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Lawyers

Industries: Financial and Legal Services, Government and Public Administration
Related Titles: Barristers, Counsel, In-house Legal Consultants, Solicitors

Descriptions & Duties

  • Lawyers advise clients on a wide variety of legal issues and disputes (including litigation, Intellectual Property, Corporate Law, Legal Compliance, Data Privacy, Dispute Resolution and Contract Negotiation) , draw up legal documents, represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings.

Generic Competencies

Physical abilities

Technology
skills

Cognitive
abilities

Comprehension and expression

Social skills

Organisation and execution skills

Problem
solving skills

Management
skills

Physical Abilities

Physical abilities

  • Physical strength
  • Eye hand coordination / precision / dexterity

 

Importance:1 (Max:5) 

Skill is rarely required

 

Technology Skills

Technology skills

  • Computer literacy
  • Application of technology

 

Importance:3 (Max:5) 

Skill is basically required

 

Cognitive Abilities

Cognitive abilities

  • Creativity
  • Visualisation
  • Logical thinking

 

Importance:4 (Max:5) 

Skill is frequently required

 

Comprehension And Expression

Comprehension and expression skills

  • Reading comprehension
  • Oral / written expression

 

Importance:5 (Max:5) 

Skill is required all the time

 

Social Skills

Social skills

  • Communication
  • Negotiation
  • Persuasion

 

Importance:5 (Max:5) 

Skill is required all the time

 

Organisation And Execution Skills

Organisation and execution skills

  • Planning
  • Organising
  • Judgement
  • Decision making

 

Importance:5 (Max:5) 

Skill is required all the time

 

Problem Solving Skills

Problem solving skills

  • Ability to solve simple and complex problems effectively and efficiently

 

Importance:5 (Max:5) 

Skill is required all the time

 

Management Skills

Management skills

  • Leadership
  • Management of finance / time / people / other resources

 

Importance:4 (Max:5) 

Skill is frequently required

 

Trade Specific Competencies

Professional legal knowledge and skills

Lawyers must be able to use legal knowledge, use legal logic to analyse data, and use speech and writing skills to solve legal issues and disputes for clients and ensure that their legal interests are not compromised.

Professional knowledge in judicial system and procedure

Lawyers must have good knowledge in Hong Kong judicial system and court procedures at all levels.

General Requirements

Academic qualification

  • must have a bachelor's of laws degree from the University of Hong Kong, the City University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, or other recognised tertiary institution under Common Law jurisdiction. The Law Society of Hong Kong also registers and regulates the practice of all foreign lawyers practising in Hong Kong. Foreign lawyers can be admitted as Hong Kong solicitors either by obtaining an exemption from, or by passing, the Overseas Lawyers Qualification Examination administered by the Law Society of Hong Kong.

Professional qualification

  • must complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL). For qualified solicitors to be qualified for admission as barristers in Hong Kong, they must have been admitted as such for at least 3 years (either immediately or in any case not more than 12 months) before the date of their application for admission as barrister, and during that time, they are in practice as solicitors in Hong Kong or are employed by the Government as legal officers.

Experience

  • are required to satisfactorily complete a period of two years employment as a trainee solicitor in order to be eligible for admission to practice in Hong Kong. Further to having or obtaining the above-mentioned qualifications, applicants must undertake pupillage for six months in order to be eligible for admission as barrister In order to practise, they must undertake pupillage for a further six months during which time, they have a limited right of practice.

Other specific requirements

  • Solicitors must hold a valid practising certificate issued by Law Society of Hong Kong. Barristers must hold a valid practising certificate issued by Hong Kong Bar Association.

Career Path & Salary

Private Sector

Monthly Salary $15,000-$35,000

Monthly Salary $30,000-$50,000

Monthly Salary $50,000-$110,000

Monthly Salary $50,000-$160,000

Monthly Salary $70,000-$180,000

Government Sector

Monthly Salary Master Pay Scale Point 27-28

Monthly Salary Master Pay Scale Point 32-44

Monthly Salary Master Pay Scale Point 45-49

Monthly Salary Directorate (Legal) Pay Scale Point 1

Monthly Salary Master Pay Scale Point 27-28

Monthly Salary Master Pay Scale Point 32-44

Monthly Salary Master Pay Scale Point 45-49

Monthly Salary Directorate (Legal) Pay Scale Point 1

*For more details on Civil Service Pay Scales, please visit website of the Civil Service Bureau.
http://www.csb.gov.hk/english/admin/pay/952.html

Work Environment

  • Lawyers work mostly in offices. They may need to attend meetings with clients at various locations, such as homes, hospitals, or prisons. They may face heavy pressure during work, for example, during trials or meeting deadlines.

Tools

  • Digital video disk players or recorders
  • USB flash drives
  • Liquid crystal display projector
  • Optical character readers
  • Overhead projectors

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