subsections

(4) and (5)).

(3) A person must have completed not less than 6 months of the period of
approved pupillage specified in section 10 or, if the period of
approved pupillage has been reduced to less than 6 months under section  16 ,
such reduced period of approved pupillage, before he seeks admission as a
barrister.

(4) Where the Bar Council is satisfied that, by reason of his substantial
experience as a practising lawyer in one or more of the areas of law covered
by the Examination, a person should be exempted from sitting one or more
examination papers of the Examination, it may exempt such person from sitting
such examination paper or papers.

(5) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (4), unless the Bar
Council otherwise determines in a particular case, a person whose
jurisdiction of admission is a common law jurisdiction shall be exempted from
sitting Paper I of the Examination.