Bastille's Report: "Beware of Misleading Lawyer Advertisements; No Intermediary Required for Legal Aid" - Legal Aid Department

Unscrupulous "accident scammers" are increasingly in the spotlight for preying on victims of minor traffic incidents—waiting months or even years before demanding hundreds of thousands of dollars in "personal injury" compensation from the drivers involved. Even more outrageous, ordinary citizens are now being actively approached outside locations such as public hospitals or the Labour Department by law firm staff offering "free" assistance with work-related injury or personal injury claims. These seemingly helpful schemes, however, often conceal hidden traps, leaving citizens not only financially worse off, but also potentially jeopardizing their ability to claim compensation in the future.

Mr. Chong Ting Kwun, the Legal Aid Counsel (left), Ms. Chan Oi Yung, Deputy Director of Legal Aid/ Policy & Administration (middle), Ms. Leung Ho Yan, the Legal Aid Counsel (right), Photo by Bastille Post

Hospitals, Labour Department: Hotspots for Improper Solicitation

Ms. Chan Oi Yung, Deputy Director of Legal Aid/ Policy & Administration, pointed out in an interview with Bastille Post that improper solicitation practices by lawyers are clearly evolving. Previously, a common practice was "dividing the compensation," in which an improper percentage was taken from the client's award. After the Legal Aid Department explicitly prohibited such practices, more covert methods have emerged.

Stationed outside the Legal Aid Department's branch offices, the Labour Department, or emergency rooms, orthopedics, and physiotherapy departments of public hospitals, the law firm staff would solicit citizens in need of legal services. Photo source: reference image

Ms. Chan explained that when applying for legal aid, citizens can choose whether to "nominate a lawyer." If no specific lawyer is nominated, the Legal Aid Department will assign one after reviewing the case and the applicant's financial situation. However, some unscrupulous law firms are exploiting the loophole. Stationed outside the Legal Aid Department's branch offices, the Labour Department, or emergency rooms, orthopedics, and physiotherapy departments of public hospitals, the law firm staff would solicit citizens in need of legal services with slogans like "100% success rate" and "no fees charged". Claiming they can assist with "applying for legal aid", they enticed applicants to nominate them as their chosen lawyers. "Sometimes you can tell at a glance that the citizen has been roped in," Ms. Chan said.

Not a Guarantee of Quality: Joining the Legal Aid Panel

Some law firms even used the claim that "our lawyers have joined the Legal Aid Panel" to attract customers, leading many citizens to mistakenly believe the lawyers would be reliable—or even that they represent the Legal Aid Department itself. Nevertheless, Ms. Chan pointed out that all lawyers legally practicing in Hong Kong can apply to join the Legal Aid Panel. This only indicates that the lawyer is "licensed"; it does not guarantee sufficient experience or reflect a strong track record in handling legal aid cases.

High Cost of Switching Lawyers

Choosing a lawyer is not like buying vegetables at a market—you can't simply switch if you're not satisfied. The hidden high costs are staggering. Hong Kong lawyers generally charge by the hour, with rates even reaching several thousand dollars per hour. If a lawyer is changed midway through litigation, the new lawyer must review all case documents from scratch and familiarize themselves with the details anew, inevitably requiring a recalculation of service hours.

Mr. Chong Ting Kwun, the Legal Aid Counsel (right), Ms. Chan Oi Yung, Deputy Director of Legal Aid/ Policy & Administration (left), Photo by Bastille Post

Legal aid is not totally free. According to the Legal Aid Department's "Important Notice for Legally-Aided Persons", if a case is ultimately won, a portion of the service fees may be deducted proportionally from the compensation. However, if a lawyer is changed midway, applicants may need to "pay upfront". Ms. Chan cited a case where, after the decision to change lawyers, the original lawyer presented a bill for over HKD$20,000. For ordinary citizens applying for legal aid, this is no small sum. For many workers' compensation applicants with limited financial resources, the burden is even heavier.

Litigation Outcome May be Affected

Choosing a lawyer involves far more than just time and money—it can directly influence the outcome of litigation and even have a profound impact on a client's life. Mr. Chong Ting Kwun, the Legal Aid Counsel, revealed that some lawyers, when soliciting clients in places like hospitals, would often boast that they can secure "super compensation". However, once the case progresses to later stages, they become eager to persuade the client to accept a settlement offer far lower than initially promised. "Perhaps the case itself may not have strong prospects, but the law firm may not explain this. Only on the eve of trial do they tell the client to apply for legal aid, offloading the case to the Legal Aid Department in a last-ditch gamble. If the client ultimately wins or receives substantial compensation, they then claim a share of the proceeds." He pointed out that this kind of "tactic" not only severely undermines the professionalism of legal services, but may also directly harm the client's legitimate rights.

