University law course cheats expelled after being caught for plagiarism

At least two law students have been expelled for plagiarism from the University of Hong Kong's legal professional training course, while 14 others were investigated for similar offences.

The pair have been barred from resitting the course - ending their chances at local qualification.

It was the first time cheating has been uncovered in the Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) programme. The culprits were caught by external examiners, including Department of Justice officers and Law Society members, and the incident has sparked a heated debate in the faculty about how severely the students ought to be punished.

Four of the students in this year's PCLL batch were taken before the five-member University Disciplinary Committee for substantially copying work on a paper that was worth 5 per cent of one course.

The students allegedly copied up to 98 per cent of others' work. At least one had lied about having interviewed a magistrate for the assignment, which required them to attend various courts and make a full report on their observations and suggest possible improvements, the Post was told.

When the papers were marked by the external markers, 'massive collusion' was found, the sources said. The students were due to join the legal profession next month.