First lawyers to go head to head with barristers

Only one in six solicitors have been granted direct permission to represent their clients in the higher courts instead of a barrister.

The remaining 75 out of 90 applicants will need to undergo an assessment to qualify for the right of audience in the Court of First Instance, Court of Appeal and Court of Final Appeal.

Only 11 of the 72 applicants asking to conduct civil proceedings without having to undergo an assessment first were successful; and just two of the five applying for criminal proceedings were successful.

Finally, 13 applied to conduct both civil and criminal proceedings, with two accepted for civil proceedings only, according to the Higher Rights Assessment Board.

Another 30 solicitors who did not seek exemption from the assessment are waiting to be evaluated, according to the board. The assessments are scheduled for about April or May,

Law Society president Dieter Yih Lai-tak described the 15 solicitors granted exemption as "a good start" .

He admitted that, with a small pool of only 15 solicitors allowed to act as barristers, consumers may not see an immediate benefit. But he believed the successful exemptions had sent an "encouraging message" to more solicitors to apply for the rights.