Faculty of Law The University of Hong Kong Information Kit for Employers (2017-2018) ~ 2020 Trainee Candidates ~
Our Programmes Programme LLB BBA(Law) BSS(GL) BA(LS) HKU-UCL Dual Law Programme Juris Doctor (JD) Duration 4 years 5 years 5 years 5 years 4 years 2 years PCLL Full time: 1 year Part time: 2 years First year intake (2017-2018) Final Year Tuition Fee for local students, HK$ (2018-2019) 98 70 50 20 10 40-50 42,100 p.a. 58,000 p.a. 58,000 p.a. 58,000 p.a. 42,100 p.a. (for last 2 years study at HKU, ie for academic years 2017-18 and 2018-19) 144,000 p.a. Full time: 240 Part time: 80 Govt-funded: 42,100 p.a. Self-financed: Full time: 135,000 p.a. Part time: 77,500 p.a. Admission Statistics (2017-2018) Average Scores of JUPAS Applications English 6.182 6.188 6.279 6.407 Chinese 5.610 5.813 5.698 5.889 4 core subjects & best 2 electives 5.836 6.017 5.888 5.827 Not applicable Note: Conversion of the HKDSE grades into scores: Level 5** = 7, 5* = 6, 5 = 5, 4 = 4, 3 = 3, 2 = 2, 1 = 1, unclassified/ others = 0. Only 10 programmes in all HK tertiary institutions achieved an average score of 6 or above in 4 core subjects & 2 best 2 electives, and 6 of them are in HKU, among which 3 are in law. Programme Structure Compulsory Law subjects taken by 2020 Trainee candidates JD (italics & blue = PCLL Pre-requisites) 2017-2018 2018-2019 Legal System of HKSAR Land Law I & Land Law II Contract I & Contract II Equity & Trust I & II Tort I & Tort II Dissertation Criminal Law I & II Constitutional law *JD students might take the remaining Commercial Law 5 PCLL Pre-requisites as electives. Administrative law Legal Research & Methods PCLL (2019-2020)
Compulsory Law subjects taken by 2017 Trainee candidates Undergraduate programmes (italics & blue = PCLL Pre-requisites) Year LLB double-cohort (admitted in 2015-2016) BBA(Law) (admitted in 2014-2015) BSS(GL) (admitted in 2014-2015) BA(LS) (admitted in 2014-2015) 2014-2015 Law & Society Law & Society Law & Society Contract I & Contract II Contract I & Contract II Contract I & Contract II Legal Research & Writing I Legal Research & Writing I Legal Research & Writing I Legal System Legal System Legal System 2015-2016 Law & Society Tort I & Tort II Administrative law Administrative law Contract I & Contract II Legal Research & Writing II Constitutional law Constitutional law Legal Research & Writing I Tort I & Tort II Tort I & Tort II Legal System Legal Research & Writing II Legal Research & Writing II 2016-2017 Constitutional law Administrative law Criminal Law I & II Criminal Law I & II Criminal Law I & II Business Associations Land Law I & Land Law II Intro to Chinese Law Land Law I & Land Law II Commercial Law Land Law I & Land Law II Tort I & Tort II Legal Research & Writing II Constitutional law 2017-2019 Administrative law Criminal Law I & II Business Associations Business Associations Business Associations Equity & Trust I & II Commercial Law Commercial Law Commercial Law Intro to Chinese Law Equity & Trust I & II Equity & Trust I & II Equity & Trust I & II Intro to Legal Theory Intro to Chinese Law Intro to Legal Theory Intro to Chinese Law Land Law I & Land Law II Intro to Legal Theory Mooting & dispute resolution Intro to Legal Theory Mooting & dispute resolution Mooting & dispute resolution Mooting & dispute resolution 2019-2020 PCLL
