The Overseas Lawyers Qualification Examination (OLQE) is an annual assessment conducted by the Law Society of Hong Kong (the “Law Society”). It allows qualified lawyers from outside Hong Kong to become eligible for admission as solicitors in Hong Kong. The exam ensures that such lawyers meet the necessary legal knowledge and professional standards required to practice in Hong Kong.

OLQE consists of five written Heads and one oral Head: the written heads include Head I (Conveyancing), Head II (Civil and Criminal Procedure), Head III (Commercial and Company Law), Head IV (Accounts and Professional Conduct), and Head VI (Hong Kong Constitutional Law), each assessed through a separate written exam, while Head V is an oral examination testing Principles of Common Law. Only candidates who have passed all the written Heads (or have been granted exemptions) will be invited to attend Head V.

All examination papers are set in English, and there are no Chinese versions for any of the Heads. Candidates are required to answer all questions in English.

At present, all written Heads of the OLQE are conducted using pen-and-paper; there is no computer-based examination option available.

🪶A Rigorous Professional Benchmark

OLQE presents a formidable challenge for practitioners trained in other jurisdictions, with full pass across all Heads representing a significant professional milestone. Candidates should prepare thoroughly as many fail — with the overall pass rate ranging from a low of 20% to a high of 39% over the past four years.[1]

The OLQE examination framework typically follows a progressive achievement pattern, with candidates frequently requiring multiple examination cycles to demonstrate competency across all Heads. Candidates who have successfully passed a Head of the OLQE are exempt from retaking that Head in subsequent examination cycles.

For the latest updates, visit the Law Society’s official website (https://www.hklawsoc.org.hk/en/Maintain-Standards/Admission-Standards ).