IP & Art

Hong Kong lawyers are divided into barristers and solicitors. The difference between the two is that solicitors cannot represent themselves in court. In terms of recent judicial reform, they are considering a plan to allow solicitors to plead in court within a limited scope. The association of barristers is called the HK Bar Association, and the association of solicitors is called the Law Society of HK.

There are two tracks on the road to becoming a lawyer. One is to get an LL.B. (Bachelor of Law) degree from an undergraduate school or a J.D. degree, which is a graduate course, and then go through the PCLL (Postgraduate Certificate Law Program) course to become a lawyer. LL.B. The degree program is four years, J.D. The program is a two-year graduate program.

Currently in Hong Kong, J.D. There are three law schools that offer courses: the University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, and The Chinese University of Hong Kong. And the PCLL is provided by each of the three law schools, and it is not a degree program, but rather a practical education program for a certificate.

After that, students can apply separately as a barrister and a solicitor. For one year, a barrister learns practical work at a barrister's office called Chamber. The solicitor learns work in the solicitor's office, called the office, for two years. However, the difference is that apprentice barristers who learn to work in the chamber are not paid, but apprentice solicitors who learn practical skills in the office are paid.