• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Volume 13 No.2 JULY 2019 SCHOOL OF LAW NEWSLETTER School of Law City University of Hong Kong Contents CityU School of Law was established in 1987 with a mission to become an internationally-renowned centre for research and teaching of law in the INTERVIEWING DEAN Asia-Pacific region. Through cooperation with other law schools and 04 International outlook enhances appeal professional organizations, the School aims to foster an environment in which both students and staff develop and use their legal knowledge, professional SCHOOL OF LAW & CJER skills and expertise for the benefit of Hong Kong. Photo: istockphoto 06 (CENTRE FOR JUDICIAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH) Programme enhances School of Law’s Our Programmes on offer: standing among the best in Asia Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Programmes ON COLLABORATIONS Bachelor of Laws (LLB) 08 CityU law students take great leap forward Juris Doctor (JD) Postgraduate Certificate in Laws (PCLL) Master of Laws (LLM) PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS Master of Laws in Arbitration and Dispute Resolution (LLMArbDR) 10 Hear what our Programme Directors say Professional Doctorate Programme Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD) ON MOOTING 16 Moot court contest victories put Research Degree Programmes CityU top for legal training Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Master of Philosophy (MPhil) RESEARCH CENTRES Recent activities and updates For further information, please contact us at 18 3442-8008 [email protected] STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS Succeeding on all fronts School of Law School of Law 22 WeChat website STAFF ACHIEVEMENTS 26 Staff publications and presentations Published by School of Law, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR. Designed and printed by South China Morning Post Please send your comments to [email protected] @2019 CityU School of Law. All rights reserved. SCHOOL OF LAW | NEWSLETTER 3 INTERVIEWING DEAN INTERVIEWING DEAN International outlook enhances appeal New links in the United States and Europe expand the options for students ityU’s School of Law to get broader experience, and we have a practice was to employ lots of people to has won plaudits for course structure to make that possible,” look through documents. Now, you can We have a very its strengths in areas Howells says. “They can do courses overseas simply type in search terms and press a ranging from Chinese which are compatible with the Hong Kong button. That may have a big impact, not diverse pool law, maritime law, and system, and there are plenty of options.” least in potentially reducing the demand for commercial law to the The number of choices is steadily junior lawyers. of students. teaching on human increasing. A programme at Fribourg Therefore, it is vital for students to rights and arbitration University in Switzerland has been added understand how technology is changing They want to and the recurring success of student teams in at the Masters level and discussions are the legal environment and the new issues Chigh-profile mooting competitions. under way with Norway’s Bergen University, being dealt with. The school is arranging adapt and to be Another aspect, which contributed which is known for its strength in professional development seminars where significantly to its 45th place in the most maritime law. experts explain why future lawyers need to treated like local recent Times ranking of the world’s top “We believe it is important for students be good at technology, but that is just the law schools, is the development of an to gain a different perspective, to see how first step. students international outlook and the opportunities law is taught and thought about in other “For most people, the use of the apps is that allow students to excel. countries,” Howells says. “They also get getting easier, but to address the legal issues PROFESSOR GERAINT HOWELLS “A large proportion of our students now essential life skills, becoming stronger you have to understand the background, go on G-LEAP (Global Legal Education themselves and gain a better understanding go back to basics and learn about the and Awareness Project) programmes, and of the world.” building blocks,” Howells says. “You have to we are expanding the number of options These links also give more mainland understand the implication of the algorithms, with new links in the US and Europe,” says and overseas students the chance to take what is being used to make computing Professor Geraint Howells, Dean of CityU’s courses at CityU. They see Hong Kong as decisions, and what kinds of controls and School of Law. “In the various rankings, we a great base for gaining Asia experience surveillance there should be. It is a major have shown we do very well in international and learning about common law, and their challenge.” outlook. We take that as an indication we presence stirs classroom debate, creating a He adds that many legal norms can are doing something that is very successful.” more interactive dynamic, which enhances probably be adapted to the tech world. As a Under the G-LEAP programme, students the quality of the learning experience. result, the law itself may not need to change can choose to spend anything from a couple “We have a very diverse pool of students. that much. In some areas, though, new laws of weeks to a semester at partner institutions Those who come for a semester just fit into may have to be formulated, which means Monash University in Melbourne and the programmes here - that’s what they working out how to adapt the system to the University College, Oxford. There are also prefer,” Howells says. “They want to adapt environment and how to apply the law in the internships available at courts in mainland and to be treated like local students. Because new context. China that are combined with study at we have relatively small cohorts, we are able “These are the sort of challenges being Renmin University. to accommodate them.” thrown up,” Howells says. “But we also see The objective is twofold: to give He notes that the area of law and it as a way to build up the reputation of the students an introduction to the academic technology is now very much in the law school as a place where quality research underpinnings and mechanisms of other spotlight as far as general curriculum is going on. We already have research legal systems, but also to develop the all- planning is concerned. There are plans for centres on Chinese comparative law, round experience and personal maturity that new courses on the legal implications of commercial and maritime law, and human comes from facing new challenges in a less ways technology is affecting business and rights. The topics addressed depend on familiar environment. how law firms will have to work differently. where an individual’s interests lie; there is “Usually, students prefer the shorter visits, One good example is discovery. a lot of academic freedom on how research but we are trying to say go for a semester Previously, Howells explains, standard time is spent.” 4 SCHOOL OF LAW | NEWSLETTER SCHOOL OF LAW | NEWSLETTER 5 SCHOOL OF LAW & CJER (CENTRE FOR JUDICIAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH) SCHOOL OF LAW & CJER (CENTRE FOR JUDICIAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH) Programme enhances School of Law’s The Chinese standing among the judges programme best in Asia is the only Year-long course for junior Chinese judges mostly follows the standard programme of curriculum for the CityU LLM in common law its kind outside mainland China PROFESSOR LIN FENG his year marks the Certain aspects of the programme are science) for senior Chinese judges, to 10th anniversary of tailored to meet recognised needs and to enhance understanding of common law and a unique and highly give a fuller understanding of the principles, international law, and the ability to analyse successful LLM practice and procedures adhered to in problems. programme offered common law jurisdictions. It includes a taught component with by CityU’s School of For instance, there is a special course on required subjects, as well as a doctoral Law to train around writing judgements. thesis. For the latter, a number of recent 30 incumbent judges “Over the years, we have seen that topics have focused on the current judicial drawn from cities across mainland China Chinese judges tend to write very simple reforms in China, notably the fast-track Teach year. judgements, which often lack detailed sentencing mechanisms for suspects who Together with a JSD and a short-term reasoning,” Professor Lin says. “They usually admit to minor offences, judges’ liabilities, advanced programme for senior Chinese give facts, applicable laws and a conclusion, and reforms in the jury system and juvenile judges, this marks a far-sighted commitment but miss out the reasoning part, so the courts. to broadening horizons and providing the programme gives extra attention to that.” “We have also started negotiations with highest standards of legal education for There is also an internship, which allows the Guangdong Lawyers Association,” different levels within the profession. Though each individual to spend two weeks with the Lin says. The proposed collaboration it was conceived initially as a “capacity- Hong Kong judiciary. Besides a wide-ranging will be running on a pilot base. If the building” scheme, the demand for places introduction to the local judicial system collaboration is successful, admission and quality of teaching has done much to and how it operates, this stint includes the of students recommended by other legal enhance the school’s international standing opportunity to shadow specific judges as and professional institutions such as the and its reputation as one of the best in Asia. they go about their business in the High All China Lawyers Association will be “The judges have studied the Chinese legal Court and the Court of Appeal.

Load more

  15

Copy Link