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Legal Services

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HOW TO APPLY — LEGAL SERVICESWhere Can You Get Legal Advice?If you need advice on a legal problem, you should consult a solicitor in the privatesector or get assistance from the followings as the Legal Aid Department does notprovide advice service.

Free Legal Advice SchemeThe Scheme managed by the Duty Lawyer Service provides free legal advice serviceto the public. The service is available in the evenings from Monday to Thursday atthe Legal Advice Centres of the following District Offices:

MondayCentral and Western District OfficeSha Tin District OfficeTuesdayWan Chai District OfficeTsuen Wan District OfficeWednesdayCentral and Western District OfficeWan Chai District OfficeKwun Tong District OfficeYau Tsim Mong District OfficeThursdayWan Chai District OfficeIslands District Office (Harbour Building, Central)Eastern District Office (Chai Wan Sub-office)Wong Tai Sin District Office

To see a lawyer, you can make an appointment at any District Office or with any ofthe other referral agencies. For enquiries, please call the Central Telephone EnquiryCentre of the Home Affairs Department during office hours on 2835 2500 or visit itswebsite www.dutylawyer.org.hk

Legal Advice Scheme for Unrepresented Litigants on Civil Procedures (ProceduralAdvice Scheme)

The Procedural Advice Scheme provides free legal advice on civil procedural mattersfor unrepresented litigants. It assists unrepresented litigants who –

(i) are parties to civil legal proceedings in the Lands Tribunal, the DistrictCourt, the Family Court, the Court of First Instance or the Court of Appealof the High Court, or the Court of Final Appeal (including commencementof proceedings);

(ii) have not been granted legal aid and have not engaged lawyers; and (iii) satisfy the Procedural Advice Scheme’s income eligibility limit of not

exceeding a monthly income of $50,000 or an annual income of $600,000.

Further details are available on the Procedural Advice Scheme’s website atwww.hab.gov.hk/PASO. For enquiries, you may contact the Procedural AdviceScheme Office on 2259 5017 or paso@hab.gov.hk

Free Legal Consultation

This is provided by law firms, which are listed in the Free Legal Consultation sectionon the Law Society’s website. They have volunteered to provide not exceeding 45minutes initial free consultation to the public in different areas of practice. For moreinformation, you may visit www.choosehklawyer.org

Free Legal Helpline

The Law Society has set up the Free Legal Helpline to offer up to 45 minutes of freeconsultation to the public on three areas of law namely, (1) Personal Injuries, (2)Matrimonial Law, and (3) Criminal Law. The number to call is 8200 8002.

Tel-Law Scheme

The Duty Lawyer Service also runs a taped legal information service called Tel-Lawwhich provides a brief introduction on particular legal topic over the phone. It is a24-hour automatic answering service. You may call 2521 3333 or 2522 8018 for therequired legal information.

How Do You Get Legal Assistance?

Legal Aid Department

If you need legal assistance for court proceedings in Hong Kong, you can apply forlegal aid under the Legal Aid Schemes. Please see the appropriate leaflet in this seriesfor further details, or visit the Legal Aid Department’s website at www.lad.gov.hk.You may also approach the Legal Aid Department directly via its 24-hour EnquiryHotline on 2537 7677 or email ladinfo@lad.gov.hk

The Duty Lawyer Scheme

contact the Court Liaison Office of the Duty Lawyer Service where you appear.Legal representation will be provided to eligible defendants under this Scheme.Defendants held in custody are automatically contacted by the staff of the CourtLiaison Office offering the service on the day of their first court appearance.

Bar Free Legal Service Scheme

The Scheme provides free legal advice and representation in cases where legal aid isnot available or where the applicant is unable to afford legal assistance. You cancontact the Scheme by letter or email bflss@hkba.org

If you have been charged with an offence in the Magistrates’ Courts, you should

Published by the Legal Aid Department

Printed by the Government Logistics Department

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government

Website :http://www.lad.gov.hk

How Can You Find A Lawyer?You can contact the Law Society on 2846 0500 or email sg@hklawsoc.org.hk. TheLaw Society also publishes the Lawlist and Directory of Hong Kong Law Firmswhich allow you to look for lawyers and the areas of work they specialize in. Youcan also try finding a lawyer through:

• the website www.choosehklawyer.org managed by the Law Society of HongKong to assist the public to find a solicitor / law firm

• the Community Legal Information Centre website at www.clic.org.hk

• the business telephone directory

It is not advisable to use a middleman to find a lawyer or to get legal advice. Youshould go to a lawyer directly for advice.

Assistance for Unrepresented Litigants

The Resource Centre for Unrepresented Litigants is run by the Judiciary andprovides assistance to unrepresented litigants who are parties to or about tocommence civil proceedings in the High Court or the District Court except wherethose proceedings relate to matrimonial, lands, employees’ compensation andprobate matters. The assistance provided at the Centre is confined to proceduralmatters only. The staff will not give legal advice or make any comments on themerits of the case. You may call 2825 0586 or email inquiryrc@judiciary.gov.hk

Help with Mediation

The Mediation Information Office which is situated on LG 104 High CourtBuilding, Admiralty, Hong Kong assists parties / litigants in court proceedings toseek mediation from accredited mediators. The Office answers enquiries andprovides information on court-related mediation. However, the staff will not giveany legal advice or offer any comment or assistance on the conduct of specific courtcases and proceedings. You may contact them by phone on 2825 0470 or emailmediation@judiciary.gov.hk

Other Leaflets In This Series:

• Legal Aid in Civil Cases

• Legal Aid in Criminal Cases

• Supplementary Legal Aid Scheme

This leaflet is for information only and should not be regarded as an authoritativestatement of the law.

09/2016