High-achieving CityU LLB freshmen receive HK$50,000 scholarships

Twenty first-year bachelor of law (LLB) students at the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) are even more motivated to excel in every subject after they each received this year’s coveted LLB Admission Scholarships.

Worth up to HK$50,000 each, the scholarships are given to top freshmen on the CityU School of Law’s four-year preparatory programme for aspiring barristers and solicitors who achieved outstanding academic results in their secondary year.

“This is recognition of my efforts in secondary school and is a great motivation to work harder,” says Chan Shui-yan, a scholarship recipient and graduate of Ying Wa Girls’ School in Central.

Julian Haig Au Yeung, a graduate of Stonyhurst College in the UK, echoes the sentiment. “It confirms my ability to excel in the study of law. It is a great encouragement,” he says.

Au Yeung takes pride in being part of an “elite group” of scholarship winners. “All the students on the LLB programme are bright, so I feel lucky and overwhelmed.”

He is also impressed with the varied demographic of CityU’s student body. “It is even more international than what I’ve seen in Europe,” he says.

The financial assistance that the scholarship provides is a boost for several students. “It actually means a lot to me because my parents are both unemployed,” says Lee Yeeun from The Regent’s School Bangkok. “I appreciate that the university offered this scholarship so I can continue with my studies.” 

For Chung Chun-wai, who studied at Chiu Lut Sau Memorial Secondary School, in Yuen Long, the money will allow him to join more extracurricular activities on campus.

Poon Chun-man from West Island School in Pok Fu Lam adds: “It alleviates the financial burden on our families and will help us concentrate on our studies.”  

The scholarship winners are now two months into the LLB programme and are all looking forward to developing the practical skills for which CityU’s School of Law is known. They are particularly keen to join become members of the CityU’s various  mooting teams, which have won several competitions abroad.

“Practical skills are as important as book learning,” says Mark Law Hiu-fung, from King George V School in Ho Man Tin. “If I make it onto one of the mooting teams, I would have more opportunities to develop these skills. When I eventually go out to practise, I would already be equipped with a good range of transferable skills which I can use.

“The university’s PCCL course is designed by many practitioners in the field. They know what they are looking for when they are hiring candidates. That is also why I chose this university, because it paves the way into the profession and is not just about getting a degree,” Law adds.

Henry Lui Lok-hin, from John Leggott College in the UK, likes the fact that the LLB heavily emphasises the study of China law.

“Nowadays, knowledge of the Hong Kong legal system is not enough,” he says. “There are more expectations than before. China is growing and a lot of people are moving there and working in China. This opens up a new area for lawyers.”

Song Ji Won, from Seoul Global High School, says that the law school offers the “most tangible standard in life” and is greatly appreciative of the LLB’s international appeal that stems from its broad curriculum.

The students concede that so far, their coursework has been hard, but they are determined to excel in their studies.

“I think my perspective has changed after starting law school,” Poon says. “I can see that there is a very systematic approach to every scenario. Even for authoritative textbooks, we need to think critically and to challenge them. We don’t have to fix our ideas in boxes – you have to change thinking hats.”

Chau Chun-kit, from St. Paul’s Co-Educational College, in Mid-levels, relishes the challenge posed by the tough LLB course. “Seeing an issue in a legal way gives one a totally different perspective from that of other people,” he says. “I want to know what law is like and I want the opportunity to work in international law firm someday. The LLB is providing a good foundation for us.”

Charles Huang, from Po Leung Kuk Laws Foundation College in Tseung Kwan O, says that the knowledge gained from legal studies is applicable to many different industries and workplaces. This is making him value the connections he is now establishing at the School of Law all the more.

“I look forward to the opportunities that I may have when I enter the legal profession and those connections can be very useful,” he says.