What is the current stage of the Lawyers Law amendment in China?
As of August 25, 2026, the NPCSC is conducting the second reading of the draft amendment at the 24th session of the 14th NPCSC. It has not yet been adopted; a further reading, a Presidential Order, and an effective date are still required.
Does the amendment address the GBA lawyer pilot expiring on October 4, 2026?
Yes. The amendment is the vehicle expected to codify the Greater Bay Area cross-border practice path for Hong Kong and Macao lawyers beyond the October 4, 2026 pilot expiry. Until promulgated, the pilot regime remains the only legal basis.
What new clause did the second reading add to the Lawyers Law draft?
The second reading inserted an explicit clause to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of parties, and wrote the active development of foreign-related legal services into the statute as a legislative objective.
Does the amendment affect foreign law firms' representative offices in China?
Indirectly. International firms' China offices remain bound by the State Council Foreign Law Firms' Representative Offices Regulation, last revised December 6, 2024, which bars them from handling Chinese-law matters and requires annual provincial registration. They should track any tightening of that perimeter in the amendment's final text.