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Master of Laws
Programme
Master of Laws
法學碩士
Award Title
Master of Laws in Chinese and Comparative Law
Master of Laws in International Economic Law
Master of Laws in Common Law
Master of Laws in Maritime and Transportation Law
Master of Laws in Intellectual Property and Technology Law
Master of Laws in Corporate and Commercial Law
Master of Laws

法學碩士(中國法與比較法)
法學碩士(國際經濟法)
法學碩士(普通法)
法學碩士(海事法與運輸法)
法學碩士(知識產權與科技法)
法學碩士 (公司與商事法)
法學碩士
Offering Academic Unit
School of Law
Mode of Study
Combined mode

Normal Period of Study
- 1 year (full-time)
- 2 years (part-time/combined mode)

Maximum Period of Study
- 2.5 years (full-time)
- 5 years (part-time/combined mode)

Credit Units Required for Graduation
Without Foundation Courses: 24
With Foundation Courses: 30

Programme Aims
This programme aims to:
  1. provide and enhance a comprehensive education at the postgraduate degree level;
  2. form a critical understanding of the law and legal institutions;
  3. equip students with international and comparative legal knowledge so as to serve Hong Kong and beyond.

Programme Intended Learning Outcomes (PILOs)

Chinese and Comparative Law Stream

Upon successful completion of this Programme, students should be able to:

  1. identify, analyse, evaluate and critically comment on Chinese legal issues from a comparative perspective;
  2. demonstrate a comparative understanding and comprehension of the legal framework of China;
  3. demonstrate their original knowledge and  discover, identify, analyse and provide creative solutions to legal issues;
  4. creatively use this knowledge for further research and / or professional development.

International Economic Law Stream

Upon successful completion of this Programme, students should be able to:

  1. identify, analyse, evaluate and critically comment on the international legal issues concerning business transactions with particular emphasis on problems relating to different jurisdictions;
  2. demonstrate a comparative understanding and comprehension of the legal issues in business transactions in different jurisdictions;
  3. demonstrate their original knowledge and discover, identify, analyse and provide creative solutions to legal issues;
  4. creatively use this knowledge for further research and / or professional development. 

Common Law Stream

Upon successful completion of this Programme, students should be able to:

  1. demonstrate a critical understanding of the origins, practices, values, principles and theories of common law; 
  2. identify, analyse, evaluate, compare and critically comment on common and civil law systems and methods;
  3. demonstrate their original knowledge and discover, identify, analyse and provide creative solutions to legal issues;
  4. creatively use this knowledge for further research and / or professional development.  

Maritime and Transportation Law Stream

Upon successful completion of this Programme, students should be able to:

  1. identify, analyse, evaluate and critically comment on legal issues concerning maritime and transportation law;
  2. demonstrate a comparative understanding and comprehension of the legal issues in maritime and transportation law;
  3. demonstrate their original knowledge and discover, identify, analyse and provide creative solutions to legal issues;
  4. creatively use this knowledge for further research and / or professional development. 

Intellectual Property and Technology Law Stream

Upon successful completion of this Programme, students should be able to:

  1. identify, analyse, evaluate and critically comment on legal issues concerning intellectual property law with particular emphasis on problems relating to different jurisdictions;
  2. demonstrate a comparative understanding and comprehension of the legal issues in intellectual property law;
  3. demonstrate their original knowledge and discover, identify, analyse and provide creative solutions to legal issues;
  4. creatively use this knowledge for further research and / or professional development.

Corporate and Commercial Law Stream

Upon successful completion of this Programme, students should be able to:

  1. identify, analyse, evaluate and critically comment on legal issues concerning corporate and commercial law;
  2. demonstrate a comparative understanding and comprehension of the legal issues in corporate and commercial law;
  3. demonstrate their original knowledge and discover, identify, analyse and provide creative solutions to legal issues;
  4. creatively use this knowledge for further research and / or professional development.

