How do I check if someone is a real solicitor in Hong Kong?

Search the Law Society of Hong Kong's Law List at hklawsoc.org.hk. It lists every solicitor holding a current practising certificate, the firm they work at, their year of admission, and every registered law firm, foreign lawyer and foreign firm. A person not on the list is not entitled to practise as a solicitor in Hong Kong. Barristers are listed separately by the Hong Kong Bar Association.

What is the difference between a solicitor and a barrister?

Solicitors deal directly with clients, handle transactions, contracts, conveyancing, company work, family and employment matters, and prepare litigation; barristers are specialist advocates instructed by solicitors to argue cases in court and give opinions. Since 2013 some solicitors hold higher rights of audience and can appear in the higher courts themselves.

How much does a solicitor cost in Hong Kong?

Solicitors charge by the hour, by fixed fee for standard work such as conveyancing or company formation, or by stage in litigation. Actual hourly rates at commercial firms run from about HK$1,800 for junior lawyers to HK$4,000 and above for partners, with international firms higher. The court's own scale of solicitors' hourly rates for costs recovery between parties, effective 1 April 2026, runs from HK$2,800 for a newly admitted solicitor to HK$6,240 for one with over 15 years' experience in the High Court, and HK$1,860 to HK$4,160 in the District Court.

The Legal Aid Department provides representation in civil and criminal cases for people who pass a means test and a merits test. From 27 March 2026 the financial eligibility limit is HK$452,320 for the Ordinary Legal Aid Scheme and HK$2,261,600 for the Supplementary Legal Aid Scheme, based on financial resources (disposable income plus disposable capital). Legal aid is not free at the higher end: contributions are on a sliding scale.

Is there free legal advice in Hong Kong?

Yes. The Duty Lawyer Service runs the Free Legal Advice Scheme at District Offices, with no means test, where volunteer lawyers give preliminary advice by appointment; the Tel-Law Scheme gives recorded information by phone; and the Law Society and universities run occasional free clinics. The Duty Lawyer Scheme also represents defendants in the Magistrates' Courts for a fixed handling charge.

How do I complain about a solicitor?

Complaints about professional conduct go to the Law Society's Conduct Section, which investigates and can refer cases to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Disputes about the size of a bill can be referred for taxation by the court, where a taxing master reviews the charges. Complaints about the quality of advice are a professional negligence matter for a separate solicitor.

How to Find & Check a Solicitor in Hong Kong: Law List, Fees

Quick Answer: Every practising solicitor and law firm in Hong Kong is on the Law Society's Law List, and checking it takes a minute. Here is how to verify a lawyer, what solicitors charge in 2026 including the court's own hourly rate scale, the legal aid and free advice schemes, and how to complain if something goes wrong.

Every solicitor and law firm entitled to practise in Hong Kong is on the Law List kept by the Law Society of Hong Kong, and checking it takes a minute. This guide explains how to verify a lawyer, what solicitors charge in 2026 including the court's own hourly rate scale, who qualifies for legal aid or free advice, and how to complain. Law firms are listed under solicitors, law firms and legal services on Portal Hong Kong, with the densest cluster around the courts in Central.

How do you check a solicitor?

Open the Law Society's Law List.
Search by name for a solicitor, or by firm name for a law firm. The record shows the practising certificate status, the firm, the year of admission, and for firms the partners and office address.
Check that the person holds a current practising certificate. A solicitor who is a member of the Law Society but has no practising certificate cannot practise.
Check the firm is on the list of law firms. Foreign lawyers and foreign firms have separate registers and may not advise on Hong Kong law unless also qualified.
For a barrister, use the Hong Kong Bar Association's list of members in practice.

Anyone offering legal services who is not on these lists is not entitled to practise, and paying them is unrecoverable. Immigration consultants, company formation agents and "legal advisers" are not solicitors unless the list says so.

What do solicitors charge?

Basis	Typical 2026 figures	Used for
Hourly rate, actual charging	About HK$1,800 to HK$4,000 for local commercial firms, by seniority; international firms higher	Advice, disputes, non-standard work
Court scale of solicitors' hourly rates (costs recoverable between parties), from 1 April 2026	High Court: newly admitted HK$2,800; 2 to 4 years HK$3,450; 5 to 6 years HK$4,200; 7 to 8 years HK$4,840; 9 to 15 years HK$5,600; over 15 years HK$6,240; trainee HK$1,830. District Court: HK$1,860 to HK$4,160	What a court allows the winning party to recover; a benchmark, not what your own solicitor must charge
Fixed fee	Conveyancing from a few thousand dollars for a standard flat purchase; company incorporation and simple wills similar	Standard transactions
Staged fee	Quoted per stage: letter before action, pleadings, discovery, trial	Litigation
Fixed handling charge	Duty Lawyer Scheme representation in Magistrates' Courts	Criminal defence for eligible defendants

The court scale, published by the Judiciary and summarised in DLA Piper's note on the 2026 rates, guides taxing masters when they assess costs one party must pay another; the Judiciary states the masters are not bound by it. Your own retainer sets what you pay. Ask for a written engagement letter with the rate, who will do the work, an estimate, and the billing interval before instructing anyone.

