http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826 en Anyone going to CUHK? - LLM GUIDE Discussion Board Wed, 23 May 2007 07:03:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#31826 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... Wed, 23 May 2007 20:44:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#31861 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. Thu, 24 May 2007 07:33:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#31878 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 Thu, 24 May 2007 08:17:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#31880 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. Thu, 24 May 2007 08:23:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#31882 p.s.: Besides, I also suggest you try to study a little bit of Chinese during the 1 year period in CU. Tue, 05 Jun 2007 10:38:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#32422 Dear Bruinft, Hi! How are you! What is going on ? Eventually have you received the CU's offer? Tue, 05 Jun 2007 17:53:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#32430 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. Tue, 05 Jun 2007 18:07:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#32432 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. Sat, 09 Jun 2007 16:42:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#32557 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?? Sat, 09 Jun 2007 22:51:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#32565 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. Sun, 10 Jun 2007 11:33:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#32570 Thanks , Thomas, it seems all the rejects from JD have recieved offers from LLM Common Law Division. It sounds so commericalised. Sun, 10 Jun 2007 22:29:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#32577 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. Mon, 11 Jun 2007 06:38:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#32583 Hi Thomas, Thanks for your comments, sounds like you are level headed person. Hope to meet u at orientation Bigal Mon, 11 Jun 2007 17:07:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#32599 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 :) Tue, 12 Jun 2007 17:25:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#32632 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. Wed, 13 Jun 2007 04:05:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#32652 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 :) Thu, 14 Jun 2007 18:05:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#32717 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. Fri, 15 Jun 2007 04:24:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#32731 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. Sun, 17 Jun 2007 05:48:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#32801 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. Sun, 17 Jun 2007 18:51:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#32814 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! Tue, 19 Jun 2007 09:53:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#32845 I'm wondering about that too. What's a competitive average when applying for the JD programme in CUHK? Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:16:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#40111 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 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:26:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#40268 I applied CUHK - LLM (CBL) and Cityu Scope - LLM International Corporate and Financial Law, anyone here know which one is better? Many thanks. Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:36:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#45187 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.... Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:56:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#45586 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. Fri, 18 Apr 2008 06:07:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#45894 Hi, many thanks for your exp. sharing. Would like to know, is that FT also study in the same class with PT students? That's mean there is no morning class? For FT, is that most of the classes or all classes being held in Central, not in CUHK campus? As I am thinking to study JD or LLB? Although JD only require shorter duration to complete, JD is rel. quite expensive with gov. grant support while LLB has. Any sharing would be delighted? Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:19:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#45899 FTs do not study with PTs. For part-time students, classes will be held on weekday evenings and Saturday afternoons. Evening classes will typically commence at 6.30 pm and conclude at 9.15 pm. Saturday classes will typically commence at 2.30 pm and conclude at 5.15 pm. FT classes will be during weekdays during the day. Secondly, it doesn't matter if you are FT or PT JD/LLM as all postgraduate law classes are held in Central and not in the CUHK Shatin campus. LLBs will have classes in Shatin. Although the law library is in Shatin, we have a smaller law library in Central as well. Regarding JD vs. LLB, if you already have an undergraduate degree, I believe that they will disqualify you since they will ask you to apply to the JD instead as that's what happened when I applied to both programs previously, I was not considered for the LLB as they noted I already have a degree. Possibly, the reasoning is that they cannot justify giving someone who already has a degree another UGC funded space where there are many other qualified applicants who are recent secondary school graduates. However, I believe cityu may allow you to take LLB, irregardless of whether you have a first degree or not. Have you heard back from CUHK regarding the JD programme? Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:46:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#45903 Hi, in fact, I have received the enrollment confirmation for PT JD. I also asked them before whether I can choose LLB, they also suggested me the same thng as yours. But, I am still thinking. As you are the experienced student, may I have your email contact? Thu, 15 May 2008 21:10:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#47350 Hi Guys, I've got an urgent question about LLMs in HK and I was hoping to leech off the popularity of this post. At present I've taken a gap year partly due to the new conversion exams in Hong Kong, before starting the PCLL and the training contract afterwards. It only recently came to my attention the possibility of doing an LLM in the gap year whilst also preparing for the conversion exams and as such I've already missed the deadlines for HKU and quite possibly for CUHK (apparently there are only a few spaces left and they offer it on a rolling basis so its hard to be sure). That leaves CityU LLM. Do you guys think its worth doing the CityU LLM if I intend to work in HK/China in the future (albeit I have already secured a training contract)? On one hand some friends have said an LLM is better than nothing at all, on the other hand, others have said having an LLM from a 'not as good university' (with all due respect to those at City U - I personally do not think I have enough knowledge about the comparative ratings within the three law offering universities) will not be perceived well in the eyes of future employers, should I wish to change jobs later on. What are your opinions on this? Any help would be much much appreciated. Sun, 29 Jun 2008 07:39:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#48774 Hello everyone, Just wondering if anyone knows about the lawyer-licensing-process differences between Canada and HK. In terms of the PCLL changes, which one is easier? -- doing law in HK and then practising in Cda or doing law in Cda and practising in HK? Thanks! Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:03:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#49498 Hello, I am also Canadian and have thought about your question before coming to cuhk to study the JD. I am in 2nd year and hope that I could give you a bit of a perspective. To be honest, the study of law is very jurisdiction specific. Hence you should think about where you want to practice after you finish your degree. The current PCLL conversion exams have put a dent on the eligible applications for this year's admission cycle. This is a big deterrent but not an insurmountable goal if you really want to come here after doing an LLB/JD in Canada. The main difference is that Canadian law schools restrict the number of applicants that can get into law school (through a tough gpa/LSAT requirement), but the result is that most if not all law students could become lawyers after articling. In Hong Kong, admission into LLB or JD is not difficult, but the hurdle to overcome would be pcll admissions, with about 1/3 of the class getting a pcll space. Therefore, my suggestion is that if you see yourself coming to practice here in the future, do your JD or LLB here (especially if u do not have a degree yet, doing an LLB would save you a lot of money by not having to do a first degree). It is a lot more difficult to transfer back to Canada with a Hong Kong Law degree. You would have to do maybe 10 conversion exams and at least 1 more year in a Canadian law school under the NCA route, which is a bigger pain in the ass than coming to HK with a Canadian law degree. After that you still have to article with a lawyer. Bottom line, study where you want to practice. Tue, 12 Aug 2008 20:48:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#49879 Hey all, First of all, thank you to everyone for your thoughtful comments and replies already on this forum. My queries may be slightly out of place, but I thought perhaps you would have some insight. I am a full-time graduate business student who has already received his JD and passed the Bar exam in Florida. I will be studying at CUHK from March to June. Do you think that I need an LLM to gain an internship while living and studying in HK? I would very much like to work while there. Sincerely, =/\= Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:14:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#49975 Thanks "yello-jo" for your detailed insights! I'm not sure where the future will lead, but it seems conversion processes for both Canada and HK have changed recently. It's great to hear you're in your second year at CUHK. Congrats! Any words of wisdom to give a ft JD freshman? Thanks! Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:39:00 +0200 http://www.llm-guide.com/board/31826/last#50045 Hi everyone :) I'd love to benefit from everyone's wisdom here... but unlike everyone else I'm a Hong Kong resident currently living in the U.S. Over here a J.D. degree is a 3-year program and you'll be eligible to practice if you pass a Bar Exam specific to the state you live in. My goal has been to finish my undergraduate studies here and go to law school, after which practice in Hong Kong. So recently some friends recommended taking the J.D. programs at CUHK and CityU. I was wondering if this would be a good idea at all for a U.S. student? My second concern is that although I most likely will not return to U.S. to practice, it'd be nice to be certified here as well. Would anyone recommend obtaining a J.D. in Hong Kong and then a LL.M. in U.S.? Or would anyone recommend getting the J.D. in U.S. first and then find a way to be certified in Hong Kong (does this affect my chances at getting into PCLL?)? Thanks so much beforehand!