General Stream

Upon successful completion of this Programme, students should be able to:

  1. identify, analyse, evaluate and critically comment on legal issues contained therein;
  2. demonstrate a critical and reflective understanding of the subject;
  3. demonstrate self motivation towards pursuing the academic or professional distinction in their area of expertise;
  4. creatively use this knowledge for further research and / or professional development.


Programme Requirements


Chinese and Comparative Law Stream
    
English Module:

1. Required Electives (15 credit units)
Course CodeCourse TitleCredit Units
LW6115ESelected Issues on Chinese IP Law3
LW6121EConstitutional and Administrative Law of China3
LW6122EChinese and Comparative Financial Law3
LW6129EChinese and Comparative Environmental Law3
LW6134EChinese and Comparative Company Law3
LW6136EProperty Rights in China: Legal, Economic, and Policy Analysis3
LW6138EChinese Law of Obligations3
LW6140EChinese and Comparative Commercial Law3
LW6141EChinese Foreign Trade and Investment Law3
LW6161EChinese and Comparative Competition Law3
LW6169EChinese and Comparative Labour Law3
LW6172ELaw and Society in China3
LW6187EChinese and Comparative Alternative Dispute Resolution3

2. Electives (9 credit units)
Select 9 credit units from the offered LLM courses of which the course codes end with “E” and/or JD courses (please refer to section 7 of Additional Information)

Chinese Module:

1. Required Electives* (15 credit units)
Course CodeCourse TitleCredit Units
LW6121CConstitutional and Administrative Law of China3
LW6122CChinese and Comparative Financial Law3
LW6129CChinese and Comparative Environmental Law3
LW6136CProperty Rights in China: Legal, Economic, and Policy Analysis3
LW6138CChinese Law of Obligations3
LW6161CChinese and Comparative Competition Law3

* Students may be required to take the course(s) in the English Module depending upon staff availability

2. Electives (9 credit units)

Select 9 credit units from the offered LLM courses of which the course codes end with “C”.  Students may be required to take the course(s) in the English Module depending upon staff availability.


International Economic Law Stream
 
English Module:
 
1. Core Courses (6 credit units)
Course CodeCourse TitleCredit Units
LW6142EInternational Investment Law3
LW6144EInternational Trade Law3

2. Electives (18 credit units)
Select 18 credit units from the offered LLM courses of which the course codes end with “E” and/or JD courses (please refer to section 7 of Additional Information) with at least 6 credit units from the following courses (which will be offered depending upon demand and available expertise):
Course CodeCourse TitleCredit Units
LW6143ELaw and Business in Asia3
LW6145ETransnational Legal Problems3
LW6160EAdvanced Study of Antidumping and Countervailing Measures3
LW6167ECurrent Issues in WTO Law3
LW6173EPrivate International Law3
LW6180EInternational Commercial Contracts and Uniform Sales Law3

Chinese Module:

1. Core Courses (6 credit units)
Course CodeCourse TitleCredit UnitsRemarks
LW6143CInternational Investment Law3Students may be required to take the required course(s) in the English Module depending upon staff availability.
LW6144CInternational Trade Law3Students may be required to take the required course(s) in the English Module depending upon staff availability.

2. Electives (18 credit units)
Select 18 credit units from the offered LLM courses with at least 6 credit units from the following courses (which will be offered depending upon demand and available expertise):
Course CodeCourse TitleCredit Units
LW6131CLegal Systems in South East Asia3
LW6146CTransnational Corporate Law3
LW6160CAdvanced Study of Antidumping and Countervailing Measures3
LW6173CPrivate International Law3

Common Law Stream

English Module:

1. Core Courses (11 Credit units)
Course CodeCourse TitleCredit Units
LW5608Constitutional Law3
LW6102EIntroduction to Common Law System2
LW6164ELaw of Contract3
LW6165ELaw of Tort3

2. Electives (13 credit units)
Select at least 13 credit units from:
(i)  the offered LLM courses of which the course codes end with “E”, or
(ii) the offered postgraduate level courses under the Juris Doctor (JD) programme except:
Course CodeCourse TitleCredit Units
LW5602Law of Contract3
LW5603Law of Tort3
LW5621Legal Systems of Hong Kong and Mainland China3
LW5622Legal Methods, Research and Writing3
LW5623Jurisprudence3
LW5630Equity and Trusts3
LW5641Intellectual Property: Theory, Copyright and Design3
LW5664European Competition Law and Policy3