Honours Classification System (HKU Bachelor of Laws Degree) 1. Honours are based on the Grade Point Average (GPA) system, first adopted by the University of Hong Kong in 1998-99 for new undergraduates (these undergraduates first graduated in 2000-2001). The system involves a grafting of the North American GPA system onto the traditional English Honours classification system. This note explains the key features of the Honours + GPA system, and highlights recent changes in its operation in relation to LLB graduates. 2. In 2004-2005, the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programme at the University of Hong Kong became a four-year undergraduate programme and the joint degree programmes, BBA(Law)/LLB, BSocSc(GL)/LLB, and BEng(CivE-Law)/LLB became 5 year programmes. Students are normally required to complete 60-66 credits of courses per year, with most courses being worth either 12-credits (full-year) or 6-credits (one-semester). The total number of credits required to complete the LLB curriculum are 240. 3. Examination scripts and other assessable work for each course are marked in accordance with the following scales: Prior to 2010-11 Mark Grade Grade point 78+ ) A+ 4.0 75-77 ) Excellent A 4.0 72-74 ) A- 3.7 68-71 ) B+ 3.3 65-67 ) Good B 3.0 62-64 ) B- 2.7 58-61 ) C+ 2.3 55-57 ) Satisfactory C 2.0 52-54 ) C- 1.7 45-51 ) D+ 1.3 40-44 ) Pass D 1.0 0-39 ) Fail F 0 From 2010-11 to 2011-12 Mark Grade Grade point 80+ ) A+ 4.3 75-79 ) Excellent A 4.0 72-74 ) A- 3.7 68-71 ) B+ 3.3 65-67 ) Good B 3.0 62-64 ) B- 2.7 58-61 ) C+ 2.3 55-57 ) Satisfactory C 2.0 52-54 ) C- 1.7 45-51 ) D+ 1.3 40-44 ) Pass D 1.0 0-39 ) Fail F 0
From 2012-13 onwards Mark Grade Grade point 90+ ) Excellent A+ 4.3 85-89 ) Excellent A 4.0 80-84 ) Very Good A- 3.7 76-79 ) Good B+ 3.3 73-75 ) Average Competent Answer B 3.0 70-72 ) Borderline Average B- 2.7 66-69 ) Satisfactory C+ 2.3 63-65 ) Borderline Satisfactory C 2.0 60-62 ) Borderline Satisfactory / Pass C- 1.7 55-59 ) Pass D+ 1.3 50-54 ) Borderline Pass D 1.0 0-49 ) Fail F 0 From 2016-17 onwards Mark Grade Grade point 90+ ) Outstanding A+ 4.3 85-89 ) Excellent A 4.0 80-84 ) Borderline Excellent A- 3.7 76-79 ) Very Good B+ 3.3 73-75 ) Good (Average Competent Answer) B 3.0 70-72 ) Borderline Good B- 2.7 66-69 ) Very Satisfactory C+ 2.3 63-65 ) Satisfactory C 2.0 60-62 ) Borderline Satisfactory C- 1.7 55-59 ) Pass D+ 1.3 50-54 ) Borderline Pass D 1.0 0-49 ) Fail F 0 4. The actual marking practices and distribution of grades within each faculty, however, vary. Traditionally, the Faculty of Law has marked extremely stringently. Because of these stringent marking practices, the Faculty of Law has historically produced a relatively small percentage of students with a First Class or Second Class (Division One) Honours Degree. 5. Under the GPA system, the degree of Bachelor of Laws is classified into five divisions according to the Cumulative GPA achieved by each student (i.e. the cumulative average calculated by converting the Grade obtained in a course to its equivalent Grade Point (e.g. B = 3.0), multiplying each grade point by the credit value of the course (e.g. 6 credits), adding up the figures obtained for all completed courses, and then dividing the total figure by the number of credits counting towards the degree. 6. From June 2005, the recommended nominal demarcation for honours consideration by the Board of Examiners is as follows: Class of honours CGPA First 3.4 and above Second (Division One) 3.0 to less than 3.4 Second (Division Two) 2.1 to less than 3.0 Third 1.45 to less than 2.1 Pass 1.0 to less than 1.45 Fail Below 1.0 7. For students admitted in 2012-13 and thereafter, the University demarcation for honours consideration by the Board of Examiners is as follows: Class of honours CGPA First 3.60 to 4.30 Second (Division One) 3.00 to 3.59 Second (Division Two) 2.40 to 2.99
