Right of abode? What about the right to wear wigs, ask lawyers
Law Society keen to preserve time-honoured tradition
Litigation over the right of abode may be a prime concern in legal circles, but Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma Tao-li has another headache to work on: should solicitors be allowed to wear wigs in court like barristers?
The Law Society, with more than 8,000 solicitors as members, deems the wearing of wigs essential in helping to ensure justice is done.
But the Bar Association, which represents more than 1,100 barristers, thinks otherwise.
The disagreement stems from a new arrangement that will see solicitors representing and speaking on behalf of their clients in hearings in the High Court and Court of Final Appeal as early as April - alongside their barrister counterparts.
Other than judges, only barristers have the right to wear the 17th-century horsehair attire.
Stephen Hung Wan-shun, chairman of the Law Society's criminal law and procedure panel, said he was worried a difference in attire between barristers and solicitors could influence the perception of jurors serving in criminal trials.
"Our biggest concern is criminal hearings involving a jury," Hung said. "We would like to avoid any chances [of prejudice or unfairness]."