The legal system of Hong Kong is based on the common law system of England and Wales. It has a similar training and qualification process for solicitors and barristers. However, in September 2008 it switched from a three to four year LLB, whilst overseas candidates for the Postgraduate Certificate in Laws must now take conversion exams prior to admission to the programme.[1]
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Hong Kong universities have recently moved in 2008 from a three to four year LLB curriculum.
There are two routes available for non-law graduates as an alternative to the full-length LL.B. degree: the Graduate Diploma in English and Hong Kong Law (GDEHKL) and the Juris Doctor (JD).
The GDEHKL is a two year part-time course jointly offered by the University of Hong Kong's School of Professional and Continuing Education (HKU SPACE) as the course operator, and Manchester Metropolitan University as the qualification awarding institution. The completion of the course qualifies students to take the CPE examinations.
The JD in Hong Kong is a two to three year (full-time) course offered by all three law schools.
All lawyers wishing to be qualified in Hong Kong must take the Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL), unless they are taking the Registered Foreign Lawyer route.
The LLB, LLM, JD and PCLL are currently offered by all three law schools in Hong Kong, namely:
The Open University of Hong Kong also offers distance learning LLMs in PRC Law and Chinese Business Law.[2]
After the PCLL, prospective solicitors must undertake a two year training contract with a law firm, whilst prospective barristers must undertake one year's pupillage with sets of chambers.
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