HKU Alumni Legal Careers Project

I am now several decades apart from all of you, and I wonder if there is a generation gap. However, at the Law Society, I have the opportunity to meet students from HKU every year. As I mentioned earlier, we offer scholarships to PCLL and MCL (Master of Common Law) students. I think the competition nowadays is very intense, even more so than during our time. I believe you are always competing with your peers, which is inevitable. Especially when I see MCL students coming from mainland China, I admire them greatly. Their English proficiency is excellent because they study and take exams in English. It's truly admirable that these students can stand out in a highly competitive environment while overcoming language and cultural barriers.

Many of them have already studied at prestigious law schools in mainland China, such as Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Fudan University. Some students pursue an MCL after achieving success in their careers. Some aim to develop their careers in Hong Kong, while others hope to return to mainland China after graduation. Last month, I met some PCLL students, and I have such opportunities every year. I found that their competition is very intense now, with hundreds of PCLL graduates each year.

I think this is not only a suggestion but a practical idea - after years of hard study, if you want to become a solicitor, it's best to be a trainee at a more conventional law firm. The internship should cover various aspects, allowing you to gain a comprehensive understanding of a lawyer's work. For example, at our law firm, interns need to rotate through at least four departments, including litigation, business, and property. Through this rotation, you can better understand your interests and determine which area you'd like to specialize in the future.

There are indeed some differences between large law firms and small and medium-sized law firms. For some people, small and medium-sized law firms may be more suitable because, like a general practitioner, they can gain an understanding of various fields, which is an advantage. However, if you work on litigation in a large law firm, you might focus only on that. When others ask you about property or business matters, you may not be very familiar with them.

Therefore, where you work is not the most important factor. Instead, the most crucial aspect is learning the correct legal knowledge, ensuring that your legal understanding is accurate and you have applied the right laws. The focus of legal education is not on memorization but on building a solid foundation. I have always believed that a strong foundation is essential, and this view has not changed in fifty years. A solid legal foundation is crucial for future career development.