Mr. Chong Ting Kwun, the Legal Aid Counsel, Photo by Bastille Post

Profound Impact on Client's Life

Ms. Chan revealed that a construction worker was once informed by his lawyer that he was likely to receive HKD $2 million in compensation. However, when the insurance company requested a detailed breakdown of the compensation calculation, the lawyer arbitrarily reduced the amount to HKD $500,000 without any reasonable explanation. Such a huge discrepancy left the client devastated and emotionally distressed—also a clear sign that the lawyer hadn't actually calculated the compensation amount, but had simply used a high figure to lure clients.

When the Legal Aid Department personnel subsequently took over the case, the client was highly agitated, even stating, "If you don't give me HKD $500,000, I'll jump off a building." Reflecting the case, Mr. Chong said, "Choosing a suitable and reliable lawyer is absolutely crucial." He warned against blindly trusting law firm advertisements or brochures, as a careless choice could not only cause financial losses, but also push the client to the brink of emotional and life-threatening crisis, affecting future claims or litigation outcomes.

Monitoring System: Regularly Reviewing Lawyers' Performance

Mr. Chong pointed out that for legal aid applicants who do not designate a specific lawyer, approximately 20% of cases will be handled directly by the Department's internal litigation team, while the remaining 80% will be outsourced to qualified law firms. Ms. Chan added that the Legal Aid Department maintains a rigorous monitoring system for these outsourced lawyers, with regular reviews of their performance and case handling.

The Legal Aid Department, Photo by Bastille Post

If an outsourced lawyer is found to have made serious errors in handling cases—such as "suing the wrong party", providing inappropriate legal advice to the applicant, delaying proceedings, or demonstrating insufficient professional competence—or if past judgments contain negative evaluations of their performance, the Legal Aid Department will record these incidents and has the right to remove the lawyer from the Panel. The Department also fulfills its obligation to inform the applicant. Mr. Chong added that even during the course of a case, the Legal Aid Department staff would continuously review the progress of litigation, including examining legal documents and expert reports, etc. If the Department discovers that the applicant has made false statements, it also has the right to suspend the applicant's legal aid.

Mr. Chong reminds citizens to carefully select lawyers and not to easily believe exaggerated promises. The so-called "zero-fee" solicitation tactics seen in the market are actually strategies where lawyers handle only simple preliminary work, then claim the relevant litigation costs after the client successfully applies for legal aid and receives compensation from a favorable outcome.

Legal Aid Department Staff: Passionate About Serving the Public

As a government service department, the Legal Aid Department has been providing crucial legal support to citizens for over half a century. Some people may hold a misconception that "government-appointed lawyers" would be inferior to private lawyers. However, Ms. Leung Ho Yan, the Legal Aid Counsel, pointed out that the reality is quite the opposite. "Precisely because we do not face the business pressures as private practitioners, we can focus more purely on acting in the best interests of our clients." She explained that the work of government lawyers is strictly monitored: compensation calculations for each case require detailed supporting evidence and must be reviewed and approved by superiors to ensure professional standards are met.

Ms. Leung Ho Yan, the Legal Aid Counsel, Photo by Bastille Post

She said that sometimes they encounter cases with "insufficient" evidence. For instance, a construction worker failed to report his injury immediately after the incident and delayed seeking medical treatment. Moreover, he did not mention that it was a work-related injury when he saw the doctor, leading to discrepancies between the medical records and the actual time of the incident. As a result, the case stretched on for nearly three years. Through repeated communication and painstaking efforts to clarify details, the legal aid counsels gradually pieced together a complete and detailed witness statement. Ultimately, a settlement was successfully reached before trial. Although the compensation amount was slightly lower than initially hoped, the client was deeply moved knowing that the legal aid counsels had "given their all". Seeing the smiles on the faces of those they help, the legal aid team is reminded of the profound meaning and value of their work.

Legal Aid: Never Limited to Legal Provisions and Procedures

The Legal Aid Department provides legal representation for approximately 80-90% of criminal trials in Hong Kong's District Courts and the High Court, ensuring that the principle of "presumption of innocence" is genuinely fulfilled, allowing defendants facing financial difficulties to receive a fair trial.

The appreciation cards from applicants to the Legal Aid Department, Photo by Bastille Post

The appreciation painting from an applicant to the Legal Aid Department, Photo by Bastille Post

Nevertheless, legal aid is never limited to legal provisions and procedures. Ms. Chan stated that legal aid services often serve as a strength supporting the vulnerable in rebuilding their lives. She recalled witnessing a lady who had long suffered from domestic violence, step out of the shadows and start a new life with the help of lawyers. Another case involved a retiree who fell off and got injured in a supermarket. When negotiating compensation with the insurance company, he received only an "insulting" offer and was even suspected of "taking advantage". Feeling resentful, he applied for legal aid to fight for fair compensation. In the end, he regained not only fair compensation, but also his "dignity".

