From CityU moot star to successful Hong Kong barrister
By : Cathy Choi
Studying law at CityU has taken Mr Harprabdeep Singh (Harp) from a highly successful student moot competitor to the University of Oxford and now in his current position as a barrister in Hong Kong.
Born in Hong Kong, he completed his secondary education in the UK and then decided to study law in Hong Kong as he is adept at communicating with other people. Harp achieved excellent academic results and received many local and international scholarships when studying in CityU’s School of Law (SLW).
“It was a long and difficult journey. In addition to classroom learning and practical training, I think the most challenging tasks were statement writing and critical thinking,” Harp says.
In 2012, SLW’s mooting team, which he had joined, outperformed 91 teams to win the Annual Willem C. Vis (East) International Commercial Arbitration Moot, earning Honourable Mentions for both the claimant and respondent memorandums.
“As a major event for top law schools in the world, that competition required contestants to argue an international case in an arbitration process. Despite the great demand on their time and resources, our coaches fully supported us. I would like to express my gratitude to them,” says Harp.
His outstanding performance attracted a prestigious law firm and he was offered a job after graduation.
During his studies, he fully utilised what CityU had to offer as a means to enrich his knowledge. He enrolled on courses in Chinese culture, calligraphy and French. During his undergraduate programme, he took every opportunity to learn new skills because he regarded university as a place to practice skills and learn from mistakes.
“It’s better to learn a lesson in university than make mistakes in the workplace,” he advises.
Harp insists on following a fixed work-rest schedule and exercising regularly. He says his father helped him to cultivate self-discipline and focus from a young age. “My father once said to me that I would be defeated by the sun if I woke up later than the sunrise,” he recalls.
Harp (2nd from right) and his team won the championship in the 9th Annual Willem C. Vis (East) International Commercial Arbitration Moot in 2012. He spent a lot of time with his dad who served in the British Army. “I learned a lot from him about discipline and commitment, which shaped me into who I am today. He was a significant influence, no doubt,” Harp says.
After graduating from CityU, Harp completed his Postgraduate Certificate in Laws and Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL) in Hong Kong and the University of Oxford, respectively. In 2015, he became a practicing barrister in Hong Kong, well-known for his acute observations and eloquent public speaking skills. Among his cases, he has defended a major international Bitcoin trading platform in the High Court and represented a South Asian government in a major arbitration case.
Due to his outstanding performance in handling legal cases, Harp has been invited by local universities to serve as a visiting lecturer. He likes to ask students questions directly in class as a way to help them keep their attention and clearly express their ideas.
“During your university studies, you should fully master basic communication skills and the ability to respond to unexpected situations. Otherwise, you might suffer a lot in the workplace. Also, to earn trust and respect, you should keep a professional image and a conscientious attitude,” he adds.