Start your studies on HKU SPACE's popular Certificate  in Legal Studies (Professional Stream) to continue via the Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Legal Studies to qualify as a  Legal Executive and enjoy multiple pathways towards the PCLL.

 

What Doors Can a Diploma in Legal Studies Open for Me?

• Open up employment opportunities in the Legal Profession;
• Receive a widely recognized Hong Kong legal qualification;
• Apply to jobs in law firms and the government;
• Continue towards qualifying as a Legal Executive (for students on the Professional Stream) via the Advanced Diploma in Legal Studies;
• Limited Rights of Audience to appear in Court;
• Guaranteed entry to the popular University of London LL.B. Preparation Courses run by HKU SPACE;
• Multiple pathways towards PCLL including exclusive pathway via Advanced Diploma for Legal Executives (Graduate Level) ( only for students on the professional stream)

*For more details on these professional and academic opportunities, please see the sections on Progression Paths and Professional Recognition below.

*The Diploma in Legal Studies is the continuation of the Certificate in Legal Studies program. (The completion of the Certificate is a prerequisite). If you have not completed the Certificate in Legal Studies, please firstly enroll in the Certificate in Legal Studies.

Provisional Schedule

Professional Stream

Diploma in Legal Studies - Professional Stream
Application Code 2245-2157AW	Start Date September 27, 2024 (Fri)	Apply Online

If you have any questions on which form to use or how to fill it out please contact us at  studylaw@hkuspace.hku.hk or call us on 2520 4665.

Duration

• Up to 9 months, depending on intake

Venue

• Admiralty Learning Centre
• United Learning Centre

Students, who have already studied 5 introductory subjects on the Certificate in Legal Studies, study a further five important subjects on the Diploma in Legal Studies providing legal skills and knowledge important in most jobs and personal life:

1. Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure (Laws relating to crimes and criminal law system)
2. Land Law and Conveyancing (Laws relating to land rights, such as apartment sales, leasing, etc)
3. Family Law and Matrimonial Practice (Marriage, Divorce, Children)
4. Law of Succession and Probate Practice (Law relating to property transfer and rights after death)
5. Introduction to the Mainland Legal System

Course Materials

The Diploma in Legal Studies offers some of the best introductory textbooks on Hong Kong law. 

Click here to download a free sample of one of the comprehensive course textbooks

All students receive free printed copies, and can also download soft copies to read on their electronic devices.

All classes are normally held from 7:00 pm-10:00 pm on weekday evenings and/or from 2:30 pm-5:30 pm on Saturday afternoons.

To help students with busy work/family lives, classes are normally two  to three classes per week per module*

One assessment is an individual written assignment usually based upon a hypothetical legal problem. You will ordinarily be given these assignments (which constitute 25% of the mark) several months before submission, with guidance and extra classes to assist you in completing assessments.

It is up to you when you choose to sit your exams, depending on which of these exam sessions is most convenient for you. To provide this flexibility, we charge a separate examination fee which includes up to five exams during the same session.  Please note there is an examination fee of $800 per sitting.

*subject to scheduling and availability of teaching resources.

Progression Path

What Doors Can a Diploma in Legal Studies Open for Me?

• Open up employment opportunities in the Legal Profession
• Receive a widely recognized Hong Kong legal qualification;
• Immediately become an Associate Paralegal;
• Continue towards qualifying as a Legal Executive (for students on the Professional Stream);
• Limited Rights of Audience to appear in Court;
• Guaranteed entry to the popular University of London LL.B. Preparation Courses run by HKU SPACE
• Pathway to the Advanced Diploma in Legal Studies
• Pathway to PCLL via Advanced Diploma for Legal Executives (Graduate Level) (for students on the professional stream)

 

Become a Legal Executive

 

Students on the Professional Stream can also qualify as Legal Executives, by completing the Diploma in Legal Studies followed by 3 subjects on the Advanced Diploma in Legal Studies (which normally takes approximately 6-9 months).

 

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.

Legal Executives are also assistants to lawyers who help in carrying out many types of legal work, and this professional title is widely recognized by law firms in Hong Kong.

 

For more information, including eligibility requirements set by the Law Society, please visit the Web site for the Advanced Diploma at http://hkuspace.hku.hk/prog/adls.

 

Note: Due to Law Society rules about the maximum class size, students on the General Stream cannot currently qualify as Legal Executives.

