Practice Directions

PRACTICE DIRECTION - 14.1

RIGHTS OF AUDIENCE BEFORE A MASTER

1. Apart from those persons who are specified in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4, only barristers and solicitors admitted in Hong Kong may appear before a master or taxing master.

2. The following persons employed by or under the supervision of a person having the rights, by virtue of any ordinance, of a solicitor may appear before a master in chambers on an uncontested application or on an application listed for a three-minute hearing:

(a) a trainee solicitor; including a trainee solicitor on secondment to a solicitor in Hong Kong from a firm of solicitors in England and Wales;

(b) a legal executive, who has successfully completed the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Legal Executive Course;

(c) a holder of Associate Degree of Legal Studies or the Higher Diploma in Legal Studies from the City University of Hong Kong provided that a holder of the Associate Degree must have at least three years' legal work experience;

(d) a holder of Diploma in Legal Studies from the School of Professional and Continuing Education of the University of Hong Kong provided that he must have at least three years' legal work experience; and

(e) a member of the English Institute of Legal Executives.

3. In addition to those persons mentioned in paragraph 2 above, the following may appear before a taxing master on the taxation of a bill of costs:

(a) a costs clerk employed by or under the supervision of a person having the rights, by virtue of any ordinance, of a solicitor; and

(b) a law costs draftsman, approved as such by the Law Society, who may appear on behalf of a solicitor.

4. Trainee solicitors, during the last six months of their trainee solicitor contract, may appear for plaintiff or defendant before a master in chambers on:

(a) applications for judgment pursuant to O.14, R.S.C., where the hearing is listed for not longer than 15 minutes, and

(b) applications pursuant to O.88, R.S.C., where the hearing is listed for not longer than 15 minutes.

5. This Practice Direction supersedes the previous Practice Direction appearing at 14.1.

Dated this 16th day of December 2002.