Mr Alan Smith
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Having received his legal education and training in England, Mr. Smith joined the Faculty of Law (formerly the Law Department) at The University of Hong Kong in 1970 as a University Lecturer. Prior to that, he taught law at the University of East Africa in Nairobi. In 1972, he began working for Jardine Fleming Holdings Limited (formerly Jardine Fleming & Company Ltd), where he became Managing Director and later Chairman in the 1990s. With decades of experience in investment banking focused on Asia, Mr. Smith has been a key figure in advising on Hong Kong’s economic affairs, including serving as a member of the Hong Kong Government’s Economic Advisory Committee for several years. He is currently an independent non-executive director at ICBC Credit Suisse.
"Opportunities are always present if you can recognize and seize them."
Studying law as a degree is tremendously valuable because it opens up various career paths—not just in law firms, legal departments, or government, but also in business. The training you receive in questioning things and understanding documentation is incredibly useful in business life. However, it's not for everyone; failure is possible, and you might get fired if you don't make the grade. Despite this, I believe law is a fantastic degree to pursue. Neither of my children studied law—one became a lawyer, and the other an accountant. Both fields, law and accounting, keep doors open. On the other hand, a degree like medicine invests a lot of your life into a specific path, limiting versatility. I consider myself fortunate to have been here during my time, but opportunities are always around. It's about recognizing and seizing them when they appear. I didn’t have unique opportunities; they just suited my personality and background. I recall when I was at HKU, the government introduced the first-ever labour law. My colleague John Rear, one of the first three law lecturers, taught labour law. I realized many businesses in Hong Kong were unprepared for this new legislation. I suggested to John that we organize a lecture for local firms. I booked a room at the Hilton hotel and charged a hundred dollars per ticket. We needed to sell 10 tickets for John and another 10 for the room, aiming for two thousand dollars, which was around our salary at the time. For one lecture, I was able to give John half a month’s salary. In the end, around 60 people attended. I advised John to dress more formally for the business audience, so I took him to Crocodile and bought him a suit for about 500 dollars. This suit remained John Rear’s best for years. From that lecture, I earned more than a month’s salary. This experience taught me two things: there’s business potential here if you’re entrepreneurial, and I should have charged more. Opportunities are always present if you can recognize and seize them. You need the mindset to see them and the ability to capitalize on them.
Glossary
Key terms to aid your reading experience.​​
HKU Experience
LLB (Bachelor of Laws)
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An undergraduate law degree in common law jurisdictions, currently offered in Hong Kong by the University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, and City University of Hong Kong.
JD (Juris Doctor)
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A graduate-entry professional degree preparing individuals for law practice. In the U.S. and Philippines, it is the only qualifying law degree.
PCLL (Postgraduate Certificate in Laws)
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A mandatory professional qualification program in Hong Kong that prepares law graduates to become solicitors or barristers.
Hall of residence
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Living in a residential hall is an HKU tradition, fostering independence and close interaction among students from diverse backgrounds.
HKU Law Campuses ​
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Caine Road Campus (1969 - 1973)
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Knowles Building (1973 - 1989)
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K.K. Leung Building (1989 - 2012)
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Cheng Yu Tung Tower (2012 - present)
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UK Postgraduate Education
United Kingdom Bar Exams (“London Bar Final”) (formerly in place)
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A now-obsolete two-part qualification exam for aspiring barristers wishing to practice in the UK or Hong Kong, held three times a year at three-month intervals. Graduates could take multiple exams simultaneously, often sitting them early after graduation or the next summer.
Training
Traineeship
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Aspiring solicitors who completed the PCLL must be employed under a two-year training contract with a law firm to qualify as solicitors. This period is also referred to as an “articleship” in some interviews.
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Non-law graduates were previously able to serve five years as a solicitor’s clerk to qualify as solicitors. The significance of this system subsequently waned due to the popularisation of legal education.
Pupillage
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Aspiring barristers who completed the PCLL must complete a one-year pupillage, assisting barristers with case research, drafting, court attendance, and other tasks to qualify as barristers.