03/10/2026
[Inspiring the Next Generation of Global Legal Talent: Stay Humble, Stay Proactive, Stay International]
For the third consecutive year, The Law Society of Hong Kong was delighted to co-host a student sharing seminar in London with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London, alongside the Opening of the Legal Year in England and Wales.
What began as an initiative to connect with young people has grown into a meaningful annual platform for dialogue, mentorship and inspiration. Over the past three years, more than 100 students from leading universities in the UK and beyond have joined this seminar. Some of them have since become mentees of our President, Mr Roden Tong, BBS, continuing their learning journey through personal guidance, professional exchange and long-term encouragement.
This year, we were pleased to welcome students and representatives from the London School of Economics Students’ Union Asia Careers Society, the UK Joint University Hong Kong Career Society, the UCL Asia-Pacific Law Society, as well as students from the London School of Economics and Political Science, King’s College London, the University of Bristol and University College London.
In his sharing, President Tong spoke not only about career opportunities, but also about the mindset needed for young people to thrive in an increasingly competitive and interconnected legal world. Drawing on his own journey of serving The Law Society of Hong Kong for more than two decades, he reflected on how one decision to step forward, contribute and serve eventually shaped his professional life.
His message to students and young lawyers was clear and heartfelt: stay humble, be proactive, and keep an open and international mindset.
President Tong emphasised that the future of the Hong Kong legal profession is increasingly international. Hong Kong’s legal profession is no longer defined only by the local market. To practise in Hong Kong is to connect with the world.
As the only common law jurisdiction in China under “One Country, Two Systems”, operating in both English and Chinese, Hong Kong enjoys a unique position supported by a strong legal culture, robust professional standards and deep connectivity with the Mainland and the international community.
Hong Kong is not merely a gateway to the Chinese Mainland. It is also a super-connector between China, Asia and the world. With the continuing development of Chinese Mainland, the expansion of the Greater Bay Area, and increasing business flows across the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Central Asia and beyond, the demand for sophisticated legal services will continue to grow.
President Tong highlighted the Greater Bay Area Legal Professional Examination as an important example of the opportunities available to Hong Kong lawyers. The scheme allows eligible Hong Kong and Macao legal practitioners to expand their practice and contribute to cross-boundary legal services in the GBA. This reflects the growing need for lawyers who understand different legal systems, cultures and markets.
At the same time, President Tong reminded students that opportunity comes with competition. Young lawyers from Chinese Mainland, Korea, Southeast Asia, Central Asia and other jurisdictions are increasingly multilingual, outward-looking and globally competitive. Future lawyers must therefore equip themselves with more than legal knowledge. They must also develop commercial awareness, cultural sensitivity, language ability, technological literacy and a willingness to keep learning.
Against this background, President Tong encouraged young lawyers and aspiring legal professionals to remain humble — to listen, to learn from others, and to recognise that the legal profession is evolving rapidly across jurisdictions and disciplines.
President Tong also spoke about the impact of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies on the legal profession. AI may change the way legal research, drafting and routine tasks are performed, but it cannot replace the human qualities that define excellent lawyers: judgment, empathy, communication, creativity, trust and the ability to understand the clients’ real needs.
He encouraged students to pay attention to emerging areas of growth, including AI, fintech, intellectual property, high technology, space law, the Northern Metropolis and other future-facing sectors. The legal profession of tomorrow will require lawyers who can combine technical legal skills with a broader understanding of business, technology and society.
Importantly, President Tong reminded students that clients today are not merely looking for legal answers. They want trusted advisers who can help them solve problems, manage relationships, make strategic decisions and navigate uncertainty. The role of lawyers is evolving from legal adviser to strategic partner.
The student sharing session concluded with an engaging Q&A and warm exchanges between students and legal professionals. The curiosity, ambition and energy of the students were truly encouraging.
Earlier on the same day, President Tong also participated as a speaker at the LAWASIA London 2026 forum, held in the morning at The Law Society of England and Wales.
The session brought together legal practitioners, law firms and professional bodies to discuss “The Business of Law in the Asia-Pacific: Market Trends, Cross-Border Opportunities and the Future of Legal Practice”.
A clear common feature of the discussion was the strong interest among UK law firms and practitioners in learning more about opportunities in Asia, including Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland.
President Tong shared Hong Kong’s perspective and emphasised that Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to support these opportunities. With its common law system, bilingual legal services, international connectivity and close links with Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong provides a trusted platform for international legal and business communities seeking access to Asia.
The morning LAWASIA forum and the student sharing session were closely connected in spirit. One reflected the growing interest of established practitioners in Asia’s opportunities; the other inspired the next generation to prepare for them.
Together, the two events carried one consistent message: the internationalisation of the Hong Kong legal profession is not only an aspiration, but a continuing reality.
