Juris Doctor Hong Kong
● 2 year course intensive full time, or 3 years part time
● Postgraduate course for graduates of a non-law subject
● Similar to a bachelor of law (LLB) course in topics studied and depth of learning
● Dissertation or thesis is mandatory
● Goes beyond rote learning of laws to critical assessment of the laws
● Study particular cases and analysis of court ruling
● Focus on giving a foundation in common law topics such as:
○ Criminal law
○ Land Law
○ Commercial Law
○ Constitutional Law
○ Equity & Trusts
○ Contracts
○ Torts
○ Company Law
○ Criminal Procedure
○ Evidence
● Electives in the second year come from a range of cutting edge disciplines, including:
○ Environmental Law
○ International Arbitration
○ Competition Law
● Graduates can continue studying to complete Postgraduate Certificate in Law (PCLL) then undertake either traineeship or pupillage before becoming a solicitor or barrister, respectively
Master of Law Hong Kong
● 1-2 years full-time or 2-4 years part-time
● For students with a background in law in the form of:
○ Bachelor of law (LLB) certificate or equivalent
○ Qualification to practice law in student's jurisdiction (normally for overseas students)
○ Bachelor's degree in non-law subject with substantial work experience in law
● 300 hours class time spread over 8 modules
● Dissertation not mandatory, but one can be submitted in lieu of either 1 or 2 modules if student prefers
● Can be a general master of laws (LLM), but most often undertaken for further specialisation
● Specialised courses available from Hong Kong universities are:
○ Chinese Law
○ Human Rights Law
○ Corporate and Financial Law
○ Information Technology and Intellectual Property Law
○ Arbitration and Dispute Resolution
● Courses aim to take advantage of Hong Kong's position to compare common law practices with the increasing importance of law, jurisdiction, and practice on the mainland
● Useful for those who wish to gain specialized academic knowledge in one area of the law
● Graduates still need PCLL plus traineeship or pupillage before being fully qualified as solicitor or barrister
There are advantages to a career in either a juris doctor or a masters of law. Those who study the Juris Doctor Hong Kong gain an intense, but relatively quick stepping stone from their non-law background into the law profession, from which they can embark on further law study to become qualified. By contrast, the LLM is for those who have already shown commitment to law either through prior study or through extensive work within the field. The LLM is an opportunity to deepen and broaden their knowledge base in the particular field of law which interests them.
Neither course is sufficient in itself to allow graduates to practice law, but both provide the chance to gain experience in how the legal system works in Hong Kong, on the mainland, and internationally. Most students go on to further study so they can practice law whilst some students use the courses as background for more diverse work in the future.
Hong Kong universities are world-renowned for the quality of legal training. The cross-fertilization of ideas and practices from the West and from the mainland make for a stimulating and challenging academic environment, which is attractive to students globally.