Bachelor of Laws (LLB)

The programme aims to:
a. provide a liberal education in the theory and practice of law at the level and rigour appropriate for an undergraduate degree;
b. 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
c. 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.

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

• 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 & contextualise 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 and 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 operation of the law and procedure in Hong Kong.

In order to graduate, LLB students are required to complete 120 credit units comprising core law courses, law electives and Gateway Education courses.

The core courses for LLB students are: Legal Methods, Research and Writing, Hong Kong Legal System, Law of Contract, Law of Tort, Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Criminal Law, Land Law, Jurisprudence and Legal Theory, Company Law, Equity and Trusts, Public Law of the PRC and Private Law of the PRC. Students contemplating entry to the legal profession must also study Law of Evidence and Commercial Law.

Joint teaching of LLB and JD courses enables students to work together and develop team-work skills.

A feature of the LLB programme will be an integrated approach to learning and assessment by which students will be able to acquire and improve their general transferrable skills and competencies. There will be more emphasis on in-class presentations, interactive teaching and small group activities rather than on traditional take-home written coursework and closed-book examinations. Attention will be paid throughout the programme to the continual improvement of language skills.

Year 1 Suggested Study Plan

A law degree offers a firm foundation for a variety of successful careers in accountancy, business, finance, management, journalism and the Civil Service, and for further study, both in Hong Kong and overseas. Graduates may pursue further studies or professional qualifications in law, business and management, accountancy, finance and corporate administration. Graduates who wish to practise law in Hong Kong will need to complete the PCLL programme which we also offer at CityU. The Master of Laws (LLM), offered by the Law School, also creates significant opportunities for law graduates to extend their qualifications to the postgraduate level.