Law Society of Hong Kong proposes judicial reforms and opens new arbitration center

The Law Society of Hong Kong has proposed legislative amendments to allow qualified solicitors to be appointed as Senior Counsel. Law Society President Tong Man-lung stated that this initiative aims to expand the judicial talent pool to address long-term shortages of judges in the High Court. The proposal seeks to allow legal experts in complex fields, such as intellectual property, maritime, and space law, to ascend to higher judicial positions.

In a separate development, the Law Society has officially launched its renovated former headquarters in Central. The facility has been transformed into a multi-purpose service center featuring three soundproof arbitration suites to meet the high demand for arbitration and mediation spaces in Hong Kong. The center is primarily available for rent by the Society’s nearly 14,000 members.

The renovated site also includes seminar rooms, meeting facilities, and a library. To commemorate the revitalization, a time capsule containing historical legal documents and interviews has been sealed within the building's stone wall, scheduled to be opened on April 8, 2047, to mark the Law Society’s 140th anniversary.