——-
【啟迪新一代國際法律人才：保持謙卑、積極主動、放眼國際】
香港律師會連續第三年欣然與香港駐倫敦經濟貿易辦事處於倫敦合辦學生分享會，並配合英格蘭及威爾斯法律年度開啟典禮舉行。
這項活動最初旨在與年輕一代建立聯繫，如今已發展成為一個富有意義的年度平台，促進對話、師友交流與啟發。過去三年，來自英國及其他地區多所知名大學的逾100名學生參與了這一系列分享會，其中部分學生其後更成為香港律師會會長湯文龍律師，BBS的學員，在個人指導、專業交流及長遠鼓勵下，繼續其學習與成長旅程。
今年，我們很高興歡迎來自倫敦政治經濟學院學生會亞洲職業發展學會、英國大學香港職業發展聯會、倫敦大學學院亞太法律學會的學生及代表，以及來自倫敦政治經濟學院、倫敦國王學院、布里斯托大學及倫敦大學學院的同學們參與。
在分享中，湯會長談及的不僅是職業發展機遇，更是年輕人在日益競爭激烈、相互連繫的法律世界中取得成長所需要的心態。他回顧自己服務香港律師會二十多年的歷程，分享當年一個願意踏前一步、參與和貢獻的決定，最終如何塑造了他的專業人生。
他向學生及年輕律師傳遞的信息清晰而真摯：保持謙卑、積極主動，並秉持開放及國際化的視野。
湯會長強調，香港法律專業的未來正日益國際化。香港法律專業不再只由本地市場來定義。在香港執業，就是與世界連接。
作為中國在「一國兩制」下唯一實行普通法的司法管轄區，並同時以中、英文運作，香港憑藉深厚的法律文化、穩健的專業標準，以及與內地和國際社會的緊密聯繫，擁有獨特地位。
香港不僅是通往中國內地的門戶，更是連接中國、亞洲與世界的超級聯繫人。隨着中國內地持續發展、粵港澳大灣區不斴擴展，以及亞太地區、中東、中亞以至更廣泛地區的商貿往來日益頻繁，對高端及多元法律服務的需求將持續增長。
湯會長特別提到粵港澳大灣區律師執業考試，作為香港律師可把握的重要機遇之一。該機制讓符合資格的香港及澳門法律執業者拓展執業領域，參與大灣區跨境法律服務，反映市場對熟悉不同法律制度、文化及市場環境的律師需求日益增加。
同時，湯會長提醒學生，機遇亦伴隨競爭。來自中國內地、韓國、東南亞、中亞及其他司法管轄區的年輕律師，正變得越來越多語化、更具國際視野和全球競爭力。因此，未來的律師不能只具備法律知識，還必須培養商業觸覺、文化敏感度、語言能力、科技素養，以及持續學習的意願。
在這背景下，湯會長勉勵年輕律師及有志投身法律專業的同學要保持謙卑，懂得聆聽、向他人學習，並認識到法律專業正於不同司法管轄區和不同領域之間迅速演變。
湯會長亦談及人工智能及新興科技對法律專業的影響。人工智能或會改變法律研究、文件草擬及日常工作的模式，但它不能取代成就優秀律師所需的人性特質：判斷力、同理心、溝通能力、創意、信任，以及理解客戶真正需要的能力。
他鼓勵學生關注具發展潛力的新興領域，包括人工智能、金融科技、知識產權、高科技、太空法、北部都會區及其他面向未來的行業。明日的法律專業，需要能夠結合扎實法律技能，以及對商業、科技和社會有更廣闊理解的律師。
更重要的是，湯會長提醒學生，今天的客戶尋求的並不只是法律答案。他們需要值得信賴的顧問，協助他們解決問題、管理關係、作出策略性決定，並在不確定環境中前行。律師的角色正由法律顧問，逐漸演變為策略夥伴。
學生分享會在踴躍的問答環節及學生與法律專業人士之間的熱烈交流中圓滿結束。同學們展現出的好奇心、抱負和活力，令人深受鼓舞。
同日較早前，湯會長亦於上午在英格蘭及威爾斯律師會舉行的 LAWASIA倫敦 2026 論壇擔任講者。
該論壇匯聚法律從業者、律師行及專業團體，圍繞 「亞太地區法律業務：市場趨勢、跨境機遇與法律執業的未來」進行討論。
討論中一個清晰的共同點，是英國律師行及法律從業者均對進一步了解亞洲的機遇表現出濃厚興趣，其中包括香港及中國內地。
湯會長分享了香港的視角，並強調香港具備獨特優勢，可支持這些機遇的發展。憑藉普通法制度、雙語法律服務、國際聯繫，以及與中國內地的緊密關係，香港為有意進入亞洲市場的國際法律及商業社群，提供一個值得信賴的平台。
上午的 LAWASIA 論壇與學生分享會在精神上緊密相連。前者反映資深法律從業者對亞洲機遇日益濃厚的興趣；後者則啟發新一代法律人才為這些機遇作好準備。
兩項活動共同傳遞了一個一致的信息：香港法律專業的國際化，不僅是一個願景，更是持續發展的現實。
#香港律師會
The London School of Economics and Political Science - LSE
King's College London
University of Bristol
LAWASIA
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