Third 1.70 to 2.39 Pass 1.00 to 1.69 8. Due to the traditionally stringent marking system adopted by the Faculty of Law, the CGPA levels for the respective class of honours set out above may appear lower than the normal demarcation levels adopted mainly by universities in North America or other universities in Hong Kong or even other disciplines of this University. This is so notwithstanding the fact that the A-level / DSE standard of students entering the LLB programmes at HKU is commonly among the highest at the University of Hong Kong, and in Hong Kong. Our admissions requirements for non-jupas (ie overseas) school leavers are also comparable to those for Oxford, Cambridge and London Law Schools. Class Ranking (for LLB/ JD students only)in addition to the percentage distribution, it would also be useful to assess student applicants to trainee contracts on the basis of their rankings in class in individual years as well as on an overall basis of four years of study. Upon a student s request, the Department of Law will issue an Official Certification of Ranking showing student s class ranking among his/her cohort in a particular examination year. If a student is a final year student, he may also request for his overall ranking in the degree in addition to his year ranking. This document reflects student s performance in the May examination only, and does not take into account the results of the supplementary examinations in August. Employers may like to note, however, that the profile of core and elective subjects varies significantly in each year of the LLB programme, and marking practices in electives also vary. These needs to be borne in mind in drawing any comparison between candidates based on their year ranking where there is a great proportion of elective subjects. We advise employers to also seek information on a graduate s overall ranking to obtain a fuller picture of his overall competence.
Our PCLL Programme Programme Structure (2017-2018) First Semester Compulsory Core Practice Areas Second Semester Compulsory Core & Elective Practice Areas [Electives subject to minimum enrolment] Compulsory Core: Professional Practice and Management Civil Litigation Electives (Litigation) Electives (Transactional) Criminal Litigation Commercial Dispute Resolution Drafting Commercial Agreements Corporate & Commercial Transactions Matrimonial Practice and Procedure Listed Companies Property Transactions I Personal Injury Litigation Property Transactions II Property Litigation Employment Law and Practice Trial Advocacy Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning China Practice Use of Chinese in Legal Practice First Semester [Skills] Second Semester [Skills] Problem solving Document analysis Issue identification Legal research Letter writing Electives (Litigation) Electives (Transactional) Interviewing Pleadings drafting Document drafting Negotiation / Mediation Affidavit drafting Letter writing Affidavit drafting Opinion writing Interviewing Interviewing Advocacy (non-trial and trial) Negotiation / Mediation Conferencing Advocacy (non-trial) File and case management Interviewing/ Conferencing Negotiation/ Mediation FAQ about our PCLL Programme Is it difficult to gain entry to the HKU PCLL? Yes, but then it is difficult to gain entry to all the three PCLL courses because every year each institution receives more than twice as many applications as there are places. We tend to receive strong applicants but that means your trainees will be studying among the best legal minds at one of the best institutions. HKU is ranked within the top 30 universities in the world and the law school was 18 th in the 2017 international QS rankings. Is it true that the standard of entry is high? The grades required to get into our PCLL have been increasing every year for the last few years, but this is true of the other PCLL providers too. We expect (very generally speaking) an upward trend because some universities have been awarding higher and higher marks to their law graduates. Are non-hku applicants disadvantaged in gaining entry? No. HKU graduates have to compete for admission with overseas and other applicants for places. While on average about 60% of our places go to HKU graduates, we have the largest number of non- Hong Kong graduates of any provider.
