CUHK
News Centre

The Faculty of Law at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the Dickson Poon School of Law at King’s College London (King’s) will offer a Dual LLB-JD Programme commencing from 2018–19. Being the first of its kind in Hong Kong, the programme will provide students with an opportunity to study towards an LLB degree awarded by King’s and a JD degree awarded by CUHK in four years instead of five years if separately undertaken at each university, and to potentially qualify for admission to practice law in England and Wales and in Hong Kong. Students will apply to King’s and be selected jointly by both law schools. 

On 22 June 2017, Prof. Joseph Sung, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK, led a delegation to London to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with King’s President and Principal, Prof. Ed Byrne AC. The signing was witnessed by Prof. Christopher Gane, Dean of Law at CUHK, Prof. Gillian Douglas, Executive Dean of the Dickson Poon School of Law at King’s, and other senior representatives of both universities. 

Prof. Joseph Sung remarked, ‘We are excited to be working with King’s to prepare students for a career in the legal sector that is global and complex. CUHK is committed to building deep and innovative teaching partnerships with outstanding institutions to equip our students with the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in today’s world. This programme will enable students to study at two top law schools and experience different legal jurisdictions and cultures. It will help cultivate high-quality legal talents with Chinese and western perspectives to meet growing needs of business and industry.’ 

Prof. Christopher Gane added, ‘The practice of law is increasingly globalized, particularly for those who work in the corporate and commercial sectors. There are therefore significant benefits for lawyers who are qualified to practice in more than one jurisdiction. We are confident that this new programme will provide our students a solid grounding in legal knowledge in two of the world’s leading financial cities, preparing them for future leadership in the legal profession or other sectors in Hong Kong, mainland China, and internationally.’ 

King’s is one of the top 25 universities in the world and the fourth oldest in England. Its Dickson Poon School of Law, with over 180 years of history, has been recognized globally as one of the best law schools in the world. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, the School’s research was ranked top in the UK. The Faculty of Law at CUHK and the Dickson Poon School of Law share significant research strengths in international trade law and international financial law, making the partnership a natural fit for both schools.