 

Rights of Audience

 

Normally only lawyers can appear in court to represent clients in most court hearings. However, in recognition of the legal training you receive on the Diploma in Legal Studies the Hong Kong Judiciary currently allows all graduates of this course with at least 3 years’ legal work experience to appear before a District Judge in the District Court or a Master in the Court of First Instance in certain types of hearings.

 

For more information, please see Practice Directions 14.1 and 27 issued by the Hong Kong Judiciary.

Guaranteed Entry to Other Popular Law Courses

Advanced Diploma for Legal Executives (Graduate Level)

All students who complete the Diploma and Advanced Diploma on the Professional Stream will be guaranteed entry to the Advanced Diploma for Legal Executives (Graduate Level). This is a QF Level 5 programme specially designed to allow graduates of the  Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Legal Studies to complete all the legal studies needed to apply for admission to the PCLL over a period of as little as two years,  without any need to enroll on a longer and more expensive qualifying law degree.

University of London LL.B. Preparation Courses

All students who complete the Diploma in Legal Studies are guaranteed places on the very popular University of London LL.B. Preparation Courses^# run by HKU SPACE.

Graduate Diploma in English and Hong Kong Law

Students who have completed the Advanced Diploma in Legal Studies and who receive a Distinction on the Diploma in Legal Studies are also guaranteed places on the highly competitive Graduate Diploma in English and Hong Kong Law (Common Professional Examination)*^# offered by Manchester Metropolitan University with HKU SPACE, which is one of the fastest ways for intending lawyers to complete the legal studies necessary to apply to P.C.LL. courses in Hong Kong.

_{*Admission to the Graduate Diploma in English and Hong Kong Law (Common Professional Examination)#, is normally only open to University graduates, however, this restriction can be waived for students who complete the Advanced Diploma in Legal Studies}

#Non-Local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance

This is an exempted course under the Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance. It is a matter of discretion for individual employers to recognize any qualification to which this course may lead.

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Course Fee

• Professional Stream: HK$40,000 per year
  Exam Fee: $800 per sitting

All students should be studying, or have studied, on the Certificate in Legal Studies with HKU SPACE. However, you can apply to enroll even if you have not yet finished your exams on the Certificate in Legal Studies.

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 dependants, 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. 

Please note a student who has passed a module cannot re-enroll in the same module. Students who have completed this program cannot re-enroll in the same program other than in exceptional cases.

• The CEF Institution Code of HKU SPACE is 100

CEF Courses
Diploma in Legal Studies 法律文憑
COURSE CODE 39L114363	FEES $26,200 (General Stream); $40,000 (Professional Stream)	ENQUIRY 2520-4665

Continuing Education Fund

	Continuing Education Fund This course has been included in the list of reimbursable courses under the Continuing Education Fund.
	Diploma in Legal Studies This course is recognised under the Qualifications Framework (QF Level [4])

Application Form Download Application Form

Enrolment Method

*The Diploma in Legal Studies is the continuation of the Certificate in Legal Studies program. (The completion of the Certificate is a prerequisite). If you have not completed the Certificate in Legal Studies, please firstly enroll in the Certificate in Legal Studies.

 

Provisional Schedule

Professional Stream

 

Payment Method

Online Application

Diploma in Legal Studies - Professional Stream
Application Code 2245-2157AW	Start Date September 27, 2024 (Fri)	Apply Online

 

1. Cash or EPS OR WECHAT PAY OR ALIPAY

Course fees can be paid by cash or EPS or WeChat Pay or Alipay at any HKU SPACE enrolment counters.

2. CROSSED Cheque or Bank Draft

Course fees can also be paid by crossed cheque or bank draft made payable to "HKU SPACE". Please specify the programme title(s) for application, student's name, and student card number (if applicable). You may either:

• bring the completed form(s), together with the appropriate course or application fees in the form of a cheque, and any required supporting documents to any of the HKU SPACE enrolment centres.
• or mail the above documents to any of the HKU SPACE enrolment centres, specifying 'Course Application' on the envelope. HKU SPACE will not be responsible for any loss of payment sent by mail.

3. VISA/MasterCard

Applicants may also pay the course fee by VISA or MasterCard, including "HKU SPACE MasterCard", at any HKU SPACE enrolment centres, or through online enrolment. Holders of HKU SPACE MasterCard can enjoy a 10-month interest-free instalment period for courses with a tuition fee of HK$2,000; however, the course applicant must also be the cardholder himself/herself. For enquiries, please contact our staff at any of the enrolment centres.

N.B.: Students enrol separately for each year of the course. All course fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.