Is it necessary to make HKU my first choice? We strongly advise your trainees to put HKU first because the selection exercise is so competitive. We have agreed with the other two law schools that each of us will consider applicants who have put us as first choice and will only consider other applications if not all places will have been filled up by then. When will an applicant know the outcome of his or her application? We will make conditional offers as early as possible and throughout the period from April to August (and perhaps even earlier). The sooner an applicant sends in the necessary application with supporting documentation, the earlier we can consider it. Will a master s degree help? This is of marginal relevance. Academic results are the primary consideration. Only in borderline cases or when academic merits are similar will we take into account other factors, which include the results of a relevant LLM degree and genuine legal work experience. Will only students with a 2:1 or equivalent be admitted to the HKU PCLL? The legal profession has set a benchmark for admission to the PCLL of a high 2.2 degree and all three law schools have been following that benchmark. Our focus in admissions is on academic merit and in this regard, we look primarily at an applicant s All Law Average (the average mark of all Law subjects studied over the entirety of an applicant s qualifying law degree) in light of relevant grading practice rather than just by the class of his or her degree. This means that applicants are treated equally, with their marks compared, as much as practicable, on a like-for-like basis. Applicants with a 2.2 degree can still be offered a place on the PCLL if their marks are sufficiently competitive. We also hold a limited number of interviews for a maximum of 15 places on the part-time programme for those applicants whose marks are not sufficiently competitive but who are able to demonstrate genuine legal working experience. Such legal working experience must be of at least 2 years in total duration, involve the use of legal skills such as research, drafting and advising clients and does not include internships or minipupillages. Does a rejection in one year mean that I will not be offered a place in future years? We do not hold the fact that you have been previously rejected against you. That said, a rejection may be an indication that your marks are not sufficiently competitive. Since the cut-offs change from year to year (depending on the quality of applicants in any given year) there is a chance that you may still be admitted following a rejection in a previous year. We encourage you to try again. We admit good applicants; we only reject applicants who, sadly, do not demonstrate sufficient academic merits or who fail to comply with the prerequisites for admission, for example, by failing the conversion examinations or by failing to submit supporting documents by the applicable deadline. Must an applicant have IELTS or will another English qualification do? An applicant must have a recent pass at the appropriate level in the International English Language Test (IELTS) by the relevant deadline in August. We can make offers earlier conditional upon this being attained. The Standing Committee on Legal Education and Training does not allow the result in any other examination in English such as TOEFL. Is the PCLL at HKU more theoretical than others? We don t like to make comparisons but we can say that our course is very practical and has received praise from the legal profession. Our teaching materials are based on case studies and case files and are vetted and approved by our external examiners who are practitioners. Nearly all our teachers have experience as lawyers and many of them retain their practice at the Bar or as solicitors. We have lectures and classes led by current practitioners. Almost all our part-time teachers are working lawyers. Our method of teaching concentrates upon practical exercises carried out by students under supervision. The feedback from former students is that they find those materials useful when they start traineeship and are grateful for the help they received. Isn t your PCLL old fashioned? Quite the contrary, our course is vigorous, practical and up-to-date. It was revamped to place more emphasis on practice skills in 2008. More recently we have introduced new electives and plan to offer
more. All our courses are constantly being revised and updated to ensure they take into account developments in the law. And we have a bright new building with excellent facilities. Does your PCLL have a high failure rate? No. A few students do fail but most of those fail only one or two of the subjects in the exams held at the end of the semesters and pass those subjects in the supplementary exams held in August. We do not take the position that our students are so good that they should never fail. The profession respects us for that.
Useful links LLB & mixed degrees JD PCLL Careers Resource Centre www.law.hku.hk/programmes/undergraduate.php www.law.hku.hk/postgrad/jd/ www.pcll.hk www.law.hku.hk/career Enquiries Ms Pilar Woo Email: pilarwoo@hku.hk Ms Rachel Li Email: lirachel@hku.hk; Tel: 3917 2919 ~ End ~