Maritime and Transportation Law Stream

English Module:

1. Core Courses (6 credit units)
Course CodeCourse TitleCredit Units
LW6189EBills of Lading Law3
LW6192EAdmiralty Law3

2. Electives (18 credit units)

Select 18 credit units from the offered LLM courses of which the course codes end with “E” and/or JD courses (please refer to section 7 of Additional Information) with at least 6 credit units from the following courses (which will be offered depending upon demand and available expertise):

Course CodeCourse TitleCredit Units
LW6111EInsurance Law3
LW6175EMaritime Insurance Law3
LW6176EAviation Law3
LW6179EMaritime Arbitration Law3
LW6188EChinese Maritime Law3
LW6190ECharterparties Law3
LW6191EAdmiralty Procedure Law3

For students who do not have a university degree in law:

1. Core Courses (12 credit units)
Course CodeCourse TitleCredit Units
LW6189EBills of Lading Law3
LW6192EAdmiralty Law3
LW6164ELaw of Contract3
LW6181ECommon Law System, Reasoning and Methodology3

2. Electives (18 credit units)

Select 18 credit units from the offered LLM courses of which the course codes end with “E” and/or JD courses (please refer to section 7 of Additional Information) with at least 6 credit units from the following courses (which will be offered depending upon demand and available expertise):

Course CodeCourse TitleCredit Units
LW6111EInsurance Law3
LW6175EMaritime Insurance Law3
LW6176EAviation Law3
LW6179EMaritime Arbitration Law3
LW6188EChinese Maritime Law3
LW6190ECharterparties Law3
LW6191EAdmiralty Procedure Law3

Intellectual Property and Technology Law Stream

English Module:

 1. Core Courses (6 credit units)
Course CodeCourse TitleCredit Units
LW6195EInternational and Comparative Law of Copyright, Designs and Allied Rights3
LW6196EInternational and Comparative Law of Trade Marks and Patents3

2. Electives (18 credit units)
Select 18 credit units from the offered LLM courses of which the course codes end with “E” and/or JD courses (please refer to section 7 of Additional Information) with at least 6 credit units from the following courses (which will be offered depending upon demand and available expertise):
Course CodeCourse TitleCredit Units
LW6115ESelected Issues on Chinese IP Law3
LW6127EInternational and Comparative Intellectual Property Law: Trademarks and Patents3
LW6133EInternational and Comparative Copyright Law3
LW6198EIntellectual Property: Law, Practice and Procedure3
LW6199EBusiness Intellectual Property3

Corporate and Commercial Law Stream


English Module:
 
1. Required Electives (15 credit units)
Course CodeCourse TitleCredit UnitsRemarks
LW6103ECompany Law I3
LW6104ECompany Law II3
LW6105ECross-Border Restructuring and Insolvency3
LW6106ELegal and Operational Aspects of Corporate Governance3
LW6107ECapital and Securities Market Regulation3
LW6108EInternational Financial Law3
LW6109EBanking Law3
LW6110ECommercial Law3
LW6111EInsurance Law3
LW6112EHuman Rights Responsibilities of Business3
LW6161EChinese and Comparative Competition Law3

2. Electives (9 credit units)
Select 9 credit units from the offered LLM courses of which the course codes end with “E” and/or JD courses (please refer to section 7 of Additional Information).

General Stream

English Module:

Select 24 credit units from the offered LLM courses of which the course codes end with “E” and/or JD courses (please refer to section 7 of Additional Information).

Chinese Module:

Select 24 credit units from the offered LLM courses.

Remark:
Course codes ended with “C” denote courses in the Chinese Module and the medium of instruction and assessment is predominantly Chinese (Putonghua).  Course codes ended with “E” denote courses in the English Module and the medium of instruction and assessment is English.

