Professor Scarlet Fung is deeply committed to legal education, pro bono work and public service. She underwent legal education at the University of Hong Kong (LLB, PCLL), Yale University (LLM) and theological education at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. Admitted as a solicitor in both Hong Kong and the UK, Professor Fung began her career as a litigation lawyer at Baker & McKenzie in Hong Kong before transitioning to academia. Currently, she serves as an Adjunct Professor at CityUHK and Director of the School of Law Students’ Professional Development and Public Service Programme (“PDPS Programme”), which she founded in November 2019. She is also a consultant solicitor at a local law firm.

In her academic role, Professor Fung has taught a wide range of law subjects. These include Tort and Contract Law for LLB students; Personal Injuries Practice, Family Law Practice, Civil Litigation Practice, Litigation Writing and Drafting and Interlocutory Advocacy and Interviewing for PCLL students; and Consumer Law, Family Law and Business Law for non-law students (e.g. Social Work students). Professor Fung’s contributions also extend to legal journals and book chapters on “The Legal System of the Hong Kong SAR,” “Contract Law,” and “Tort Law” in Business Law in Hong Kong, published by Sweet & Maxwell Asia.

As the Founder and Director of the PDPS Programme, Professor Fung is dedicated to helping young people discover their life vocations. She has been instrumental in shaping the professional and personal development of many law students. Since the establishment of the PDPS Programme, she has organised over 95 professional development seminars and events, creating over 100 internship positions (some of which are exclusive to CityU students) at prestigious international and local law firms, large corporations (such as Tencent, New World Development, Sun Hung Kai, Chevalier), NGOs, Barristers’ Chambers, the Court and even the Office of a Legislative Councillor. Professor Fung then refers students to internships based on their career goals, personal interests and needs, thereby providing them with an individualised experience that enhances their professional and personal development.

Furthermore, Professor Fung demonstrates her dedication to students’ growth through establishing the PDPS Team, a comprehensive training and mentoring programme designed to develop essential soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, organisation, leadership, and teamwork. The programme also helps students build valuable networks with legal practitioners, enhancing their employability in the legal market. Professor Fung also provides personalised mentorship and support to many students, offering individual career and personal development counselling, editing and providing advice on CVs for over 200 LLB and JD students, and organising “CV Editing/ Career Consultation/ Simulated Interviews/ Practitioners’ Networking Workshops” every year. Many of the students she mentored over the past few years have received multiple summer vacation scheme/internship opportunities and training contract offers from international law firms, large local firms, and red-circle firms.

In addition to her academic and professional roles, Professor Fung has a deep-seated passion for public service. During her time in the US, she provided free legal services to disadvantaged communities through her work at Yale Law School’s Community Legal Services Clinic, acting as a legal advocate for domestic violence victims in Massachusetts and directing an outreach and mentoring programme for underprivileged children in various US communities.

Back in Hong Kong, Professor Fung founded the Children’s Welfare Law and Services Network in 2015, which conducted legal research on children’s law and mobilised students and alumni from CityUHK, HKU, and CUHK to volunteer for causes benefitting abused and underprivileged children. For instance, she collaborated with the Christian Family Services Centre to organise Christmas parties and visits to the Hong Kong Book Fair for children affected by domestic violence. This ethos of community service extends to the PDPS Programme, which has continued to organise annual Summer Mentorship Programmes and Hong Kong Book Fair visits, and Christmas parties where law students serve underprivileged children. These efforts not only provide direct services to children in need but also nurture empathy and a sense of commitment to public service among law students.

Public service initiatives aside, Professor Fung has delivered community law seminars, offering her expertise on various legal practices to social workers and the wider public. The notable ones included:

• Law Seminar for Tenants of Subdivided Housing Units (April 2021): Addressed common legal issues encountered by tenants of subdivided housing units, such as matters to look out for before signing a tenancy agreement.

• Family Law Seminars for Domestic Violence Victims (Summer 2021): Organised three family law seminars on various family law issues faced by domestic violence victims. These talks were attended by social workers of various NGOs, the Department of Social Welfare and domestic violence victims.

• Law Seminar for The Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims (ARIAV) (June 2023): Delivered a talk on personal injury law and practice to social workers serving workers/employees affected by industrial accidents.

• Family Law Seminar for Social Workers organised by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (July 2023): Addressed common legal issues relating to matrimonial proceedings to social workers from major NGOs in Hong Kong. This seminar attracted 264 participants.

• Family Law Seminar for Social Workers (November 2023): Addressed common legal issues relating to matrimonial proceedings to social workers.

Click here to learn more about the PDPS programme