The Bachelor of Laws (LLB) provides a sound preparation not only for the practice of law but for many other careers. Recent rapid economic and social developments in Hong Kong, in the PRC and world wide have created many new opportunities for lawyers and legally aware persons throughout commercial, business, professional and public life. Legal education and law teaching must ensure that law graduates are sufficiently well equipped to meet those opportunities. Legal education and training in Hong Kong has itself been the subject of an extensive review over the past few years and many positive recommendations for changes in course format and course delivery have been made.

The programme aims to:

• Provide a liberal education in the theory and practice of law at the level and rigour appropriate for an undergraduate degree;
• Equip students with a critical understanding of law and legal institutions so as to enable them to serve the needs of Hong Kong and the international community; and
• Facilitate the development of a range of intellectual skills, in particular the ability to think analytically and critically, to solve problems, and to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Learning Outcomes of Major (MILOs)

Upon successful completion of this major, student should:

Know the law

• Analytically and critically describe the main substantive/procedural laws and the legal system of Hong Kong, and also describe the principles of international law or the laws of other jurisdictions;
• Describe the law and legal system of the People’s Republic of China and its relation with Hong Kong’s constitutional set-up and commercial future;

Apply the law

• apply the law to solve legal problems;
• Evaluate & contextualize the law
• critically evaluate the law in action and the dynamic interplay between law and other social phenomena and real-life situations;

Acquire & Use legal skills

• use a range of legal or intellectual skills – such as reading and interpreting cases and statutes, identifying and evaluating relevant facts, conducting independent legal research, developing and offering solutions to legal problems, using and citing relevant authorities appropriately, drafting documents, and communicating in a coherent, cogent and persuasive manner – in performing various tasks;

Act ethically & responsibly

• act with a strong sense of ethics and with due regard to social and professional responsibilities;

Develop the attitude

• develop an attitude of inquiry and a sense of curiosity to learning and knowledge;

Opportunity to Discover

• have an opportunity to make an original discovery and/ or innovation concerning the operator of the law and procedure in Hong Kong.

Career Prospects

A law degree offers a firm foundation for a variety of careers and further study, both in Hong Kong and overseas. Graduates who wish to practice law in Hong Kong will need to enter the Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) programme which we offer at City University.

Many law graduates also enjoy successful careers in accountancy, business, finance, management, journalism and the Civil Service. Graduates may pursue further studies or professional qualifications in law, business and management, accountancy, finance and corporate administration. The Master of Laws (LLM), offered by the School of Law, also creates significant opportunity for law graduates to extend their qualifications to postgraduate status.