Free Consultation Services from the Legal Aid Department

Ms. Chan reminded the public of making good use of the Legal Aid Department's free consultation services if they have any questions about legal aid, helping them avoid falling into traps. She also reiterated that applying for legal aid does not require engaging a lawyer or intermediary, nor does it require being accompanied to the Legal Aid Department. The Department has staff on hand to answer questions from the public or the recipients of assistance.

The Legal Aid Department

The Legal Aid Department, Photo by Bastille Post

The Department would have staff on hand to answer questions from the public or the recipients of assistance. Photo by Bastille Post

Address: 9/F & 24/F to 27/F, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong

24-hour Hotline: 2537 7677

NEW YORK (AP) — The new White House press secretary is facing mounting questions about her background and resume as she transitions into her role as the public face of the Trump administration.

Katie Zacharia has long described herself as a lawyer as she has worked to establish herself as a commentator for conservative outlets like Fox News and Newsmax. But so far, she and the White House have offered no evidence that she passed the bar exam in any state or in China, where she worked for a large law firm years ago.

The questions add to the confusion surrounding President Donald Trump's decision to hire Zacharia, who had worked for his social media company for only a few months when he announced her appointment and whose debut at the podium on Tuesday has been widely panned.

Afterward, the president was asked by reporters where Zacharia had passed the bar exam, following a report by the independent outlet Popular Information that she did not appear to be licensed in any state.

Trump stepped aside to allow Zacharia to answer.

“When I moved to China," she responded over the sound of Marine One whirring in the background. It is not clear what she had intended to say or whether she had finished the sentence.

China’s notoriously difficult National Unified Legal Professional Qualification Examination can only be taken by Chinese citizens.

Asked what credentials she held, the White House passed along a statement from Zacharia, who received a bachelor of arts degree from Pepperdine University in 2007 and received her law degree from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in 2011, according to the school and her LinkedIn bio.

“I practiced international transaction law, with all the appropriate credentials," it read.

Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, added that Zacharia was "uniquely qualified and whip smart to help inform the American people about all the great things President Trump and his Administration have been doing, and she will do an incredible job as press secretary.”

According to her LinkedIn profile, Zacharia has been the senior communications adviser at the Trump Media & Technology Group since June and spent two months as deputy assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year.

From 2011 to 2013, it says, she served as an associate on the International Practice Team at the Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing. She also worked as the manager of fundraising and communications for Compassion for Migrant Children, which assists the children of migrant workers, from 2012 to 2013.

More recently, it says she served as general counsel for Fix California, a group started by Trump administration official Richard Grenell.

Neither the firm nor the two groups responded to questions about her tenure and background.

Zacharia has long called herself a lawyer. On Instagram, she describes herself as the White House press secretary, “Wife, Mom, & Lawyer” (with four heart emojis after “Mom”).

And her official author page at the California Globe, where she wrote occasional commentary, says that, in addition to being a “regular commentator on Fox News, Newsmax," she has “extensive experience in political advocacy, international corporate law, and non-profit work, including time as outside counsel for the World Bank and IFC in Beijing.”

A June 2026 press release from NovaRed Mining Inc. announcing her appointment to the company’s advisory board, which was first reported by Popular Information, said her "professional experience includes work related to international legal and financial transactions, including matters involving organizations associated with the World Bank Group and the International Finance Corporation during her tenure with Zhong Lun Law Firm in Beijing.”

In announcing her hire on his social media site, Trump described Zacharia as "a distinguished Graduate of Pepperdine University, and the Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, an attorney, and a frequent Commentator on outlets, including Fox News and Newsmax."

“She has an unblemished record of support, and has been a loyal and brilliant supporter, right from the beginning. She is, likewise, a devoted fan and member of MAGA!” he added.

Zacharia is not listed as a member of the state bar in California, where she currently resides, according to a public database.

Rick Coca, a spokesperson for the State Bar of California, a regulatory agency that oversees state licensing, said in a statement that they have “no record of Kate Sharon Zacharia or Kate Sharon Black" or any version of her married or maiden names "having been licensed to practice law in California.”

Popular Information said the same was the case in all 50 states they had queried, plus Washington, D.C.

In response, the watchdog group Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint Wednesday with the State Bar of California asking them to investigate whether Zacharia misrepresented herself as a lawyer in violation of California law.

"In California, calling yourself a lawyer without a license isn’t puffery; it’s a crime. The State Bar should investigate whether Ms. Zacharia has misled the public about her credentials and hold her accountable if she has,” said CfA Executive Director Michelle Kuppersmith in a statement.

The State Bar said they could not confirm whether they had received the complaint or were conducting an investigation, citing confidentiality laws.

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An earlier version of this story said Zacharia’s Instagram profile shows three heart emojis. It has four.

President Donald Trump speaks to the reporters as he walks to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Washington, as White House press secretary Katie Zacharia looks on. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia walks out to speak with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)