Just like in Nigeria, where the Blue Silks rank of Senior Council of Nigeria, SCN, has been introduced as an alternative to the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, title, the rank of Senior Counsel is being introduced for non-litigation lawyers in Hong Kong.
The Blue Silks SCN is conferred on deserving non-litigation lawyers in Nigeria, who are traditionally left out of the influential SAN title.
In a move that mirrors what is happening in Nigeria, the Law Society of Hong Kong has submitted written submissions to the country’s Legislative Council proposing amendments to the Legal Practitioners Ordinance to allow suitably qualified solicitors with outstanding achievements, professional standing, legal expertise and experience to be appointed as Senior Counsel.
The Law Society stressed it has no intention of undermining the existing status of Senior Counsel, who are appointed by the Chief Justice of Hong Kong under the Legal Practitioners Ordinance.
The Law Society said its proposal would bring practical benefits to Hong Kong’s judicial work, noting that courts continue to face increasing caseloads and resource pressures. It said the move would encourage more solicitors to develop advocacy practices.
Citing experience in England and Wales, the Law Society said 66 out of 231 solicitor applicants with Higher Rights of Audience have been appointed King’s Counsel since 1995, a rate of about 28.5 per cent, demonstrating that appointments remain highly selective. In Ireland, the Senior Counsel title was opened to solicitors in 2020, with 48 appointed so far.
The Law Society also proposed changing the Chinese translation of “Solicitor” to a term that better reflects their role, saying the current wording has led to misunderstandings that Hong Kong solicitors only handle paperwork and do not appear in court.
Countries that have Senior Counsel rank for lawyers include Mauritius, Zambia, India, Bangladesh, Ireland, South Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Singapore, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.
The introduction of the Blue Silks Senior Counsel of Nigeria rank has been the subject of a legal battle between the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners, ALDRAP, which introduced the title for Nigerian non-litigation lawyers.
Currently, the Blue Silks rank is being conferred on Nigerian lawyers by the Nigerian Law Society, NLS, and the Body of Senior Counsel of Nigeria, BOSCON.
Like Nigeria’s Blue Silks, Hong Kong non-litigation lawyers to get Senior Counsel rank
