Is anyone attending the LLM program at CUHK? I'm trying to figure it out if I'm going to accept it or not. Although I'm leaning towards accepting it because I won't have to pay for a few more weeks, so I can delay making a final decision on it. So much to think about, quit my job, where to live, etc...

Dear Bruinft,

Hi! How are you!

I am a solicitor in Hong Kong with the degrees of LLB and LLM (Corporate & Financial Law) awarded by the University of HK.

This year I am also going to apply for LLM(IEL) of CU, and hopefully we can meet this fall.

Regarding your consideration, I think IEL program is worthwhile you spending a year at there. Though the law school of CU has been established for a few years, CU has a good reputation for academic research.

I was also told by a friend who is currently working at the CU (not the law school), CU is committed to establish its brand new law school as one of the famous law schools in Asia.

Thomas, thanks for the info. As someone who is currently a solicitor in Hong Kongm, can you tell me what the job market is like for foreign legal consultants? The ability to work as a foreign legal consultant after getting my LLM is a very important factor in deciding if it is worthwhile to atend.

Thanks

Hi! Bruinft! Thanks yr email.

There is a market for foreign legal consultants in city firms of Hong Kong.

Of course LLM(IEL) may help, especially if you take the course in respect of laws of PRC Trade & Investment.

But eventually it depends on academic background, professional qualification, and working experience of the person in question.

p.s.: Besides, I also suggest you try to study a little bit of Chinese during the 1 year period in CU.

Dear Bruinft,

Hi! How are you! What is going on ? Eventually have you received the CU's offer?

Sorry for the delay, but I've been really busy because of work. I am still waiting to find out if my client wants to extend my consulting contract. That is pretty much the key, because if they do want to extend my contract, then I will not attend CUHK the coming year. I just can't afford to turn down the money for a year.

Thanks yr reply!

I think you're right!

Bread & Butter are always important of all!

I think you may consider to find a nighttime LLM program of an ABA law school nearby.

I just recieved an offer from CU, I was rejected for JD and offered LLM, common law, I have dounbts, i don't think it is possible to transfer from llm to jd, Anyone has comments on this??

Yes, I also think it is difficult, if not impossible, to transfer from LLM to JD, but you may make enquiry directly from the school of law.

Thanks , Thomas, it seems all the rejects from JD have recieved offers from LLM Common Law Division. It sounds so commericalised.

Frankly speaking, both law schools of HKU and CU are business-orientated since government funding are cut sharply.

But business-orientated may not affect the teaching quality of the law schools in question.

So perhaps you need not worry about the matter of teaching qualities, what you have to concern is whether the program offered to you satisfy the needs of you at present or in future.

Hi Thomas,

Thanks for your comments, sounds like you are level headed person. Hope to meet u at orientation

Bigal

Hi bruinft, thomas, bigal and everyone ~

I have similar situation with bigal. I applied for JD and finally I got an offer of LLM (Common Law) last week.

I have a BSocSc & a MSc. No LLB or law background.

Is it too academic and not practical enough?
Is it tough for a non-law student to study LLM?
Whats the use of a LLM alone?
Do you think its worthwhile (80K for whole program) to take this offer?

THANKS :)

Hi alas! I'm glad to know that there are some fellows who are thinking about JD. I'm going to apply for JD courses of CUHK and City-U next year.

It seems quite hard to be accepted by "Juris Doctor Asia" huh? If you have enough reason to do JD, I think your second choice should be JD in City-U. Did you apply for it?

Your questions are difficult to answer as we don't know what you're gonna do after you got a law degree.

Hi Noah!

In fact Im not highly intended to be a lawyer after the law degree. Perhaps I will stay in the business sector. However I would see the JD or a law degree is very much useful in various positions in various industries. And I have been hoping that I could work in some international bodies or NGOs someday. Thus they have some courses, e.g. The Law of the WTO, International Relations, European Union Law, would be very attractive to me.

Maybe the LLM (Common Law) is a nice beginning for me as a layman in legal profession. I think it would be more comfortable to study LLM than JD.

I did not apply for the JD in City-U, because the variety of the course selection of CUHK seems to be greater. For another reason I applied for the JD in CUHK is due to my past experience in studying there. I feel that the overall standard of the school is very convincing and I am confident to its quality though the law school has been on business for less than two years. But I know one of my friends friends is currently studying JD in City-U and shes happy about it.

Do anyone here is the current/intending JD student/alumni of City-U? Can you share with us your experience in City-U?

And a strange question, is it possible to apply the LLB/JD after the LLM?
Is there any exemption of courses I may have taken?

Wish your application successful :)

Hi Alals, thank you for your reply.

So you chose JD to reserve all opportunities...to stay in the business sector, to enter Int'l organization or NGO, and to be qualified as a lawyer in HK. If you think the tactics work, your choice might make sense.

Here's my wild guess: CUHK offered you LLM (Common Law), but they don't actually expect you to complete the LLM. What they expect you to do might be...doing the first year of LLM and applying for JD next year.

If you do so, your second application may be given prior consideration and once you accepted by JD, most of courses you took in the 1st year of LLM might be regarded as JD's elective courses. At the same time, CUHK can earn more money from you, make LLM courses full, and avoid from giving LLM to students with no first degree of law.

I suggest you ask CUHK this possibilty before you decide.

Hi Noah and everyone~

Im so glad to have your advice. In fact I did send them an email to inquire them about the transfer. They say:only students with exceptional results may be considered and there is no guarantee of programme transfer.

I do not have any law background and I wouldnt underestimate the challenge of the law courses. How exceptional do you think is required? GPA 4.0? GPA 3.9? I think even GPA 3.5 would be not easy for the law subjects.

On the other hand, it would be a stiff competition for the LLM student to get a place in JD. That may make the transfer even more difficult. I really dont know how many LLM students they enrolled for this year. Do you? Maybe there is a number of them are the marginal JD applicants, just like me. Haha.

Hi Alals and guys,

I think there is a difference between "program transfer" and re-apply. According to your information, transfer seems to be much difficult than applying for JD directly. If so, it would be better to challenge JD next year again.

If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't go for the LLM. I don't understand why CUHK offered LLM to you. LLM itself wouldn't help you to be qualified as HK lawyer. I personally don't think it worths HK$80K if you don't have first degree of law or addmission in any jurisdiction other than HK.

You might as well do external LLB of UOL or part-time CPE (of England and Wales) jointly offered by Manchester Metropolitan University and HKU. You can start a law course at lower cost and there are some ways to be qualified in HK later.

Have you ever heard of something about these courses? I have some friends finished the courses and it seems quite hard for them to be accepted by PCLL especially in recent 2 years.

Hi everyone
I'm in my senior year studying at university~ I'm doing a Bcomand I am graduating in the fall~ I'm looking to maybe do JD in HK~

after reading your posts it seems that it is quite hard to get in JD in CUHK?

do they not accept a lot of people and only people with really good grades in undergrad can get in?
I'm really worried because my grades aren't stellar but i do want to pursue a law education in Hong kong

what are your suggestions?
thanks!