Additional Information

1. Full Course List

The list of all courses under the programme is set out in Annex 1.  Not all courses will be offered in any given year.  The available courses will depend upon student interest and School resources.

 

2. Intermediate Awards

 

English title

Chinese title

Postgraduate Diploma in Chinese Law

深造文憑(中國法)

Postgraduate Diploma in International Economic Law

深造文憑(國際經濟法)

Postgraduate Certificate in Chinese Law

深造證書(中國法)

Postgraduate Certificate in International Economic Law

深造證書(國際經濟法)


Number of units required for the Intermediate Awards:


18 credit units for Postgraduate Diploma awards

9 credit units for Postgraduate Certificate awards

 

3. Programme of Study for Postgraduate Diploma Awards


Both the English and Chinese Modules are available.  Students should select 18 credit units from the electives in their Stream under their respective Module.  The electives are shown in the Annex 2.

There is no required course.

 

4. Programme of Study for Postgraduate Certificate Awards


Both the English and Chinese Modules are available.  Students should select 9 credit units from the electives in their Stream under their respective Module.  The electives are shown in the Annex 2.

There is no required course.

 

5. Credit Transfer Arrangement for PGC/PGD Graduates who are Admitted to LLM


Credit transfer for a certain course in the student’s PGC/PGD study will be approved only if the student has obtained grade C or above.


Maximum number of credit units that can be transferred:

PGC/PGD graduates in

Credit transfer to LLM

Chinese and Comparative Law

International Economic Law

Common Law

Maritime and Transportation Law

Intellectual Property and Technology Law

Corporate and Commercial Law

General

Chinese Law

*

#

#

#

#

#

*

IEL

#

*

#

#

#

#

*

* Between same stream of study:

Credit transfer will be limited to a maximum of 100% of the total credit units previously earned from the courses (with grade C or above) that count towards the PGC/PGD.

# Between different streams of study:

Credit transfer will be limited to a maximum of 30% of the total credit units for the LLM award being pursued and will be approved only for the courses (with grade C or above) counted towards the PGC/PGD.

Grades from the transferred credit units WILL be counted in the calculation of a student’s GPA for the LLM being pursued.

Validity period for credit transfer purposes:  The validity period for courses recognized at the time of admission for credit transfer purposes is 8 years.

 

6. Number of Elective Courses to be Taken in the Other Language

If an English Module student wishes to take an elective course(s) in the Chinese Module, he/she should submit an application to the School in writing with justification.

Generally, students of the English Module will be allowed to take a maximum of 2 elective taught courses in the Chinese Module, but they will not be allowed to take the required courses of their respective stream, Dissertation or Independent Research in the Chinese Module.  There will be no limitation on the number of English Module elective courses that a Chinese Module student is allowed to take. 

The School will make decision on the applications on a case-by-case basis.

 

7. Courses under the Juris Doctor Programme 


For non Common Law Stream students:

  1. the ceiling of JD courses that an LLM student is allowed to take is 9 credit units;
  2. students are not allowed to take G-LEAP courses (namely LW5641 and LW5664);
  3. if the contents of a JD course and an LLM course are similar, students will be allowed to take the LLM course only;

For all students:

  1. if a student requests to take a course under the Juris Doctor (JD) programme and he/she has previously completed a similar course in a common law jurisdiction, he/she will not be allowed to take the course;
  2. a list of JD courses that are open to LLM students will be announced at the beginning of a semester;
  3. the grades obtained in the approved JD courses will be counted in determining students’ LLM award classifications.

8. Additional Notes

  1. In courses assessed by coursework and examination, a student must obtain a minimum mark of 40% in both coursework and examination in order to pass the course.
  2. Students are required to attend at least 70% of the classes (lectures, seminars, presentations). If a student does not meet this requirement in any course, he/she may be disqualified for assessment.
  3. If a student has previously taken a course from another programme offered by the School of Law, e.g. JD programme, the student is not allowed to register for the same course or its equivalent course in the LLM programme. However, students may repeat a course, or an equivalent course, to recover a failure or to improve a course grade of C or below in accordance with the Academic Regulations.