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Anyone going to CUHK?

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bruinft

Joined: 24 Apr 2006
Posts: 12
Anyone going to CUHK?
Wed May 23, 2007 05:03 AM
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...
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thomas

Joined: 22 May 2007
Posts: 12
Anyone going to CUHK?
Wed May 23, 2007 06:44 PM
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.
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bruinft

Joined: 24 Apr 2006
Posts: 12
Anyone going to CUHK?
Thu May 24, 2007 05:33 AM
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
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thomas

Joined: 22 May 2007
Posts: 12
Anyone going to CUHK?
Thu May 24, 2007 06:17 AM
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.
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thomas

Joined: 22 May 2007
Posts: 12
Anyone going to CUHK?
Thu May 24, 2007 06:23 AM
p.s.: Besides, I also suggest you try to study a little bit of Chinese during the 1 year period in CU.
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thomas

Joined: 22 May 2007
Posts: 12
Anyone going to CUHK?
Tue Jun 05, 2007 08:38 AM
Dear Bruinft,

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

Joined: 24 Apr 2006
Posts: 12
Anyone going to CUHK?
Tue Jun 05, 2007 03:53 PM
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.
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thomas

Joined: 22 May 2007
Posts: 12
Anyone going to CUHK?
Tue Jun 05, 2007 04:07 PM
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.
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bigal

Joined: 08 Jun 2007
Posts: 3
Anyone going to CUHK?
Sat Jun 09, 2007 02:42 PM
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??
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thomas

Joined: 22 May 2007
Posts: 12
Anyone going to CUHK?
Sat Jun 09, 2007 08:51 PM
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.
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bigal

Joined: 08 Jun 2007
Posts: 3
Anyone going to CUHK?
Sun Jun 10, 2007 09:33 AM
Thanks , Thomas, it seems all the rejects from JD have recieved offers from LLM Common Law Division. It sounds so commericalised.
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thomas

Joined: 22 May 2007
Posts: 12
Anyone going to CUHK?
Sun Jun 10, 2007 08:29 PM
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.
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bigal

Joined: 08 Jun 2007
Posts: 3
Anyone going to CUHK?
Mon Jun 11, 2007 04:38 AM
Hi Thomas,

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

Bigal
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alals

Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 4
Anyone going to CUHK?
Mon Jun 11, 2007 03:07 PM
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?
What’s the use of a LLM alone?
Do you think it’s worthwhile (80K for whole program) to take this offer?

THANKS :)
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Noah

Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Posts: 3
Anyone going to CUHK?
Tue Jun 12, 2007 03:25 PM
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.
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alals

Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 4
Anyone going to CUHK?
Wed Jun 13, 2007 02:05 AM
Hi Noah!

In fact I’m 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 friend’s friends is currently studying JD in City-U and she’s 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 :)

[Edited 13 Jun 2007 by alals]
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Noah

Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Posts: 3
Anyone going to CUHK?
Thu Jun 14, 2007 04:05 PM
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.
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alals

Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 4
Anyone going to CUHK?
Fri Jun 15, 2007 02:24 AM
Hi Noah and everyone~

I’m 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 wouldn’t 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 don’t 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.
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Noah

Joined: 11 Jun 2007
Posts: 3
Anyone going to CUHK?
Sun Jun 17, 2007 03:48 AM
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.
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lulurz

Joined: 16 Jun 2007
Posts: 1
Anyone going to CUHK?
Sun Jun 17, 2007 04:51 PM
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!

[Edited 17 Jun 2007 by lulurz]
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slver88

Joined: 18 Jun 2007
Posts: 1
Anyone going to CUHK?
Tue Jun 19, 2007 07:53 AM
I'm wondering about that too. What's a competitive average when applying for the JD programme in CUHK?
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Jenner

Joined: 10 Feb 2008
Posts: 1
Anyone going to CUHK?
Mon Feb 11, 2008 06:16 PM
I want to see what the competition level is like for the JD program as well.

Um, American with a BBA & MSA, taken masters level classes in law and taught IP law on an undergraduate level as a substitute prof. I was also the youngest Copyright Specialist in the history of the US Copyright Office. I obviously have a focus of international Intel Prop law, thought HK being the "gateway to China" and all the "issues" in Asia with piracy it was a good goal.

I would assume IP has a large market in HK, can anyone vouch for that?

-Jen
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01Jan2008

Joined: 13 Feb 2008
Posts: 1
Anyone going to CUHK?
Thu Feb 14, 2008 08:26 AM
I applied CUHK - LLM (CBL) and Cityu Scope - LLM International Corporate and Financial Law, anyone here know which one is better? Many thanks.
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Happy

Joined: 08 Apr 2008
Posts: 3
Anyone going to CUHK?
Wed Apr 09, 2008 04:36 PM
Why LLM itself wouldn't help you to be qualified as HK lawyer? After LLM, can stilll appy PCLL directly? It sounds more superior for LLM when compared with JD. Could pls enlighten as I am still thinking should I study JD or LLM as LLM is relatively cheaper and JD is really costly....
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yellow-jello

Joined: 14 Apr 2008
Posts: 2
Anyone going to CUHK?
Tue Apr 15, 2008 03:56 AM
Hello to everyone here interested in the JD and LLM. I am a JD student in CUHK so I can shed some light on these issues. The LLM does not allow you to apply for PCLL afterwards. It is an academic degree, which if coupled with a JD, would be quite useful (lets say if you specialized in Chinese Business Law or International Economic Law). However I'm not sure what use an LLM in common law would be for you. If you are set on qualifying in Hong Kong, I would suggest that you give CityU a try and transfer if you don't like it there. A CPE or a foreign LLB would prove difficult as many are failing qualifying exams due to the change in PCLL admission requirements. A local degree is therefore the best route.

[Edited 18 Apr 2008 by yellow-jello]
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