Mr Justice Azizul Rahman Suffiad
石輝先生
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Mr Justice Azizul Rahman Suffiad completed his secondary education at Diocesan Boys’ School. He was admitted to the Law Department of the University of Hong Kong in 1970, prior to the establishment of the Faculty of Law. He earned his LLB in 1973 and his PCLL in 1974. Mr Justice Suffiad was called to the Hong Kong Bar in June 1975. He served as a deputy Judge in the Court of First Instance of the High Court starting in August 1997 and continued for some 8 months until being appointed a permanent Judge of the High Court in March 1998, a position he held until his retirement from the Judiciary in October 2014. In August 2015, he was appointed as the Commissioner of Interception and Surveillance, from which he retired in August 2021.
"Being well-prepared is all-important."
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)
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.