DOJ launches HK$20,000 lawtech funding scheme

The Department of Justice in Hong Kong has introduced a lawtech funding scheme to assist small and medium-sized law firms and newly qualified barristers in adopting legal technology. Managed by the Law Society of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Bar Association, the Funding Scheme for LawTech Solution Subscription offers eligible applicants a one-year subscription, up to HK$20,000, to designated legal technology services.

These services span legal research, document drafting, workflow management, and hearing support, covering providers from 14 local, mainland, and overseas sources. Eligible applicants include sole practitioners, Hong Kong law firms with five or fewer partners, and barristers with less than seven years of experience. Deputy Secretary for Justice Horace Cheung highlighted the pilot scheme's aim to alleviate the financial burden on applicants seeking to enhance their ability to utilize lawtech services, expressing confidence that the initiative would demonstrate the benefits of legal tools in practice.

Cheung also mentioned that the Department of Justice would provide guidance notes on technology adoption in legal practice, offering principles and practical advice to help practitioners avoid potential risks while fulfilling their professional responsibilities. José-Antonio Maurellet, chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association, praised the scheme as timely and far-sighted, expecting it to attract around 500 members, particularly encouraging younger members to invest in training and stay competitive.

Law Society president Roden Tong noted that the scheme would be introduced again, emphasizing the importance of supporting the legal profession in making better use of technology and improving efficiency. The application deadline for the scheme is January 29.