The application form can be obtained through staff of the Correctional Services Department or downloaded from the LASC's website.

For the purpose of the provision of the certificate by counsel, an applicant under the Scheme may nominate a solicitor and counsel from the panel of practitioners maintained by the LASC. In considering nomination, the applicant is reminded to note the language proficiency of solicitors and counsel on the panel. As an alternative, an applicant may nominate either the solicitor or counsel or both who represented him/her in the appellate court, provided that the nominated lawyers possess the same experience that meets the criteria for inclusion as panel lawyers, i.e. at least 7 years' practicing experience for solicitors and 10 years' practicing experience for counsel; and have handled three or more CFA or CA cases in the immediate past three years when the nomination is made. Senior counsel are exempted from this criteria.

The Scheme is funded by the public purse. While an applicant may nominate lawyers, the LASC retains the ultimate right to assign lawyers for the provision of the certificate.

The completed application form must be submitted together with the necessary document to the LASC within 10 days of the refusal of legal aid by fax at 2838 5053 or by post to Room 1601, COFCO Tower, 262 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.

How Lawyers May Join Our Panel of Practitioners

As the administrator of the Scheme, the Council has the responsibility to ensure that counsel and solicitors on the panel possess both relevant experience and sound knowledge of the laws and practices related to appeal procedures and requirement for appeal to the CFA. The Council also invited members of Hong Kong Bar Association (see here) and The Law Society of Hong Kong (see here) to join our panel.

Special Support for People of Diverse Race

Notice and application form for the assistance Scheme in ten languages other than Chinese and English (namely, Bengali, Hindi, Indonesia, Nepali, Punjabi, Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Urdu and Vietnamese) are available to assist people of diverse race in understanding the details of the Scheme and submitting application. People of diverse race may call 2838 5807 or send email to enquiry@lasc.hk for obtaining a copy of the notice and the application form.

Adobe Reader is required for viewing PDF files.
Adobe Acrobat Reader