How to apply


HOW TO APPLY FOR LEGAL SERVICES

Where Can You Find Legal Advice?

If you have a problem that requires legal advice, you can make use of the Duty Lawyer Service's free legal advice service. This operates in the evenings at the following District Offices:

 

Monday
Central and Western District Office
Sha Tin District Office

 

Tuesday
Wan Chai District Office
Tsuen Wan District Office

 

Wednesday
Wan Chai District Office
Kwun Tong District Office
Yau Tsim Mong District Office

 

Thursday
Islands District Office
(located in Harbour Building, Central)

You can make an appointment to see a lawyer at any District Office. For enquiries, please call the Central Telephone Enquiry Centre of the Home Affairs Department during office hours on 2835 2500.

How Do You Get Legal Assistance?

If you need legal assistance, you can apply for legal aid under the Legal Aid Scheme. Please see the appropriate leaflet in this series for further details, or approach the Legal Aid Department directly. If you have been charged with an offence in the Magistrate's Court, you should visit the liaison office of the Duty Lawyer Service.

If you do not qualify for legal aid, you can either represent yourself or contact a lawyer.

How Can You Find A Lawyer?

Call the Law Society on 2846 0500 for a list of lawyers and the areas of work they specialise in. You can also try:

  • The Duty Lawyer Service's Tel-Law: 2521 3333 or 2522 8018

  • Any District Office

  • The Legal Aid Department Hotline: 2537 7677

  • Solicitors listed in the business telephone directory

  • Personal references from friends or colleagues

It is not a good idea to use a middleman to find a lawyer or to get legal advice. You should go directly to a lawyer as he or she will give you better and cheaper advice.

Once you have the name of a lawyer, arrange for an appointment by telephoning the firm's office. You can take a friend or relative with you to the appointment if you wish.

Other leaflets in this series:

  • Legal Aid in Civil Cases

  • Legal Aid in Criminal Cases

  • Supplementary Legal Aid Scheme

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


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