This course aims to enable students to discover how Family Law operates in real-life situations. It prepares students to enter the legal profession as a trainee solicitor or a bar pupil undertaking family law work in Hong Kong.  Students will apply family law principles, procedure, and practice in the following areas:

• Main suit including the jurisdiction issue
• Custody
• Children non-removal and relocation cases
• Child abduction
• Concept of parental responsibility
• Ancillary relief
• Domestic violence
• Enforcement proceedings
• Appeal against interlocutory or final orders
• Alternate dispute resolution including mediation and collaborative law practice and private financial adjudication
• Drafting skills

The structure of the course will be in the form of 8 large group lectures and 8 small group sessions. Guest lecturers will be invited on relevant topics (see detailed syllabus below). Students will get the chance to visit the HK Family Court.  Small groups will provide students with the chance to engage in practical, hands-on activities as described below in the detailed syllabus.