Preparatory Workshop for OLQE (Head VI - Hong Kong Constitutional Law)
The year 2026 marks a new era for OLQE: beginning October 2026, all written OLQE examinations will be computer-based. The Overseas Lawyers Qualification Examination (OLQE) is an annual assessment conducted by the Law Society of Hong Kong (the “Law Society”). It enables qualified lawyers from outside Hong Kong to become eligible for admission as solicitors in Hong Kong. The examination ensures that such lawyers possess the requisite legal knowledge and professional standards to practise in Hong Kong. The OLQE presents a considerable challenge for practitioners trained in other jurisdictions, achieving a full pass across all Heads being a significant professional milestone. Candidates are advised to prepare thoroughly, as failure rates are high—the overall pass rate over the past four years has ranged from a low of 20% to a high of 39%. The overall pass rate for the 2025 OLQE was 25%, a second-lowest in the history of OLQE.[1] Candidates who have successfully passed a Head of the OLQE are exempt from retaking that Head in subsequent examination cycles. Candidates who pass the Overseas Lawyers Qualification Examination (OLQE) are not required to complete the standard two-year training contract to qualify as a solicitor in Hong Kong. Instead, they may apply for admission to the Roll of Solicitors immediately upon passing the OLQE. For overseas lawyers, OLQE offers the most efficient and direct pathway to qualification in Hong Kong. Lawyers qualified in the Chinese Mainland, Taiwan and Macau with at least five years of law practice experience in their home jurisdiction and good standing are eligible to take the OLQE. There is currently no English language proficiency requirement for Mainland PRC, Taiwan or Macau-qualified lawyers seeking to sit for the examination.