The Hong Kong Law Society is planning to set its own qualifying examination for law students looking to become solicitors.
The plan has been opposed by the three local universities that offer studies in Law and responsible for the current qualifying system the postgraduate certificate in laws (PCLL). The three-decades-old system trains graduates of Bachelor of Laws or postgraduate Juris Doctor degrees for one year before they are eligible to practice as a solicitor or barrister in Hong Kong.
The universities feel that the current PCLL system has worked well yet, the Law Society feels more opportunities will be given to students if a common entrance examination was available.
Currently, there are not enough PCLL places for the number of graduates of Bachelor of Laws every year so aspiring solicitors and barristers who don’t perform as well as their fellow classmates may be forced to explore alternative career paths.
Source: SCMP
