All students completing both General Stream and the Professional Stream are welcome to join the Advanced Diploma in Legal Studies. In Particular ‘Professional Stream,’ students should enroll to complete all the legal studies requirements by the Law Society of Hong Kong to qualify as a Legal Executive.

What Will I Learn?

 

Compulsory Modules	Elective Modules
Professional Responsibility and Advocacy	Company Law and Corporate Governance
Legal Writing and Drafting	Disputes Resolution
	Hong Kong Commercial Law and Practice
	Advance Company Law

Different electives may sometimes be offered on this course in other academic years. You must complete all three modules within three years of starting the Advanced Diploma in Legal Studies.

 

Flexible Course Structure

 

To provide you with more flexibility, you can enroll separately in each module of the Advanced Diploma in Legal Studies.

 

You may choose to complete some modules in the current academic year and defer other modules until the next academic year, depending on what is most convenient for you.

 

Different electives may sometimes be offered on this course in other academic years, including Company Law and Corporate Governance, Disputes Resolution, Hong Kong Commercial Law and Practice, and/or Advanced Company Law.

 

You must complete all three modules within three years of starting the Advanced Diploma in Legal Studies.

 

Entry Requirements

 

Students who have completed the Diploma in Legal Studies (either the Professional Stream/General Stream) are eligible to enroll.

 

To study in Hong Kong, all non-local applicants are required to obtain a student visa issued by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR Government, except for those admitted to Hong Kong as dependents, who do not need prior approval before taking up full time and part-time studies.  Non-local applicants issued with a valid employment visa also do not need prior approval to pursue part-time studies.  It is the responsibility of individual applicants to make appropriate visa arrangements.

 

Become a Legal Executive

Legal Executive are assistants to lawyers who help carry out many types of legal work. This professional title can only be used by students who complete an Approved Legal Executive Course recognized by the Law Society of Hong Kong, and the Professional Stream was one of the first courses recognized by the Law Society for this purpose.

 

One of the great attractions of the Advanced Diploma in Legal Studies is that it allows students who have already finished the Professional Stream of the Diploma in Legal Studies to complete all the legal subjects necessary to qualify as Legal Executives.

 

To work as a Legal Executive, students must also satisfy eligibility requirements set  by the Law Society. For more information, please visit the ADLS website or see paragraph 2(b) of the Law Society’s Benchmarks for Legal Executive Courses at http://www.hklawsoc.org.hk/pub_e/circular/16-776.asp.

 

Students who have completed the General Stream of the Diploma in Legal Studies are welcome to join the Advanced Diploma in Legal Studies, but cannot qualify as Legal Executives.

 

Course Syllabus

 

Legal Writing and Drafting

This course will introduce students to the basic principles of effective legal writing and provide the opportunity for students to practice the key skills required to produce good written legal material. Topics addressed will include the clear identification of the purpose of the written piece, its planning, writing, editing and ultimately its presentation.

Students will practice drafting legal forms and documents in a variety of legal contexts using simple sentences in clear English, in the active voice and with accurate grammar.

 

Professional Responsibility and Advocacy

Law Society of Hong Kong: statutory authority, Council, committees and directorate, membership, practicing certificate, risk management, CPD, professional indemnity scheme, admission and trainee solicitors, legal executives.

Professional Conduct: Hong Kong Solicitors’ Guide to Professional Conduct; relationships with clients, other lawyers and duty to the Court, confidentiality, conflict of interest, fiduciary duty - handling client money, trust accounts, undertakings.

Misconduct: complaints procedures, investigations, discipline and powers.

Advocacy: taking client instructions, techniques, tactics and preparation for applications, effective speaking, appropriate use of language, presentation and etiquette.

Applications: uncontested application before a master in chambers, application for a three-minute hearing, taxation hearing before a taxing master.

 

Company Law and Corporate Governance

This course will examine the corporate vehicle, its registration requirements, regulation, raising capital, and winding up. It will explore the range of theoretical and practical legal issues concerning corporate activities including the enforcement of various corporate governance provisions. Specifically, it will cover the rules relating to membership, meetings, directors’ activities, conflicts of interest, reporting, notifications, inspections, audits and investigations.

 

Disputes Resolution

This course will consider various alternative dispute resolution methods including conciliation, mediation, arbitration, mini-trials, private courts judicial adjudication and the ombudsman’s office within the context of a variety of legal complaints. While consideration will be given to the range of methods, the principal focus will be on mediation and arbitration used to resolve commercial, administrative and labour disputes.

 

Hong Kong Commercial Law and Practice

A range of topics will be canvassed in this subject including types of personal property, the protection of interests in property, credit security and finance and Sale of Goods. It will focus on various types of commercial transactions and the legal relationships created between the parties involved and the protections afforded them. Relevant local legislation will be considered in context and the unique aspects of Hong Kong legislation will be highlighted.

 

Advanced Company Law (QF Level: 5)

1.    Management and administration of a company (Knowledge of: company directors; company secretary; auditors; companies meetings).

2.    External regulatory bodies (such as: The Hong Kong Monetary Authority; The Securities and Futures Commission; The Stock Exchange; The Financial Reporting Council).

3.    Reports and Accounts (including: profit and loss account, balance sheet, statement of changes in financial position, statutory duties in relation to preparation of statements and reports).

4.    Financing corporate enterprises.

5.    Share capital.

6.    Public issues of securities and official listing.

7.    Borrowing and loan capital.

8.    Security for loans and charges.

9.    Creditor remedies, including receivership.

10. Corporate rescue processes.

11. Winding Up and Insolvency (including receivership, voluntary liquidation, compulsory liquidation, avoidance actions, reorganising or restructuring insolvent companies).

Venue

• Admiralty Learning Centre
• United Learning Centre
• Please note, classes are expected to be held at these venues. The health and safety of our students is our top priority, if the situation in Hong Kong requires. HKU SPACE reserves the right to move some classes to other locations, including online teaching platforms.

Course Fee

• HK$8400 per module (inclusive of exam fee)