Who qualifies for legal aid or free advice?

Legal Aid Department. Civil and criminal representation for applicants who pass a means test and a merits test. From 27 March 2026, the financial eligibility limits are HK$452,320 (Ordinary Legal Aid Scheme) and HK$2,261,600 (Supplementary Legal Aid Scheme, for personal injury and certain other money claims), measured on financial resources; contributions apply on a sliding scale. Details on the Legal Aid Department site.
Free Legal Advice Scheme. Run by the Duty Lawyer Service at District Offices: preliminary advice from volunteer lawyers by appointment, no means test, no fee. Not representation.
Duty Lawyer Scheme. Representation for defendants in the Magistrates' Courts and Juvenile Courts, and at certain inquests and Coroner's proceedings, for a small handling charge, subject to a means test.
Tel-Law Scheme. Recorded legal information by telephone, in three languages, on common topics.
Small Claims Tribunal and Labour Tribunal. Claims up to HK$75,000 and employment disputes respectively, where lawyers do not appear and fees are minimal.

How do you choose a firm?

Match the firm to the work. Conveyancing, wills, probate and small company matters suit a small or mid-sized local firm; commercial disputes, financing and cross-border transactions suit larger firms with the relevant practice group; employment, family and immigration each have specialist practitioners. Ask who will actually handle the file, what the estimate is, how the firm bills, and whether the solicitor has done this kind of matter recently. Established Hong Kong firms on Portal Hong Kong include Hastings & Co.; browse the solicitors and Hong Kong lawyer categories by district.

What if something goes wrong?

Conduct: complain to the Law Society's Conduct Section; it investigates and can refer to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, which can fine, suspend or strike off.
Bill: ask for an itemised bill; if still disputed, apply to the court for taxation, where a master reviews the charges against the work done.
Negligence: a claim for professional negligence through another solicitor; every practising solicitor carries professional indemnity insurance through the Law Society's scheme.
Money held on your behalf: client money must be kept in a separate client account; the Law Society's compensation fund covers dishonesty by solicitors.

For company matters that overlap with legal work, see our guides to company secretaries and choosing a CPA firm.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check if someone is a real solicitor in Hong Kong?: Search the Law Society of Hong Kong's Law List at hklawsoc.org.hk. It lists every solicitor holding a current practising certificate, the firm they work at, their year of admission, and every registered law firm, foreign lawyer and foreign firm. A person not on the list is not entitled to practise as a solicitor in Hong Kong. Barristers are listed separately by the Hong Kong Bar Association.
What is the difference between a solicitor and a barrister?: Solicitors deal directly with clients, handle transactions, contracts, conveyancing, company work, family and employment matters, and prepare litigation; barristers are specialist advocates instructed by solicitors to argue cases in court and give opinions. Since 2013 some solicitors hold higher rights of audience and can appear in the higher courts themselves.
How much does a solicitor cost in Hong Kong?: Solicitors charge by the hour, by fixed fee for standard work such as conveyancing or company formation, or by stage in litigation. Actual hourly rates at commercial firms run from about HK$1,800 for junior lawyers to HK$4,000 and above for partners, with international firms higher. The court's own scale of solicitors' hourly rates for costs recovery between parties, effective 1 April 2026, runs from HK$2,800 for a newly admitted solicitor to HK$6,240 for one with over 15 years' experience in the High Court, and HK$1,860 to HK$4,160 in the District Court.
Can I get legal aid?: The Legal Aid Department provides representation in civil and criminal cases for people who pass a means test and a merits test. From 27 March 2026 the financial eligibility limit is HK$452,320 for the Ordinary Legal Aid Scheme and HK$2,261,600 for the Supplementary Legal Aid Scheme, based on financial resources (disposable income plus disposable capital). Legal aid is not free at the higher end: contributions are on a sliding scale.
Is there free legal advice in Hong Kong?: Yes. The Duty Lawyer Service runs the Free Legal Advice Scheme at District Offices, with no means test, where volunteer lawyers give preliminary advice by appointment; the Tel-Law Scheme gives recorded information by phone; and the Law Society and universities run occasional free clinics. The Duty Lawyer Scheme also represents defendants in the Magistrates' Courts for a fixed handling charge.
How do I complain about a solicitor?: Complaints about professional conduct go to the Law Society's Conduct Section, which investigates and can refer cases to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Disputes about the size of a bill can be referred for taxation by the court, where a taxing master reviews the charges. Complaints about the quality of advice are a professional negligence matter for a separate solicitor.